Bonitt Builders
You’re remodeling the focal point of your home — the kitchen and living space. You want to update your home to a more modern open concept arrangement in the spaces that are used the most. You want a custom design with lasting quality and for your ideas to be heard so that you can get the designs that best fit you. In addition to all of that, you want the renovation timeline to be accurate so that you could enjoy your new space with as little hassle as possible.
For many people, the idea of remodeling their home may sound like more of a burden than an improvement, but with the right team in place, your project can be a fun and collaborative effort. It’s important to make sure that the builder, homeowner, designer and architect all work together as a team to insure the successful completion of projects.
Not adopting this team concept is charting a course of destruction for every renovation, remodeling or new construction project…so from day one it’s important that everyone on the team is reading from the same playbook.
Murray Bonitt, founder of Bonitt Builders, has advice for homeowners with these concerns.
Be specific.
The builder you’re working with should want what’s best for you as a homeowner, the family and the space — so be specific about what you want. Give clear directions at the beginning of your project and show your builder what you mean through images you found online or in magazines. “We love a thoroughly engaged customer who knows exactly what they want. The more info they can give us from day one, the smoother the job will run,” Bonitt says.
Think about how you use the space.
Before you start renovating a kitchen or a main living area, really think about how you use the space, what you like and what doesn’t suit your needs. A great time to do this in the kitchen is around the holidays when your kitchen may be in heavy use — is there enough counter space in the right places? Are people bumping into each other? Does the dishwasher, oven or refrigerator door ever get in the way when it’s open?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If you’re unsure of the next steps, don’t hesitate to ask. “On our projects, the superintendent who starts the job, will finish the job, and will be onsite every day to answer questions” Bonitt explains. Informal morning catch up sessions with the homeowner and superintendent will help insure that reasonable expectations area being set, and met. Not communicating on a regular basis can cause projects to go sideways. Bonitt says that he would advise anyone considering a project to insist from their builder that the same superintendent be on the project on a daily basis from start to finish. Bonitt cautions homeowners that having a rotating group of superintendents on a project is a recipe for confusion and delays.
Bonitt Builders has been recognized for outstanding quality of service and craftsmanship for both contemporary and historic projects, having won both the AIA Grand Honor Award for a modern project, and Historic Alexandria Foundation Awards for historic preservation projects. They are one of only a few firms that have an in-house custom millwork shop for fabricating cabinets, built-ins and custom trim. They have been in business for over 35 years and their work has been featured in Washingtonian Magazine, Southern Living, Home and Design, American Builder’s Quarterly, Town and Country, and others. Learn more at bonittbuilders.com.
