KHLH, Inc. was recently featured in Builder/ Architect magazine. Ask for a copy!

"How long have you been in business?"

Since 1986. We worked as Kent Hanson Custom Home Builders until we incorporated as KHLH in 1990.

"How willing are you to accomodate our particular needs and interests?"

Very willing. Extremely willing. That's the central theme of what we do. Our goal is to satisfy you, and to work closely with clients to thoroughly understand and actualize their conceptions.

"How much do your homes differ from each other?"

All of our homes are different. That's part of the very nature of being a custom builder. We build to your desires, not based on cookie- cutter plans. We believe the customer is capable of knowing what his or her preferences are and doesn't need to be told what he or she likes or needs by someone else.

Of course, since we do this for a living we have knowledge a client might not, so we need to serve as a resource for customers. We are also able to suggest winning designs or to provide interior modifications of particularly appealling homes previously built. We want to be as helpful as possible.

In addition, we do pride ourselves in maintaining the common thread of quality throughout all our homes. The client is in charge of all decisions and ultimately has the final say regarding specifications. But we will build with our standards of quality as our guiding principle. If its worth building, its worth building well.

"Are your prices competitive?"

Of course! We bid out all our jobs even though we do have a number of tried and true subs. We have built special relationships with a number of suppliers over the years as well. And as a small business, we are able to minimize the waste and innefficiency and overhead so often associated with larger businesses.

Remember though, you can build the same home for substantially less if you use substatially inferior materials and products. If your goal is solely to build cheaply, you need to use cheap products. So if you compare one of our quality homes with an inferior one, you may well find that ours costs more per square foot. But if you compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges, you'll find you can't get a better deal than we can come up with for you.

"What about hidden costs?"

We are upfront about costs and charges, and our allowances are reasonable. Sometimes this is a drawback for us, from a sales perspective. To make a deal, some builders bury the full cost of a home by limiting allowance amounts, not specifying options, failing to disclose incidental charges, and by charging for post-construction work. We will NOT do this!

We cover our overhead expenses by a general contracting fee, usually on a percentage basis. We have bills to pay too, and that's the way our system works. But we want to always conduct ourselves honestly and fairly. Our business can thrive on its own merits. We don't need to hide costs. And we would find such practices morally objectionable and reprehensible.

"Do you guarantee your work?"

Yes, absolutely. What many people fail to realize about home construction is that it is an involved and complicated process and that there are numerous gliches that can and will occur. It is for this reason that it is so critical to rely on a builder who will provide lasting service.

In addition, there is a normal settling process that all houses go through. So, one year after a homeowner has moved in, we will go back and conduct a thorough tour to establish what yet needs to be adjusted or touched up.

We have a clear and extensive warranty specially designed by and for KHLH. In fact, Kent and Lew wrote an article for The Journal of Light Construction, a nationally published journal for the construction industry, in July of 1994. In it, they discussed how we have set up each category of the process listing the construction standard, possible deficiencies, and our responsibility for repair.

"Budget concerns preclude us from a full-blown luxury home, but we still want a quality home. Do you work with folks like us with budget constraints?"

Sure we do. If you want a quality, custom home, come see us. Part of our flexibility is in being able to find creative solutions to people's unique circumstances. There are lots of little tricks one can use to cut back on cost without sacrificing value.

Our Normandy, Rosemont, and Stanton are good examples of cost-conscious homes. For discussion about cost efficiency, please visit these links.

"Our last home was built by a carpenter who did his own general contracting as a means of 'buying' his own jobs. He may have increased his profit this way, but when I tried to contact him with problems or repairs upon completion, I could never reach him by phone or even locate him in person. How confident can I be that YOU will be around after the project is complete?"

The problem of the vanishing builder is unfortunately too common. Many people are shortsighted when they think about building. They forget that the job extends beyond the construction and closing. The very nature of homebuilding makes it very important to find a builder who is established and whose business is enduring. We have been in business for 15 years, and we will be here for you for follow-up.

"Do you belong to the MBA?"

Yes, we are members of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Business Association. The MBA is an important tool for instituting standards industry-wide. It also provides proceedures for dispute reconciliation. And it is a resource for information and contract materials. We are proud to be part of the MBA and its companion organization, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).