Excerpts, from various interviews for locally published articles, about building and Bill's design role:

Quite often, depending on the situation, the customers sit with me as I draw ideas for them on my laptop. They love it, and we can get a lot accomplished that way.

My favorite part of the job is meeting new people and helping them achieve their dreams. I enjoy seeing a design come together as a finished product. I also like working with the area contractors I've known for years. We know what to expect from each other.

My biggest challenge is in creating a design that meets client needs while meeting their budget. Sometimes the budgets are extremely tight, and that's when I get really creative.

The technology is improving all the time, so I do my homework when it comes to software. I'm proficient in several programs, and the customers are always amazed to see what can be done–especially with the 3D components.

I tend to be brutally honest with customers, but, for the most part, they end up appreciating it. If they want something that just isn't going to work, is going to cost too much money, or cause an unnecessary expense, or I can tell they won't be happy with off-paper, I'm not shy. My objective is to have them be happy in the end, with both the house and the building experience.

I'd hate to be doing what I do right now without the benefit of all those years of experience building, estimating, and selling building materials, etc., right in my back pocket. I can't tell you the number of times that knowledge has helped me come up with a solution to a tough design problem or difficult situation. Fuel for the imagination, I guess.

I've built houses … and I'm glad I have, because I really think that kind of experience is invaluable for the customer in the design stage … and invaluable for the carpenters at the drafting stage. I know what kind of seemingly simple detail will inflate the cost, and usually how to get around it from both perspectives. I can figure out how something unusual can be done. And I can draw it so it can be built. My goal is no surprises during construction that will cause delays, cause an increase in expenses, or even worse, force a change mid-stream in the structural space … the living space … that the homeowner has to live with, but isn't happy about.

I like to use my experience to help people. Building a house is one of the most expensive things you'll do in your life. Making a small investment up-front for some careful planning, some good advice, and a good set of working plans will go a long way towards a happy and cost-effective outcome. I like to think you could ask any one of my customers who have come away from their experience with me, and they'd tell you exactly that themselves.