Steve, the manager for our project did everything he could to make us comfortable and met any needs we had along the way.
Member Profile
Hofmann Design Build, Inc. is metropolitan New Jersey's leading design/build remodeling firm, with more than 20 remodeling awards and 25 years of experience specializing in remodeling of large scale renovations, additions and custom homes. Our mission is to make the remodeling process a painless experience. From the first meeting with our design staff through the final stages of construction our goal is to communicate with you and instill confidence in our process. We are always available to answer questions and to solve unexpected problems. The design build process eliminates the need for endless meetings with architects, designers and builders. We take responsibility for your project from start to finish, from budget to schedule. Please visit our website for more information and a gallery of our work. Read more
http://www.hofmanndb.com/gallery-of-homes.html
Guildmaster Award Winner
2006 Guildmaster
GuildQuality Partner Affiliations Remodelers Advantage
Affiliations
GuildQuality
National Association of the Remodeling Industry
National Kitchen and Bath Association
Guildmaster Q&A
Company History
Hofmann Design Build, Inc. (HDB) is the actualization of Ernst Hofmann's long-time dream. Beginning as an apprentice carpenter at the age of 18, Hofmann worked in the field for ten years before obtaining his degree in civil engineering technology. In 1983, he founded HDB in Summit, N.J. Today, HDB is metropolitan New Jersey's leading design/build remodeling firm, with more than 20 remodeling awards and 21 years of experience specializing in remodeling of large scale renovations, additions and custom homes. The company attributes a great deal of its success to it commitment to building relationships with its clients and providing the highest quality, service and reliability.
Scope of Work
HDB, a full-service design/build remodeling firm, specializes in residential remodeling, custom home construction, historic restoration and light commercial remodeling. The company has received at least one Community Builders Association "Award of Excellence" every year since 1992. Recent awards for HDB's work include: 2004 Community Builders Association Award of Excellence - Best Kitchen; 2004 Community Builders Association Awards of Excellence - Best Commercial Renovation Under $1,000,000; and 2004 Community Builders Association Awards of Excellence - Best Addition/Alteration over $750,000.
Workload and Staff
Currently HDB's construction schedule is full through the end of this year with several projects in design for construction next year.
The HDB staff is made up of a team of highly trained and experienced project managers and in-house carpenters. All HDB employees have a minimum of ten years of specialized remodeling and home construction experience. Our project managers each have over twelve years of field experience. HDB carpenters are trained to work as teams. They are experienced in all forms of rough and finish carpentry, as well as job site safety and protection. The primary focus of all the employees at HDB is quality, service and reliability. Project managers can be reached 24 hours a day in the result of an emergency.
HDB also works with a group of carefully selected and screened subcontractors with which it has developed long term relationships so that all subcontractors meet Hofmann's quality and service standards.
More than 90% of your clients would recommend your firm to a friend. How do you earn such high praise from your customers?
HDB consistently strives to provide great value and quality in our process and our product. The entire company is committed to exceeding our client's expectations. We keep them organized and carefully guide them through a very difficult and unfamiliar process.
Approach to Working With Clients
One of the many benefits of working with HDB is our attention to every detail of the quality and the aesthetic balance in the entire project. "We have a tremendous brain trust and information base to draw from as a result of twenty years of remodeling old buildings which adds value to our client's projects." "We build old houses." Hofmann is a customer intimate company, we build relationships with our clients and "we go to great lengths to work closely with them and maintain architectural continuity and balance throughout the design and construction process." HDB guides our clients through the entire selections process so that all of the finishes and products to be used in the construction project are selected prior to construction. We help our clients through this process to avoid the last minute decisions and changes that plague and slow down most construction projects. We spend the time before the job starts to develop answers to the plethora of questions and issues that otherwise disrupt and delay the project schedule. Job site meetings are a regular part of an HDB project, where the construction team reviews drawings, material selections and the schedule with the client prior to each phase of construction. Our employees are trained to work as teams and to be responsible and courteous while working in a client's home.
Avoiding Burnout
Through creating a company culture that freely shares ideas, access to information, is focused on team building teamwork and excellent communication. Teams don't burn out, individuals do.
What should clients bring to the table and contribute during the construction process? What can they do to help make the relationship a success?
Clients should be as organized and as united as possible related to making design decisions and product selections. They should have a detailed and thorough list of the areas of the building that do not meet their needs and require improvement from which we will develop the project program.
How do you market your company?
Almost 100 percent of HDB's clients are from referrals. The company does limited marketing through local news papers and some local networking.
What are the biggest challenges facing companies like yours in the building industry? What are some of the challenges facing your business right now?
