The secret to success in business is simple; it comes down to three words that start with “P.”

The right people, the right product, and the right process.

In their 18 months of business, Dwayne Sword and the team at Double Edge Builders, LLC already have this figured out. They know who their people are— in other words, they know their target market. They also have the right products supplied from quality, local suppliers that help them build beautiful homes and complete gorgeous renovations. Best of all, they have a process unique to their business that has proven to work time and time again.

Initiation

The process begins at the initial contact, which for many is a phone call.

“When a client calls us, one of our experienced team members will take down their information. We ask what they’re wanting to do, what their budget is, what their ideal timeline is, and if it’s something they are serious about or if they’re just shopping around,” says Dwayne, founder of Double Edge Builders.

Depending on the answers to all of those questions, one of two things will happen. Dwayne will either schedule an in-person meeting with them, or he will refer them elsewhere to someone he knows and trusts. 

Dwayne says he sometimes has to turn clients away if it’s just a handy-man type job like installing a baseboard or building a bench. “We are blessed to be busy, but we take each phone call and truly consider if it’s something we can do.”

Additionally, Double Edge Builders has worked hard to build relationships with quality suppliers who carry the most durable materials needed for construction. “At the end of the day, we’re building a quality product, and we’re not able to build that unless we have quality materials, so that’s why our costs are a little bit higher,” says Dwayne, who will be the first to admit that Double Edge Builders is sometimes more expensive than its competitors.

If it seems like a good fit in the interest of both parties, the next step is to meet on-site to discuss the client’s plans and vision for the project. If the client has blueprints drawn up already, Dwayne will want to look at those. If not, that is something Double Edge Builders will be able to provide for them after this initial meeting. 

Design

At the on-site meeting, Dwayne will listen to the client, ask questions, and make recommendations for what they might want or need. “Plans are on a piece of paper. A vision is what you’re looking for overall. What do I want to come home to every day? What do I want to see in here?” explains Dwayne.

Before he leaves the meeting, Dwayne will provide the client with a rough estimate on the cost of their project. Based on the client’s response, Dwayne will then follow up with an email of an itemized budget, timeline, and a draft of the construction agreement. 

Commitment

If the client wants to authorize the work, all they need to do is email him back to start the process. When he receives the green light, Dwayne’s team will immediately get started on pulling permits for the project. 

“Pulling permits can take anywhere from days to months depending on the project,” says Dwayne. “It’s a safety blanket for myself and for the client if I pull them before entering an official agreement.”

Once he receives the permits, Dwayne will schedule an in-person meeting to get signatures on two hard copies of the construction agreement: one for him to keep, and one for the clients to keep. At this time, if the project was large enough, the clients would need to provide a deposit for the cost of the materials to frame the structure and to properly stage the job site. 

“If it’s a small project, I don’t collect a deposit. I don’t see the need to do that. However, if it’s a several hundred thousand dollar project, the deposit I require is minimal and doesn’t have any of my fees added in,” says Dwayne.

Construction

From there, the process starts moving quickly. Materials will be ordered and crews will be scheduled. The project will move steadily and stay on target with the projected timeline. Clients can expect to be invoiced every 14 days or as needed throughout the process, and if they ever have any questions or concerns, Dwayne and the team are always accessible.

“I’m running a business, so I won’t be on site every day, but I’m always available by phone,” says Dwayne. “But I will schedule regular meetings with my clients throughout each phase of the process to ensure we are on the same page.”

Additionally, Double Edge Builders prides themselves in keeping a very clean job site, which is often an eyesore and common complaint of homeowners living through renovations done by other contractors. 

“It’s your house, and we want to make sure you’re getting exactly what you want. That includes being happy with how things are moving and looking along the way,” says Dwayne.

At the end of the project, Double Edge Builders will be coordinating final inspections and permits, and the flow of communication will still be constant. “As the project is wrapping up, we’ve already been walking through it the whole time, so there’s no surprises,” assures Dwayne.

Post Construction

Only after everything is complete and finals have passed will the client receive an invoice for the final payment. But after that, Dwayne and the team at Double Edge Builders still make it a habit to check in with their clients from time to time and will always be available to address any unlikely issues that could occur after they pull off the job. 

And that’s it. Just a good, honest process backed by hard work and integrity. If you’re in need of a contractor, give Double Edge Builders a call to start this easy process.