In the realm of residential construction, the divide between what makes a general contractor good and great is vast and often debated. What sets apart a good company from a truly exceptional one?
At Better Builders, we aim to guide and empower homeowners through life-changing home transformations. We believe that achieving excellence in this industry requires a multifaceted approach centered on core principles.
This article delves into these values and focuses on the ones we hold dear, which we believe can revolutionize the residential construction industry.
Building a Great Workplace
True excellence emanates from within. A business shouldn’t need to tell you they’re amazing; you should be able to see and feel it for yourself when you learn about how they operate and what they stand for. A company's success is intricately linked to the environment its leadership team fosters for its employees. At Better Builders, we prioritize creating a workplace that not only attracts but also retains top talent. When home builders foster a dedicated and skilled workforce, that directly translates to exceptional craftsmanship and consistently exceeding homeowner expectations.
We understand the importance of continuous education and improvement, offering ample opportunities for our team members to grow both personally and professionally.
We also recognize that within our workforce, there are “role players” and “grow players.” Grow players aspire to advance their careers beyond their existing roles, and grow players excel in their current positions and seek growth within them.
Every great business needs both types of people, and companies must intentionally support and nurture their goals and aspirations equally.
Above Image: Joel, one of our amazing field crew members. His infectious positivity and enthusiasm make working together a joy.
Core Values vs. Skills
In our pursuit of excellence, we prioritize hiring based on our candidates' core values rather than solely on skills. We are always on the lookout for talented, empathetic, authentic people to join the Better Builders team. We believe skills can be taught and honed over time, but values are ingrained in individuals. Because of this, we look for individuals who promote values such as honesty, integrity, trust, respect, communication, and dedication to sustainability.
Building on Strong Values: The Four Pillars of Better Builders
1. Honesty
We believe in developing authentic relationships with our clients and always doing what is right, not what is easy.
2. Process
We share our deep experience and expertise to deliver high-quality service, value, and results every time.
3. Collaboration
We believe in a respectful, client-first approach where we navigate every step together based on our core values, not the bottom line.
4. Communication
We work tirelessly to communicate with our clients, ensuring the best home remodel or custom build experience from start to finish.
In our recruiting and hiring process, we are always looking for people who embody the characteristics of humble, hungry, and smart. You can’t be a team player without humility—nobody is better than anyone else. We want candidates hungry for growth, knowledge, new skills, and the opportunity to prove themselves. Smart candidates will know how to navigate the challenges their given role throws at them daily, whether through technical skills, communication, thought leadership, or more.
Our commitment to maintaining a results-oriented environment stems from the belief that technical skills can be cultivated, but being a good person and having a strong foundation of values that align with the company is essential for long-term success.
Team Perspective vs. Individual
A great company is a collective effort where every individual plays a vital role in contributing to the overall success. We believe in fostering a culture of collaboration and support, starting from the top leadership down to every team member. One philosophy that’s a focus of ours is the “Giver’s Gain” - the more you give, the more you get! A good team will know to lean on each other for resources and support before going to leadership. At a higher level, we can always accomplish more together than we can individually.
Our 'Bench' framework refers to “building your bench” for every position. Having a bench ensures that every team member is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to support one another, promoting a sense of unity and shared responsibility. By encouraging collaboration and breaking down silos, we maximize our potential as a team, achieving more collectively than we ever could individually. From administrative and development positions to our production team and field crew, this “bench” process and sense of teamwork is universal regardless of role.
Team Perspective vs. Individual
A great company is a collective effort where every individual plays a vital role in contributing to the overall success. We believe in fostering a culture of collaboration and support, starting from the top leadership down to every team member. One philosophy that’s a focus of ours is the “Giver’s Gain” - the more you give, the more you get! A good team will know to lean on each other for resources and support before going to leadership. At a higher level, we can always accomplish more together than we can individually.
Our 'Bench' framework refers to “building your bench” for every position. Having a bench ensures that every team member is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to support one another, promoting a sense of unity and shared responsibility.
By encouraging collaboration and breaking down silos, we maximize our potential as a team, achieving more collectively than we ever could individually. From administrative and development positions to our production team and field crew, this “bench” process and sense of teamwork is universal regardless of role.
Above Image: Carpenter's Apprentice, Anthony, has been diligently working on his precision work. Here, he is narrowing in on measurements and leveling for the new fireplace at our West Seattle New Construction.
Above Image: Freddy, one of our incredible, tenured carpenters on-site setting up a fresh zip door for dust protection and separation of project spaces.
A Focus on Personal Accountability
At Better Builders, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of personal accountability. Our name reflects our commitment to being a better employer, a better member of the community, and a better builder - not just in terms of our quality and products but also in our conduct.
A common phrase among our team is, “Do what is right, even when faced with challenges or adversity, not simply what’s easy.”
This means taking ownership of our actions, holding ourselves and others accountable, and continuously striving for improvement.
By removing ego and emotion, dealing only with facts, and embracing feedback, we ensure our clients receive nothing less than outstanding service. The foundation of our businesses’ success is understanding our customers' dreams and goals and translating those dreams into exceptional spaces with quality materials and fine craftsmanship.
Sustainability
Sustainability lies at the heart of our operations at Better Builders. While sustainability can look different to every company, the root of the commitment should focus on the safety and well-being of employees and clients and minimizing our environmental impact whenever possible.
From job site efforts like using low or no-VOC paints and adhesives to running HEPA air scrubbers on site, we are committed to creating safe and healthy living spaces. Additionally, we embrace the concept of reuse and upcycling, finding innovative ways to minimize waste and maximize efficiency. This may look like ample recycling and composting bins in our office, team members using digital devices like tablets to reduce paper consumption, and even a few hybrid company vehicles!
The construction industry is a major contributor to environmental damage, and we acknowledge our role in addressing this issue. We are working every day to be a little bit better and find new, cost-effective ways to further our mission of “building green.” As long-time members of the Master Builders Association Built Green community, we embody their mission to serve as the driving force for environmentally sound design, construction, and development practices in Washington’s cities and communities. We believe that slowly but surely, building green will become the norm for residential new construction and remodeling.
Above Image: This yellow window is one of many features in this home that came from repurposing pieces of the old house. What used to be an exterior window on this historic home was repainted and repurposed as a feature window for the homeowner's new home office!
Becoming a Little Bit Better, Each and Every Day
The path to company greatness is not linear but multifaceted. At Better Builders, we believe that true excellence hinges on three key areas:
- Delivering exceptional products and services
- Exceeding client expectations
- Fostering a collaborative and accountable work environment for our team.
By prioritizing these principles, we aim to revolutionize residential construction and set a new standard of excellence in the industry. Our Vision is to challenge tradition and redefine the design-build process to consistently provide an excellent client experience.
We strive to be a business that homeowners dream of working with and a team that job seekers yearn to work for. Join us on this journey towards a brighter, more sustainable future for residential construction and leading the way in what it means to be an equitable employer in our industry. 