Our biggest challenge is a shortage of qualified employee candidates and ever increasing, restrictive and poorly thought out ordinances imposed by local zoning and planning boards.
Customer Feedback Summary
82 out of 107 customers responded to a survey
Likely to Recommend
Concern For Needs
Communication
Clean & Safe
Employee Professional And Courteous
Expertise
Kitchen Designer Organized
Office Staff Professional And Courteous
Sales Attentiveness
Professional & Organized
Trust
Value
Recent Reviews & Published Comments
The tile craftsmanship was really done by an artisan. The carpentry was done at a very high level. Their paperwork was organized and effectively communicated how the project would work.
The willingness to build per my exacting standards, blending the old house with the new in a seamless manner, willing to work with me until I was 100% satisfied, the daily clean-up of job site, minimizing disruptions to my personal schedule.
I was most satisfied with the quality of the work.
We found our experience with Hofmann to be extremely satisfactory and we could not have been happier on the final product. We found the Brett and his team were very conscious of our living during the construction and there were none if minor interruptions.
The project plan was so detailed and based on a wealth of historical experience / data, and the associated costs were itemized at such granular level that my confidence was high in their ability to meet their deadlines ON TIME and ON BUDGET even before the project began. ANd the results proved their time / cost estimates to be 'spot on'.Loved the crew. On a couple of occasions the proj mgr himself was not pleased w/ the look of a couple of design details during construction and offered up alternatives for our consideration. I'm *so* pleased that he treated the project as if it were his OWN home. We heeded his advice in all examples (3 or so), and have NO regrets.
HDB's approach / results / staff greatly exceeded my expectations. They're head and shoulders above so many other vendors used by friends / family / myself.
We've recommended HDB to multiple friends who are planning home additions in the future.
When we relayed a few minor problems during the project, they responded in real time. They instantly contacted relevant subcontractors and requested short turn-arounds for closure.
Timely, responsive, friendly, professional communications occurred at all times.
We're delighted w/ the outcome.
HDB's project planning prowess was remarkable. Attention to detail to the Nth degree and 'cushion' added to numerous tasks dramatically increased the firm's likelihood of hi-quality completion ON TIME.
The project manager and his communication. He kept me up to date throughout the whole process. He had an ability to understand our needs when there were any snags. He was able to deal with any problems very effectively.
Our project manager, Steve, is wonderful. He is very professional, knowledgeable, accessible, and helpful. Also, all of your sub-contractors have been very professional, as well.
Hofmann staff were always available, easy to contact and eager to resolve any issues
We fully intend to hire them again for any project we might do, I wouldn't use anyone else but Hofman Design Build for my future remodeling projects.
They completed the project within the time frame. They were quick and efficient.
Everything is built beyond expectations, when we started we had no idea the value and detail that would go in to this. I've told Ernie the most stressful thing was when I had to choose wall color! I mean really, when that's the worse part, you know it's been great! It was all very pleasant and everything in the house is all together.
The planning before it started and the selection process was excellent and very easy. Once the project began, everything moved quickly and on schedule and we were pleased with that.
Very good experience. NIce people - pleasant to work with.
It was a big job and handled wonderfully. They made it as painless as possible.
Everything was the best.
I am very satisfied with them.
Our experience with Hofmann was wonderful. From the bidding process to finishing up with the punch list, every employee was helpful and professional. Not only would we recommend Hofmann to our friends - we have recommended them to many friends. I think the fact that we used them later for another project (without even having anyone else bid on that project) shows how much we trust Ernst and all of his employees!
Guildmember since 2005
As a GuildQuality Guildmember, Hofmann Design Build relies on our customer surveying to help them deliver an exceptional customer experience.
We have surveyed customers on behalf of Hofmann Design Build in Chatham, NJ; Madison, NJ; Short Hills, NJ; Summit, NJ; Stratford, NJ; Maplewood, NJ; Livingston, NJ; North Arlington, NJ; Morris Township, NJ; Basking Ridge, NJ; and 22 other cities in New Jersey.
In this report, Hofmann Design Build has published a summary of the customer feedback they've received since they joined GuildQuality in February 2005. In that time, 82 out of 107 customers (77%) responded to a GuildQuality satisfaction survey, with the most recent response in May 2010.
Recent Activity
Hofmann Design Build received feedback from a customer in Chatham, NJ.
06/18/10
Hofmann Design Build received feedback from a customer in Chatham, NJ.
06/18/10
Hofmann Design Build received feedback from a customer in Maplewood, NJ.
06/09/10
Hofmann Design Build received feedback from a customer in Madison, NJ.
06/01/10
Hofmann Design Build received feedback from a customer in Madison, NJ.
05/25/10