When meeting a contractor, Bryan Sebring believes it’s important to treat it like any other close, personal relationship. “The number one piece of advice I have is to ‘date’ a contractor before you get ‘married,’” he says. “Sit down and interview them to understand who they are as a person. Ask questions like, ‘Why do you have your business? Where do you see your business in 10 years? What do you value personally and professionally?’ You want to get to know them and have them get to know you because that's how trust is formed.”
Although Sebring has only been in the Franklin/Brentwood area for about five years, he founded Sebring Design Build over 25 years ago when he lived in the suburbs of Chicago. Over the years, he has gained a deep level of trust from clients. “We're doing multiple
projects, we're getting referrals, and the company’s really growing here.”
What makes Sebring Design Build really stand out is the craftsmanship and custom work that goes into every design that he and his team create. “Our clients want a bespoke style, so everything is custom-tailored for them.” No project, he says, is exactly the same. “What makes us different is the attention to detail. Our clients are looking for us to think outside the box.”
One of these clients, a well-known musician, hired Sebring Design Build to remodel his entire house, and when it came to the kitchen, he definitely didn’t want any cookie-cutter design. “It was very moody with black doors and green cabinets,” says Sebring. “We were basically trying to capture the essence of his and his family’s personality.”
When working together on projects, he and his team of highly talented craftsmen, tradesmen, and interior designers use their expertise to help clients obtain the results they’re looking to achieve. “Hiring a contractor is a very personal decision,” he says. “This is someone coming into your home and changing it, and you want it to be for the better and have it fit you exactly.”
The fear of hiring the wrong contractor can be overwhelming. “People look at reviews that are written by other people who have ‘dated’ them,” he says. “It's so similar and people don't look at it that way. Mistakes happen when you don't treat it as a relationship.”
Their online reviews are overwhelmingly positive. One states, “We hired Sebring to remodel our master bathroom and hallway bathroom. This is the second project they completed for us, and similar to our first experience, we are extremely pleased with the quality of work and high level of customer service. From design to completion, all of the team members we interacted with were focused on ensuring the work was done right and that it exceeded our expectations.”
Sebring explains that while clients should be interviewing them, he and his team are also interviewing clients. Before any project begins, they have to make sure they’re a good match for the homeowner and the project.
“We want to know if a client is going to value what we bring to the table,” he says. “Am I wasting my time or their time? I’ve had to tell people we're not the right fit for what they want. For example, we have a process and maybe it doesn't go well with their process. We’re upfront and honest.”
Once they accept a project, they then want to find out more about the clients’ goals. “We ask questions such as, ‘What is your design aesthetic?’ It’s our job to ask tons of questions, to learn who you are, understand what you want, and then be an advocate for that. It’s never about what we want.”
For example, when doing a kitchen, the homeowners may be asked, “Where do you plan on putting your pots?; Where are you putting your silverware?; Do you need accessories to help organize inside the cabinets?; and “Do you want to do that on your own or do you need help?” Function is as important as aesthetics, and clients want everything to fit exactly where it needs to go.
“They may tell us they want to make their kitchen the center of the home when they have a lot of people over,” says Sebring. “They may say they don't want to be separated from the party while preparing food. But they want this new kitchen to be within the existing structure of the house and our job is to maximize it and make it feel bigger without them having to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on an addition.”
Something clients really appreciate is being able to do what he calls a “test drive” of the room. “Before we start a project, we do 3D renderings, so you'll be able to visually walk through your space and get an idea of what it will look like.”
Once a plan is formulated and approved, Sebring Design Build takes care of everything so the homeowner doesn’t have to worry about having to make any last-minute decisions. Everything is determined beforehand, including the budget and scheduling. “We're schedule-based so that they know who's coming and when they're coming, and if there's an issue with that, we tell them,” he says. “It’s all about open communication and they like that.”
Something else to keep in mind when hiring a contractor, he explains, is to not talk about money first. He says it’s like going on your first date and asking how much money someone makes. “We’re not a car dealership,” he says. “I'm not selling a product that can be shopped. Instead, I'm selling a service that is different for every client.”
Of course, cost is important, and Sebring and his team will draw up a budget range based on what the client tells them they want. “They may say I'm comfortable within that range or I would like to be in the lower end of the range,” he says. “We'll give them advice that would best serve them to keep them where they want to be. We have a lot of options.”
Sebring Design Build is a luxury build company and takes a lot of pride in the quality and craftsmanship offered. “Think about when you want a hamburger,” he says. “You could get a burger at McDonald's for four bucks or you can go to a high-end restaurant
and pay $20 for a burger. Why would you spend $20? Well, because it's higher-quality meat and it tastes better. It’s served on a nice plate by people who are kind, and the whole atmosphere is great.”
So next time you have a project, take the time to get to know the contractor you’re hiring - it can save a lot of grief. “It will be a more successful ‘marriage’ and it won't end in an ugly ‘divorce,’” says Sebring. He also recommends homeowners take things slow if they’re nervous about committing. “Have them do a small bathroom before you do the entire kitchen.”
Make a date with Sebring and find out all about him and his company. Chances are, it will be the start of a beautiful and successful relationship. SebringDesignBuild.com