Beating the home builder’s blues

Pre-construction consultants ease the headaches of building a new home

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

A young couple has just purchased a piece of waterfront property and is preparing to build their dream home. They are exhilarated and anxious to begin their journey to “home, sweet home.” But as they travel, permit problems, septic tank woes and well-drilling issues block that road. What can start out as a happy time can easily turn into a maze of confusion and frustration. Consultants at The Residential Source can ease that journey by taking expectant home builders by the hand and walking them step by step down that arduous pathway, overcoming hurdles and smoothing out potholes. “With a new client, the first thing we do is come onto the site and see what their vision is,” said John Schroeder, general manager at The Residential Source. “Then we say, ‘Here’s what you do to make this a reality.’ ” As a cool wind whips up from the waters of Henderson Bay, Schroeder and pre-construction consultant Terri Schultz stand on a new home site near Raft Island. Construction workers go about their business inside a house’s wooden frame. “Take a site like this, for instance,” Schroeder said. “We had to get the shoreline development permits, post the public notices and go to a hearing.” The property’s mud puddles and soupy soil are typical of the region, as accumulated liquid from higher ground channels downhill, searching for the nearest body of water. “Every buildable piece of property still out there has issues,” Schroeder said. “And most people have no clue as to how to build on it. We arrange for (the installation of) utilities and work with contractors, electricians, architects and wetland specialists. We walk them (the clients) all the way through this.” “It’s exciting helping people make their dreams come true,” Schultz said. “We have relationships with the counties and it’s really fun. It’s nice when you have someone that’s all stressed out and you can say, ‘It’s taken care of.’ ” The consultants sometimes act as mediators between new homeowner prospects outside the area and real estate agents in town. “They have to trust somebody,” Schroeder said. “We work hard to be trustworthy experts. I gather all the data my clients need to make a good decision.” Schroeder has worked for The Residential Source for about a year and has the ground-roots ability to speak the language of contractors. “I’ve been involved in construction most of my life in some form or another,” he said. “I know all the phases of construction.” In fact, he and Schultz share their office with contractors, who provide leads for about half of their business. Schultz has the permit side of the business down pat, having been a permit coordinator for a large construction company for three years. She enjoys the consulting business and the variety of duties involved. “I get to go outside instead of sitting in an office all day,” she said. “Every day is different. One day I’m at the county, and the next I’m jumping into my rubber boots to go to a job site.” Schroeder said the permit process is one of the most difficult aspects home builders face. “People go into the county and try to shoehorn things. They try to make things happen that shouldn’t be happening,” he said. “I work with county planners regarding the understanding of permits and codes. I always research the codes so I know what I’m talking about.” “There’s so many people trying to do this themselves,” Schultz said. “We see them at the county building.” The Residential Source provides assistance for small jobs, such as a bathroom remodel, to large jobs, such as building an estate from the ground up. “We’re very flexible when we work with our clients,” Schroeder said. “We work with everyone — the homeowners, the builders, the architects. We make their lives easier.”

The Residential Source

Reach reporter Susan Schell at 253-853-9240 or by e-mail at susan.schell@gateline.com.