BUILDING / RENOVATION PROCESS
OUR APPROACH
Our approach to designing and building a home is simple. Michael Stone Group, LLC is a family-run business, and we make every effort to treat each client with the same respect, care and honesty that was instilled in us by our families. We understand that building a custom home is often the single largest financial investment one makes in a lifetime. At Michael Stone Group, we take that responsibility very seriously. We also understand that for many of our clients, this is a new experience, one that if not managed properly can become overwhelming, frustrating, and extremely wasteful, both in terms of monies spent and hours invested.
We listen carefully to feedback so that we may continually improve and refine the building process for our clients. For instance, consistent communication, i.e. “no surprises”, was listed by our clients as the most valuable trait they were looking for in a custom builder; other attributes highlighted by our clients included a builder who could manage client expectations, was dependable, stayed on schedule, and lastly, delivered the project within a set budget. We have found that our clients want to understand the thought process behind the decisions we make, and why those decisions are the right ones for their specific project. Together with our clients we are able to create a home that not only eases the stress of every day living, but serves as a sanctuary to nourish the soul.
VALUE OF A CUSTOM HOME
The value of a custom home designed and built by Michael Stone Group is an appreciating asset for a number of different reasons. We only build on the best properties on the North Shore. We value quality over quantity, building an average of 4-6 homes in a given 12-18 month span. Very few builder’s can attest that each of their designs is one-of-a-kind, and will never be replicated. Your home value is also created by the money we spend on superior materials and specifications, quality craftsman and constant project management.
START TO FINISH
We love the collaborative, creative effort that goes into designing a home. Each and every property has it’s own strengths, and we spend the majority of our time designing to enhance those strengths. As a project progresses, it takes on a personality. It wants to “be” something. The real art of what we do is being able to see the potential a property posseses before we ever break ground. That involves spending significant time on-site, and at different times of the day, to capture the essence of sunrise, sunset and how the sun’s positioning throughout the day will affect our room orientation, and ultimately, the personality the home takes on. We always try to design our home so that it’s accentuated by the natural surroundings. For instance, part of designing site-specific homes involves keeping as many trees as possible. Mature trees add tremendous value to every project we undertake. This may seem obvious, but most builders DO NOT design around trees. They cut them down because they are using a template house plan, and the trees are more costly to design around.
No matter how well you design a home, or how much time is spent on the front-end, there are changes that are necessary to make at some point, for the betterment of the project. The trick is setting your ego aside long enough to listen to the house, because it will tell you what it needs to make it better. Some of the most satisfying moments are at the end of the day, on-site, when the din of construction is no longer ringing in our ears. And it’s in those quiet, reflective moments that we make your home the best it can be.