Marv and Pat Schuessler had already chosen their house plan and were shopping for land when they met Tom Bockenstedt, the builder and “B” behind B & H Builders. Tom tactfully pointed out that while the couple wanted a new house, they were using a 1970 plan.

“With Tom’s advice, we changed a lot, made many updates, and boy are we glad,” said Marv Schuessler. “Tom knows his stuff.”

Newcomers to the home-building experience may wonder where the process begins and ends, what happens in between, and how a builder combines these steps and builds a home.

In the first meeting between B & H and client, the building process is explained in detail. It’s at this point that a serious client signs a preconstruction agreement. The four-page contract clearly outlines the general building process.

Sometimes that first meeting is on-site, with plans in hand. Or the clients have no plans but do have a clear vision of the home they want. B & H sizes up the land vs. the intended house site.

A design is set, guided by an architect or designer. Estimates are generated. From these early meetings, job specifications are outlined in a five-or so page list detailing materials to be used in building the home. As the general contractor, and conscientious overseer, B & H is the central driving force behind all work done on a house.

“We would rather be part of all services, instead of being simply, ‘The Builder,’ ” said Celeste Holloway, the “H” in B & H, and Tom’s better half.

Clients receive regular communication about their home’s progress. They are guided by allowances for materials, such as, say, $15,000 for electrical fixtures. These accumulating expenditures are tracked on the client’s behalf by Celeste.

Clients are guided through the range of materials options by visiting the B & H Builders showcase to see samples of wood floors and doors, windows, different woods, etc. Celeste also guides through the market’s thousands of other choices.

Building a house takes six months minimum, while nine months is the average.

B & H made the process smooth for Marv and Pat. “In the end, Tom told us when he would be finished, and he worked overtime to get us in on schedule,” Pat explained.