The Construction Source

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA that is truly unique,” Mike says. “We can translate your dreams onto paper and into reality, lending insight that only a designer and general contractor working together can. We combine the two areas of expertise to facilitate the overall experience and reduce the stress and headache that can come when dealing with the wrong people.” Blue Water Concepts also employs a professional estimator in-house, and when they give their clients a budget they stick to it. They also use CoConstruct project management software, which gives clients constant access to the budget, so they know at all times exactly where their money is going and why. That accuracy and transparency are other points of difference, according to Mike. The result of those differences, Mike adds, is consistent customer satisfaction – which then translates to referrals and repeat business. Every new Blue Water client fills out an intake form that asks where the client heard of Blue Water, so the company knows for sure that more than 90 per cent of their work comes from friends and family of past clients. Prior to COVID, the company never even did any marketing – they successfully relied solely on word of mouth to keep them busy. Mike also credits that word of mouth to the company’s consistent quality. They ensure that quality by assigning a specific Project Manager to every project, someone who is not on the tools and whose sole focus is making sure the project is progressing smoothly and that all work is being done to a high standard. If the project was designed in-house, that Project Manager is also involved right from the design stage – as are the project’s lead carpenters, and even certain sub-trades. That ensures that everyone involved has an in- depth understanding of the project and how it’s supposed to progress. “That’s especially important for the kind of homes we’re doing, which are incredibly energy- efficient,” Mike explains. “Every detail needs to be worked out if you’re going to build an airtight building.” “So we map out where all our services are going to go,” he continues. “We know where electrical is going to go, where plumbing is going to go, we figure out all penetrations – and we get everybody on board with that. It’s a collaborative team approach. We’re not just hiring people as we go and setting them loose. Everything’s planned ahead. Everybody knows where they’re supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be there, and what they’re supposed to be doing.” Everyone on site – including the subcontractors and trades – can also be trusted to deliver a high standard of workmanship, Mike adds. He explains that those partners have been vetted for quality and most of them he’s been working with for a long time. “We work with a very select group of people,” he says. “We know who we hire to work on our site is a direct representation of us, and we take that seriously. Over the last six years, we’ve learned who’s worth working with and who’s not, and we’ve formed some very close relationships.” “We’re very close,” he adds. “Before COVID, we’d do team culture events once a month, and it wasn’t unusual for our drywall crew to stop by, or our painters, or our electrical contractors – the list goes on. We consider them part of our team. We know how important they are.