“It is with the greatest of all joys that we are now preparing to move into “Storybook”. We have established a date with Marty of 8/22, but there are some things that will be put in a bit before — shades in the bedroom for one, all else to follow in proper order.
We were presented with a magnificent brass plate with the name of Storybook and the years of our dream. In truth, it brought tears to my eyes and I had to excuse myself from the room, least I make things awkward for those around me. We are eternally grateful for your recognition of our hearts and of a dream long held. Thank you. It is to be set on the front porch in short order.
We hold that the plate will serve as evidence of Talon’s dedication to us, your clients, and to the adage that when a man truly loves what he does, then it is not work, but rather a joyful thing, self-evident in his craft, Such as it is with Talon.
The house is a true work of art – true craftsmanship, highest of quality, every attention to detail that could be tended to. We wanted for nothing more. The house is beautiful beyond all imagination.
A few things that I must add:
The process of building this house has been a huge learning curve for us. Your staff made it a point to take the time to explain each step along the way to us, keeping things running smoothly and clearly. There was very little stress, other than worrying about the men out in the cold when the house was begun…You have good men.
Of course, I must mention Marty Holly. He is quite simply the best. Honorable, encyclopedic in his knowledge, an incredible eye for detail and scale, exquisite taste for the finer things to be considered for a house such as Storybook while working within the budget. Very honest with me about selections, helpful but not intrusive. Integrity beyond the norm. Not even a cigarette butt could be found on the property. Ever! He held the respect of every man there. It was clear. He was my rock — I could not have done this without him. You were quite correct when you said that you were putting your best man on this job. He is the best. Plain and simple. I hope to remain in touch with him throughout the years, as I now consider him my friend.
I have met so many wonderful people – Hippie, Will…. the electricians, the painters the plumbers, the tillers, one and all… everyone was a delight to talk to. I always tried my best to show my appreciation for their workmanship. They took great pride in being recognized for what they do. Their names will all be part of Storybook forever more. They all said – to the man – that it was a beautiful house, and that they were proud to be a part of it.
The grounds are waiting to be landscaped, and I look forward to working with landscape architects to create gardens that will be worthy of this house.
All in good time…Should you ever decide that you want photos of it, please allow us to do this for you. We are working with decorators as I write this, wanting so much to ensure that the integrity of the design of the house is carried through into its final touches.
I do hope that you will visit, and will look forward to seeing you in the future as a great friend. I hope it brings you great joy to know of the joy that you bring to others. It is a great gift to give.
The house will outlive us all, and its history will travel with it in the form of a great story, bound for all time in its own book. I will pass a copy to you when it is complete.
From our hearts, we thank you.”
Michael & Ellen L – New custom home in Frederick, MD August 2015
“We highly recommend Talon Construction. They were organized, transparent, reasonably priced and very client friendly. Most importantly, they did a fantastic job with our basement.
Organized – As soon as we called them, Talon set up an appointment to get measurements of our basement. This was our first major home improvement project, so we were unsure what to expect. Talon comprehensively detailed their general process and plan for projects. We were very nicely surprised when they designed three very good and detailed plans for the look of our basement without even a commitment from us to engage them. This immediately put us at ease and fostered our sense of trust in the company.
Transparent – At the onset, Talon was very upfront about the costs of the project. Shortly after taking measurements, Talon provided us with a written estimate. While other contractors we engaged also provided us with costs, the thing that set Talon apart was that it provided detailed and specific descriptions for each part of the project (e.g., identifying what came with the costs), including allowances for specific portions of the project (i.e., flooring, cabinets, bathroom/fixtures). These allowances were generally generous, and covered much of the higher end materials we chose – if we chose items that were below the allowances, those amounts came back to us.
Reasonably Priced – The written estimate that we received was better than the majority of the other contractors that we considered. They stuck to the estimate and the only costs that went over were when we chose higher end items for our bathroom and flooring.
Very Client Friendly – Talon did not pressure us to make a decision on what items we wanted or on our timeframes. When the project started, they let us know far in advance when we needed to make our selections by, so they could complete the project on time. Also, they were always willing to answer questions thoughtfully, with the attitude that no question is too dumb to answer. In addition, when the basement was complete, they came back during the spring to repair grass that was trodden on during the renovation. They also assured us a return visit in the winter (after one season of settling). If anything goes wrong, we feel confident that Talon would come back to address the issue. They were really just a great pleasure to work with.
Another thing that we liked about Talon is their business structure. The three individuals we worked with throughout the process each had a stake in the company, and accordingly, had a stake in the outcome of the basement. We believe that this structure made a big difference.
Overall, we were very pleased with the work of Talon. We set high expectations for the company after hearing great things about them, and were very pleasantly surprised when they exceeded those expectations.”
Ken F. – Basement remodel in Potomac, MD July 2015
“I just don’t have enough stars to express how wonderful my experience has been! From the initial meeting, through the design process, and even including the last walkthrough, the team at Talon displayed exceptional creativity, clear and frequent communication, quality workmanship, attention to detail, pure professionalism. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to use them for my project. There is a reason they are rated as Frederick’s #1 Carpenter/Home Improvement team. I’m a happy, happy homeowner again.”
Lori R. – Outdoor Living Space in Frederick, MD May 2015
“The project looks great and I’m very happy with the work that Talon did. I realize that it was tricky at times in light of the various people involved (and my impatience), so I particularly appreciate Dave’s calm and attentive manner in handling the project.”
Donna R – Basement remodel in Potomac, MD January 2015
“Talon Construction finished our basement. They did a wonderful job. They were very easy to work with and very accommodating. We would hire them again.”
Richard & Barbara R – Basement Remodel in Gaithersburg, MD November 2014