Approachable Expertise

You’ll receive a confirmation email shortly after booking your appointment, and because all clients must  have a simple agreement in place prior to our time together, we’ll email you a copy to review within 24 hours. You have the choice to either sign and send it back electronically, or print out and bring with you the day of your appointment. And of course reach out if you have any questions. 

You’ll work with your real estate agent to ensure access to the property at your desired appointment time. We recommend you do this prior to booking online with us. For approximately 60-90 minutes, we’ll follow your lead and address any questions or concerns you may have about the home.

You might want to know if an area that concerns you is serious or superficial, is a cheap or costly fix, or if there might be a way to alter a space in a way you have envisioned. This is your time to bring up, ask about, or discuss any and everything you want about the property and what it needs, its potential, what is feasible, etc. We’ll talk things through, offer honest feedback, insights, observations and options.

If you’re uncertain, you’ll leave with exponentially more knowledge to help you decide if this is the one for you. We’ll also provide you with a written summary of our discussion and findings after our visit. There is a $450 flat fee for this comprehensive, customized service. However, additional services such as more in-depth research, reports, or renovation planning advice are available as well.  

We’ll meet you in your space to look closely and listen carefully, offering feedback tailored to your unique situation. From reviewing a report, to prioritizing repairs, assessing the feasibility or complexity of a renovation, or offering solutions, options and alternatives, our goal is to meet a range of client needs. A typical 60-90 minute consultation is $250. Fees vary according to scope and complexity, and would be discussed with you in advance. 

Not every question or concern warrants or makes sense for a contractor, designer, engineer, architect, or otherwise. (I know because I’ve been the contractor on the receiving end!). Housewright grew out of a need for a solution to these situations - when what’s needed first and foremost is someone knowledgeable, trustworthy and approachable to provide you guidance, and readiness to engage the right professional at the right time. 

Separate and distinct from the professional scope of a contractor, Housewright offers significantly more in-depth and nuanced assessments, information and advice to assist your decision-making process. Wide-ranging  and multi-faceted expertise, garnered through a unique combination of professional experience in the insurance, engineering and contracting fields has positioned me to effectively address an extensive range of questions and issues - from superficial issues, to structural concerns or renovation planning, and everything in between. 

 Yes, we can absolutely help you think through factors such as feasibility, complexity, scope, potential obstacles, variables and price range as you consider options and make plans. This preliminary step can be really helpful before reaching out to a contractor to move forward (we can also get you connected with a contractor, if and when you’re ready to go that route). 

My consulting business and clients are 100% separate from MacFee Contracting. I will never pressure or even offer the contracting services to consulting clients. In fact, I’m happy to help you connect with a contractor of your choice, in an effort to pave the way for a smoother project. It’s also worth noting that MacFee Contracting is solely focused on outdoor carpentry projects, such as decks, fences, etc. Many consulting clients have entirely different needs. Bottom line? Zero conflict, guaranteed. 

A home inspector will do an overall non-invasive inspection of the building and its components/systems to provide an understanding of a property's condition. We provide something that is perhaps complementary, but entirely different. For example, we can assist in the interpretation of home inspection reports, discern critical from non-critical recommendations, prioritize repairs, clarify terms and answer questions about report findings. We can also use the report to create an individualized plan based on importance, needs, budget, etc. Additionally, we'll provide information or answers to questions that a home inspector will not, such as: whether it’s possible to move a wall, open a wall to add a door, or if it is load-bearing, how much something might cost, whether a floorplan can be revised to incorporate an open design, or how the permitting process works. We cover the gamut and will get into the weeds however deeply you need us to - before OR after a home inspection.