Business View Magazine - Nov 2023

80 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 11 While Stonehenge Classic Homes has traditionally undertaken new builds, Crow says he has pivoted to meet the evolving needs of his clients. “I’m fortunate that I have a pretty good following, so I haven’t really noticed a reduction of customers. What I’ve noticed is a reduction of new home customers, and an increase in renovation customers,” he relays. “Many have realized that if they sell their house, and they buy a new house and have to go with the new interest rates, that the math isn’t working. So, a lot of people are deciding to stay put and renovate their house. That’s a big part of what’s driving my business right now.” Navigating Material Costs and Supply Challenges The construction industry has also faced significant challenges related to material costs and supply chain disruptions. Crow maintains that although there have been fluctuations in individual materials like lumber, the overall construction costs have remained high. “In my business, it was mainly lumber driven, and price points have come down, not back to the pre COVID levels, just down from the big peak, to at least put that back into being able to deal with,” he conveys. One significant improvement for the company has been the reduction in lead times for materials, although Stonehenge has also adjusted operations to keep things running smoothly. Crow recounts, “Scheduling used to be much easier because we knew we could order windows day one and have them by the time we were ready for them. Now a lot of pre thought has to go in, there are certain things that need to be ordered before we even start the house, that we still have to wait for.” Adjusting the sequencing of tasks has ensured that projects continue to move forward, even with material delays. “Now we’re a little more used to it, and although we are not necessarily able to build things in the same order, we can still keep the timeline from getting out of whack.” Building Strong Relationships The success of any construction project relies heavily on the relationships between the builder and subcontractors. Crow values loyalty, efficiency, and open communication, and understands the importance of keeping these partnerships strong. “Part of the reason I’ve had to adapt from being mainly a homebuilder to mainly a remodeler as of today is because of my loyalty to my subs. I have to make sure they constantly have work or they’re not going to be around when I need them,” he admits. When it comes to client relationships, Crow highlights transparency, organization, communication, and preparation. “We’re constantly trying to make sure that we provide the client with as many details up front in our contracts and we spell out how we’re going to be organized throughout the process,” he says. The commitment to customer satisfaction goes beyond the construction, and thorough record-keeping is maintained throughout the