How to pick your team...yes, you need a team.

Some people have asked us how we hired our construction team for the remodel. From the draftsman to the general contractor, to the excavation crew, to the cabinet guy, to the drywall installer.

How did we pick all these folks?

As mentioned in previous blog posts, both KC and I are real estate agents. KC has been an agent for over 25 years in Missoula so he has built up a network of great people he has worked with for his clients and for our own rentals, flips, or spec houses.

However, he will be the first to tell you that he wouldn’t know some of the best in town if it wasn’t for his wife’s hair appointments and volunteer work.

Yes, you read that right. My hair and nail appointments have paid off in spades when it comes to getting to know the best draftsman and contractor. Krystal Burmeister has done my hair for over 20 years and her husband, Rory (Abode Designs, LLC.), is a draftsman. We gave Rory a call and he has been so tremendous that we have referred him to SEVERAL other people. 10 years ago, I started getting my nails done by Willow. Her then boyfriend had just moved to Missoula to start his construction business (Echelon Contracting, LLC.), so KC and I hired him for a small job. Over the past 10 years not only have Justin and Willow gotten married (and now have a baby girl!) but he and KC developed a great working relationship. Justin has worked with us remodeling, flipping, building spec houses and more.

Through my volunteer work, we met Kim Anderson, our interior designer. I’ve been involved with the nonprofit Youth Homes in Missoula for well over 20 years. Kim worked at Youth Homes in our past lives and we’ve been friends ever since! In 2011, Kim left the non-profit world to fulfill her creative career. Kim is an artist, a website developer, and started her own interior design business (Kim Anderson Art & Design, LLC.) in 2017. She is one of the kindest, most talented people I’ve ever known. If you knew KC and I, you would know that we aren’t formal people AT ALL! We are very casual and we wanted our home to reflect that. Kim has been a godsend when it comes to tying our style into this old home while keeping some of it’s history as well. She’s also just darn fun to hang out with!

While we didn’t get to know our cabinet guy through my hair appointments or volunteer work, we did get to know him through our close family members.

Ryan Dirkes (Dirkes Woodworking) has done all our cabinets for different projects over the years. He always answers his phone, he answers my constant questions, and he can build anything we need. Even though he is a Bobcat, we adore him. On a side note, he also smokes the best brisket you will ever eat in your life.

Then there’s Scotana Construction, Inc. I can’t even tell you how long we’ve known Brian and Jade Campbell. Brian is a master mind at all finishing work. I always say he is not a drywaller, he is an artist. I’ve never seen anyone take more pride in drywall, mudding, painting, woodworking and more. He can do anything, and his wife Jade is right there by his side. She’s amazing at picking out tile, installing tile and more. The are a great team and their eye for detail and work ethic are nothing short of perfection. Jade is also an amazing baker which hasn’t been good for our waistlines.

Everyone else we’ve met along the way and we truly feel like we have the best team.

We are so thankful for the laughs, the advice and the friendships they all provide. They aren’t just building our home, they are our friends.

It’s part of the story of this house that we love to tell. People we trust, enjoy and care about are helping us build our dream home

...In the Hart of the U.