Willen Boord
Dear Steven,
I‘ve been in business for over 40 years enjoying success and a quality reputation. It‘s rare these days to work with a company and more importantly, the individual who runs the company who is such a fine representation of honesty and integrity; integrity that is beyond reproach. Your candor has saved our partnership in the neighborhood of $60,000–$80,000 in anticipated Phase 2 constructions costs and moreover, your efforts have prevented the need to retrofit a building that need not be retrofitted which for a small partnership, is a significant amount. Additionally, with this particular building due to become vacant, we would have been unable to advise our current tenant or new tenant prospects of the impact such work would have on their business operations as well as the impact of downtime on time periods that the tenant‘s business would need to be closed. This in itself, was a significant detriment.
I can‘t thank you enough for your expeditious handling of submitting and securing approval from the City of Santa Monica (last week) advising us that the City concluded that our subject building is not a URM building but rather wood frame.
By way of reference, I was recently referred to your company by a close friend that runs Sandhill Management. Sandill is a highly respected real estate related entity that manages numerous real estate holdings throughout the western United States. The principal in Sandhill is a licensed contractor, architect and a savvy successful developer. He referred me to your company because of your seismic–retrofit efforts on behalf of companies Sandhill either has developed, manages or are family owned.
Prior to reaching out to your company, our partnership had contracted with a local design build company in September of last year. This was in response to an August, 2017 seismic retrofit compliance letter from the City of Santa Monica indicating that a visual inspection of the subject building indicated that it was a URM building which therefore required compliance. I met with the design build company‘s representatives, shortly thereafter, including one of their engineers at the site and was thereafter provided the design build company‘s Contract spelling out the details, costs and fees in the engineering Phase 1 requirement to comply with the City Mandate. I was advised that this Phase would take approximately 8–12 weeks to complete with the design build company securing all necessary permits and approved plans. Because the time element continued well beyond the 8–12 weeks period, I frequently reached out to the design build company regarding status. The
customary response was “we‘re working on the process awaiting the City approval“. Once secured, I was told the design build company would then be able to be provide me with a Contract for the construction work (Phase 2). Finally, after numerous calls on my behalf regarding status as well as email requests over a 9–10 month period, I received a call from the design build company, advising me that they were overburdened with work, forced to turn down many other jobs and therefore could not complete the construction phase of the job. My first thought was this perhaps explained why 8–12 weeks became 9–10 months. At that time, there was not much I could do other than look for another seismic retrofit contractor.
The design build company‘s inability to complete the job turned out to be a most fortuitous outcome providing me the good fortune of reaching out to Saunders Construction. From the outset, during our short business relationship, you advised me that you were fairly certain that our building was not properly classified as an URM but rather likely, it was wood framing. From a visual standpoint looking at pictures, it appeared one could conclude it was a URM but with your construction background and review of the design build company‘s plans, coupled with your Project Manager‘s site inspection, there was serious doubt. In reviewing the plans, you quickly concluded the building was wood framing and that the design build company plans never should have been developed and submitted to the City in the first place. A visual inspection of the building including some minor boring/roof penetrations, would have and should have told the design build company that the building was wood framed. The design build company needlessly and carelessly missed the obvious and should have figured it out. As result, almost a year of time was wasted of mine and thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs and fees incurred
I hope to have the opportunity to be a source of referral with any of your customers regardless of the scope of the construction related job(s). I can‘t say enough about you and the untold appreciation for your efforts on our behalf. You‘re a rare jewel.
With gratitude and appreciation.
Many thanks,
willen boord