By now, a personal needs assessment by an engineer has become the trademark of our company. We facilitate this process, in that our customers who request a quote may decide on the question of closing systems on the basis of an objective and clear set of requirements.
The main goal of developers is that, once in the completed property, they themselves and their loved ones feel safe and comfortable. In this, closing systems play a key role, since this is the only building structure with which the inhabitants have physical contact every day of the week. It determines the feel of comfort linked to the residential building, and in addition it influences their quality of life. That is why we consider it important that our customers decide on the structures to be integrated following an assessment of their needs, as thoroughly as possible.
Our needs assessment is a longer conversation, in which we look for answers to the customer’s questions, sent in advance to KAV’s architect or engineer who prepares the quote. During this process, we explore all developer and user needs, and the technical requirements and standards affecting the closing systems. More specifically, the design and manufacturing of closing systems is considered to be a separate trade within the construction industry material package. During the construction, this is one of the biggest financial items; in addition, the selection of the appropriate closing system determines many convenience, usage and aesthetic issues. We therefore recommend that developers, which usually do not participate in the preparatory tasks with regard to general construction materials, also take part in this needs assessment. Namely, a decision needs to be made on those values and products that determine quality of life, which usually cannot be modified later on, due to the nodal solutions, or where any retrospective correction would blow the construction budget. As such, it is important that the developer already listens to the specialised engineer’s set of criteria, unique ideas and solutions in the preparatory phase and has a look at and tries the demonstration products, in parallel with which we thoroughly clarify the developer’s needs and usage functions. In this way we can avoid situations where the developer meets our idea or a product suggestion that he likes at a more advanced stage in the implementation, when it is no longer feasible. If you think about it, you would not buy a car without having a look at it at least once, and test-driving it or listening to the salesperson. This process is unavoidable for closing systems too, which are also costly products that determine the comfort zone.
One sentence can be heard in every needs assessment at KAV: “every property is sold once…”. Why is it important to talk about it? It is not enough that the developer has the family home built on the basis of his own needs; it needs to be liked by others, even by a future buyer. That’s why we propose versions; the extension of the sliding or opening functions that could seem unnecessary, an exaggeration or an extra; however, with these solutions, the building gains a liveable and useable nature, even with different furniture arrangements. It is worth thinking about upfront since, if we sell the house later on, the operation of the glass roof, the sliding wall or other closing structure will not prevent the new inhabitants from creating a safe and comfortable home.