You Spent How Much On Rework Last Year?!!
It’s time for a makeover… No, I’m not giving up the flannel shirts… but I have changed the name Nick Schiffer Podcast to NS Builders Podcast. Because even though I like to think the world revolves around me (my wife tells me daily I’m wrong about this…), this podcast is really about everything and everyone that makes NS Builders a success. And on this episode of NS Builders Podcast, Ken DeCost joins me as cohost as we plunge into a topic that I’ve discussed before, which usually prompts the question: “You spent how much on rework last year?!!”
Let’s jump right in…
REWORK IS EXPENSIVE…
How expensive? Well, last year we had about $150,000 worth of rework. When you’re talking about that kind of money, you better be sure the rework is warranted and worth it. We sit down as a team, whether myself and Ken or other project managers and have an open discussion. And although the homeowner may be happy with the level of execution, we talk about the things that we feel need to be changed. It’s a collective decision—one not taken lightly—but it always centers around providing the highest quality of work and making our clients not simply satisfied, but thoroughly impressed and happy with the end result. That mindset attaches itself to every project we do.
So, yes—we spent THAT MUCH on rework last year—but in the long run, it was worth it. No regrets.
Here’s just one example that demonstrates how this process unfolds.
Nick Schiffer Podcast: You Spent How Much On Rework Last Year?!
THE CABINET DILEMMA IN THE BOSTON BROWNSTONE
This was an incredibly contemporary, high-level of detail project. Picture a Boston brownstone with a roofline at the very top and a steep pitch. Inside we have a wall with a triangulated space that we had determined to utilize for storage. A white oak cabinet set against white walls—easy and quick. We wanted to get this built and installed before plaster to have a tight plaster line right up against the cabinetry.
And then COVID hit.
So we were basically pushed off this project for months (the City of Boston allowed us to work in buildings with three units or less; this building had five). As a result, timelines shifted and the plaster got done before we could get back in there. When we finally got on-site to install the custom cabinet we had originally built, it no longer hit the mark for us. There were issues with fit and hinges. It just didn’t feel right, and I realized we had to rethink the plan. So I got together with Ken and James, we discussed options of making this work, and then the conversation became: “If we could go back, knowing what we know now and do it again, what would we do?” And there wasn’t really a need for further discussion; the answer was obvious and we were all on the same page from that point.
We had already spent money on materials and time in the shop on this cabinetry—but we knew we had to rework the concept, adapt our plan to include intentional design that elevated the space. And that is exactly what we did.
LESSONS LEARNED
Ripping work out and starting fresh is a tough decision to make and certainly has financial repercussions. But the lessons learned are often more valuable than the money saved by leaving it as it is—passable. Resist the urge to go on the path of least resistance. Instead, focus on how to make it better, what lessons you’ll carry forward to the next project, and be transparent in your approach. Your client will be impressed by your honesty and integrity, and your finished work will speak volumes about your intent as a craftsman.
It’s time to discover what NS Builders can intentionally craft for you! Contact us today to get started on your custom dream home. Together, we can make it happen.
—Nick Schiffer