3 Factors You’ll Find in an Exceptional Renovation Team

Who: Guy Ben Shushan of Golden View Renovation

Where: San Jose, California

In his own words: “Bay Area homeowners have a huge need that’s not being met.”

The home renovation industry in the Bay Area is in the midst of a major transformation. “The swelling population and the rising expense of the housing market have pushed homeowners to maximize their current properties,” says Guy Ben Shushan, the president and co-owner of Golden View Renovation. “Just 25 years ago, a homeowner would simply buy a larger home when they needed more room for children, aging parents or guests.”

With the increased demand to make the most of a small lot, homeowners are faced with the urgent need for capable remodelers adept at complex projects. “Back in the day it was perfectly fine for a contractor to manage a simple ADU, kitchen or bathroom project,” says Ben Shushan, “But now homeowners have a huge need that’s not being met.” With his team at Golden View Renovation, Ben Shushan has strived to create something different — a high-performance management company ready to not only improve the design-build process, but clients’ lives as well.

Toward a fully functional environment. When Ben Shushan moved to the Bay Area, he partnered with two friends in the construction industry and set out to develop a better design-build process. “We began by analyzing the satisfaction of their previous remodel clients,” he says. What they discovered shocked them. “There was little connection between a remodel’s complexity and customer satisfaction. It really all came down to functionality.” The discovery inspired them to develop an algorithm to better understand clients’ specific needs. “Our process is really unique in the design-build field,” Ben Shushan says.

Want to better understand how an algorithm can revolutionize your remodel?

Read on for Ben Shushan’s advice.

1. An In-House Design Department

Many remodeling companies claim they provide A-Z services, but it’s essential to understand how all of those service providers actually work together. “If a company works with an external designer, for example, that designer is only obligated to create a beautiful design,” explains Ben Shushan. “Let’s say they design a shower with a shampoo niche, but it turns out that shampoo niche is going in an external shield wall that needs more framing. The contractor will start the project with the design in hand then suddenly have to stop. Now the project is delayed and the client is disappointed.”

To counteract this issue, Golden View Renovation established an in-house design department that sits in their space, works to their protocols and is obligated to their clients. You can see the success of this model in this San Jose home renovation. The homeowners wanted to create more space by opening up their kitchen, and they had a specific design style they wanted to see throughout their home. “The designer on the project was able to consult with their contractor coworker every day to learn essential information about the home’s structure, the materials they wanted to use and the exact quantities necessary to the project to prevent any delays,” says Ben Shushan.

2. Built-In Oversight and Supervision

Even strong contracting companies that work with talented designers and architects often aren’t equipped to structure, manage and prepare for large, complex projects. “You’ll research and select your ideal contractor, designer and architect, but who is supervising everyone? Who is looking out for your interests?” asks Ben Shushan.

Golden View Renovation fills that critical gap in two important ways. “We have an in-house superintendent in charge of quality control. His role is to ensure that our designs are up to code, identify flaws and advocate for the client,” Ben Shushan says. “We also have a production manager whose entire role is to monitor finished materials.” To deliver this Burlingame home remodel within a tight timeframe, the production manager made sure every material quantity was approved by an expert and that everything would arrive on time. “Basically, we’ve adapted our protocols based on the hundreds of projects we’ve worked on to prevent as many mistakes as possible,” Ben Shushan says.

3. A Human Engineered Approach

Another obvious but often overlooked idea when renovating a home? Designing precisely to the people who will live there. “Every time you construct anything, it needs to serve the people who will use it,” says Ben Shushan. “It’s the underlying problem for so many disappointed clients.” Whether you bake more than you cook, frequently entertain elder relatives or have short or tall family members who need appliances on a certain level, many irritations can be avoided when your contracting team asks the right questions.

For this modern Saratoga remodel, the Golden View Renovation team applied their more comprehensive approach. “Our algorithm involves asking those questions and analyzing a space so that it will be functional for your needs as a family today and in the next ten years,” says Ben Shushan. “If your contractor isn’t asking you those questions, you’ll be spending even more money down the road when your needs change.”

Connect with one of our team Experts to get more information on how to expand your home in the smartest and best way possible.

Address: 1545 Berger Dr, San Jose, CA 95112

Email: Info@goldenviewrenovation.com 

Phone: (408) 908-8281

License number: 1072628