Vista Del Mar Remodel

An Unexpected Opportunity

As a common courtesy, every time Arndt Construction Inc. is working on residential projects, Vinny Arndt (President) goes door to door to inform the neighbors about the construction happening around them. When he knocked on this client’s door, they just happened to be working with an architect, and were about to acquire permits for their upcoming remodel. The owner was immediately drawn to Vinny’s personable nature and it didn’t hurt that the “timing was fantastic!”, as their next step was to seek contracting bids.

From the get-go, the owner noted Vinny’s professionalism and friendly demeanor. These core values carried over into the bid/proposal phase which was thorough, thoughtful, and fair. “Vinny’s bid was by far the most precise and detailed one that we received, down to the smallest characteristics. He really has an eye for detail. Not only that, he has a vast understanding of the intricacies surrounding the permitting and architectural processes in Santa Barbara, which was an invaluable resource to us.”

Providing the Tools for Success

With the owners doing much of the design process themselves, this was indeed a unique situation. Vinny suggested they use 3D Modeling to better visualize the finished product in real-time. This was especially critical because; A) there were multiple changes to the original scope of work along the way, and B) the architect was mainly involved in the initial design phase of the project. Specifically, in this top-to-bottom remodel, challenges surfaced with the existing structure, where the 3D Modeling system allowed for accurate visualization of problems and potential solutions. This value-added service greatly facilitated the design and construction process. The owners felt they received an excellent return on their investment, saying, “It was worth every penny!” They were also extremely impressed with the Gantt Chart that Vinny utilized for scheduling.  

One additional point of interest is that, during construction, the owner was curious about reusing their TrexⓇ decking, which was slated for demo. Vinny suggested reusing the durable material for trimming-out the exterior of their new doors and windows, along with making their exterior railings and siding corner caps. It was a creative and cost-saving solution that recycled a valuable material and kept it out of the landfill.

Rising to the Challenge

Because this project was complicated by preexisting structural issues, as well as ongoing owner-requests for design changes, the budget was ultimately affected. The structural issues, such as settling of the foundation, needed to be addressed and corrected before reconstruction could begin. The owners were grateful for Vinny’s transparency and communication skills in these instances, noting, “The level at which Vinny was able to articulate how each change would affect the budget was exceptional. He invited us to come out to the job site every day, and kept us informed about how ‘scope creep’, along with our fluctuating design suggestions, would impact the project. He also detailed the options that were available in addressing changes whenever possible.” What’s more, construction occurred during the rainy season, which would have pulled most contractors off schedule. However, neither of these “would-be” setbacks hindered Arndt Construction Inc.’s ability to get the job done.

Even though the project’s direction took many twists and turns, Arndt Construction Inc. finished construction within the original estimation of 6 months. The owner recalled, “Given all of the changes that took place, my wife and I were both shocked and DELIGHTED that the project was completed on the original schedule!” Since the completion of their home, these clients have recommended Arndt Construction Inc. to many of their friends in Santa Barbara.