Client: Werner and Heidi Käch

Project: Cielo Paraiso, Boquete, Panama

Cell phone: 00507-6704-4466

E-mail: kaech.werner@swissonline.ch

What type of project are you doing?

We are currently having our new home built.

What role is Constructive Solution filling in your new home construction?

Constructive Solution is serving as construction manager for our project, overseeing every phase from the design and planning to the actual construction.

Have you been involved with projects in the past that had problems?

I have many years of experience in the financial industry and because of this experience I have seen what can happen when a project goes badly. Dirk has legal authority to act on our behalf and he is making sure those kinds of problems don’t arise here.

Have there been any unexpected issues? How did CS help?

While reviewing the designs, Dirk informed us that certain aspects were going to drive our cost higher than we had planned. With his help we were able to correct that before it actually happened.

Is Constructive Solution an easy company to work with?

Working with Dirk has been a pleasure. He is very well educated and had a “no nonsense” approach to his work. We speak German so most times that is how we communicate with Dirk. The fact that he speaks four different languages is a tremendous help!

How is the quality of the service you received from Constructive Solution so far?

Everything is going very well. We are building a “smart house” and Dirk’s highly organized approach makes sure that things are done correctly.

Do you feel that you are saving money by using Constructive Solution?

Yes we are. Constructive Solution is excellent at negotiating and we believe that the cost savings are more than paying for their fee.

Is your project on time and on budget?

Yes it is. In fact, we are ahead of schedule!

Any other thoughts or comments?

We highly recommend Dirk and Construction Solution. We have neither the time nor the technical expertise to oversee the construction and we are able to count on Dirk and Constructive Solution.

 

Werner and Heidi Käch

Cielo Paraiso, Boquete, Panama

Client: Rick and Rose Cowan

Project: Cielo Paraiso, Boquete, Panama

E-mail: rickwcowan@yahoo.com

 

What is the nature of your project?

My wife and I are in the process of having our new home built.

What role is Constructive Solution filling in your new home construction?

Constructive Solution is handling the responsibilities of construction manager for our project, supervising every phase from reviewing the initial designs and negotiating prices for materials to overseeing the actual project.

You’ve built other homes before. Did you experience anything in the past that you would have avoided with Constructive Solution?

Cost over-runs; that is where I’ve seen problems before. Whether it is overpriced materials or poorly planned budgets, rising costs have always been a problem. Dirk thoroughly reviewed the designs, suggested some cost-saving changes and negotiated discounts for materials.

For your new home project, has CS been able to assist with any unexpected problems?

Like I said before, there were elements in our original designs that built in higher costs; Dirk found these areas and we were able to make changes that saved money. In addition, he reviewed the bids, worked to get lower prices for goods and services, and even handled all of the language issues for us. While we are able to speak some Spanish, having a construction manager that is fluent eliminates any misunderstandings. In fact, the only problem that we’ve had that he couldn’t fix is the weather and he has even come up with some ideas around that!

Is Constructive Solution an easy company to work with?

It is very easy to work with Dirk. Simply put, he does what he says! Having Dirk on the project raises our level of confidence. We may be out of the country for a couple of months and we can leave knowing that our new home project is in his capable hands.

Quality of the service is a big thing in a project like this. What level of performance have you received from Constructive Solution so far?

Things are really coming along very well. Constructive Solution is very professional and Dirk is a very thorough and honest man.

Do you feel that you are saving by using Constructive Solution?

I believe we are saving in two ways. First, with Dirk’s involvement in planning and negotiating, we were able to save money. We are obviously very pleased about that. Second, we have peace of mind with Dirk on the jobsite; while the money is very important, you cannot put a price on having confidence that your new house is being built by someone who cares.

How is your project looking as far as time and budget?

If you can believe it, we are actually under budget at this time! As far as the schedule, the weather hasn’t been helping us but we know Constructive Solution is doing everything they can to keep things moving on schedule.

Any other thoughts or comments?

From the very first day we have been impressed with Dirk and Construction Solution. He is a valuable asset to our house project! As I said before, Dirk is someone who does what he says he will do.

Client: Hocine Boukhenaissi

Project: Penthouse Casa Testa, Casco Viejo, Panamá

Cell phone: 00507-66674-3342

E-mail: hocinetravel@yahoo.fr

Webpage: http://www.quetzal-motivo.com/

 

 What was your project?

I purchased the penthouse of Casa Testa, which is a 100-year old building in Panama City’s Casco Viejo district. My entire penthouse needed to be redesigned and renovated.

What role did Constructive Solution take in your project?

Dirk was responsible for the construction management. He was involved in everything: the redesign, the renovation, the reconstruction, the material selection and the budget control.

Have you had problems with other projects in the past?

Yes. About 10 years ago I had architectural problems with another house, so I know what can go wrong with a project. There were structural problems, material problems and unexpected roof damage. The architect was no help and it had a negative impact on my project.

Did any unexpected problems come up this time? What did CS do?

There were several things. First, I changed the entire design at the last minute. The architect did not help me so I had to rely on Dirk and his expertise. There were also a number of material problems. I was away when the problems occurred but Dirk kept me informed with Emails and pictures. Acting as an extension of me, he was able to resolve the problems and make the project a success.

Was Constructive Solution an easy company to work with?

It gave me great peace of mind working with Dirk. The initial design was for two separate penthouse suites and I decided at the last minute that I wanted to make it one large penthouse. Since the architect was no help, I relied on Dirk to help me with this undertaking. Because he is so proactive and logistical, we were able to totally revamp the project in less than three weeks and not impact the schedule for the entire building.

How was the quality of the service you received from Constructive Solution?

I think this was quality project for everyone involved. The owners got great work and Dirk had an excellent calling card for promoting Constructive Solution. I think this was a great first project for him.

Did you save money by using Constructive Solution?

Yes. Simply put, I believe that Dirk is a great value, especially with his approach and ability to communicate not only with the owners but with the local contractors.

Was your project on time and on budget?

This project was a good deal for everyone. There were other floors with stores and apartments, and Dirk kept things on schedule and on budget.

 

Any other thoughts or comments?

I am in the process of planning a new project. When it is ready, I will be calling Dirk again to be my construction manager.