It's MOVING WEEK for BNP Realtors!
On September 30th, we're wishing a final adieu to our beloved office on Squalicum Way.
BNP has been based there since 2016.We doubled our team size there.
We relied on its open-office architecture to learn from each other there.
We helped over 1000 buyers and sellers there.
We hosted a number of unforgettable "wine and taco" socials there.
We launched our beloved "Fill the truck" events there.
And, with your help, we put BNP Realtors solidly on the map there.
Now, *because* it was such an awesome start-up location and setting for us, we are ready to grow, and move to a new, bigger, better headquarters!Beginning on Saturday, October 1st, BNP Realtors will be based at our new building located at 1100 Lakeway Drive, right by Whole Foods.
We're still finishing the remodel, so don't plan a pop-by just yet.
But it's all coming together beautifully, and over the next several weeks as the final trim boards are installed, paint is touched up, furniture is assembled, and internet is switched on, we'll begin coming and going from the Lakeway building full-time.
In this blog post, please allow me to share praise and pics of some of the subcontractors and suppliers that have made the remodel MIRACULOUSLY come together with timeliness and efficiency.
In this time of supply chain chaos, "indefinite" wait times for good contractors, eyebrow-raising staffing shortages, and -- oh yeah -- all of that during the absolute busiest time of year, the Lakeway building remodel has unfolded like a Swiss watch.
For that I could not be more grateful.
I can't wait to share pics of the fully-finished project.
Meanwhile, below are a few shout-outs to those who infused their awesomeness!
The remodel couldn't have happened without the guidance, architects, carpenters, and logistical help of Highline Construction.
Highline's owner Trevor Swezey has become a close friend and partner-in-adventure over the past few years.
We meet up for weekly hikes or swimrun outings and talk business with our third amigo, Isaac, who I will introduce a bit later.
I can't thank Trevor and his team at Highline enough.
It was never even a dicussion that we would need new flooring throughout the entire building.
For that, I simply tasked BNP Realtor Paulina Antczak (whose family owns and operates Fairhaven Floors) to make it happen.
Paulina and Grace chose the *PERFECT* product from Fairhaven Floor's showroom, and the crew absolutely ROCKED the installation.
My good friend Rick Kukowski over at Windsor Plywood measured out and assembled the door and trim package for all 4500 square feet of interior space.
I don't have to tell you how deep my love runs for beautiful wood installed through a building, and Windsor knocks it out of the park every time!The Lakeway building has four commercial heating-and-cooling units, two installed at ground level, two on the roof top.
Three of them were at the end of their design life and ready for replacement.
Father-and-son Dave and Noah Mireault at Bellingham Plumbing and Heating were the only ones I would trust for that job.
(Dave and his crew also came to the rescue during last summer's "heat dome" and quickly saved our bacon by installing a 4-head mini-split air conditioning system at our house.)
From the start, we knew he most transformative exterior element would be the paint job.
We only made one call: to my great friend of almost 20 years, Bill Bounds.
Bill's company Colorbond Painting does a TON of work for BNP Realtors every year, and the professionalism, craftsmanship, and always-pleasant interactions keep them solidly at the top of our list.
(When Grace and I went into Rodda Paint to choose colors, the salesman we spoke with said, "Bill is the best. I've been in this business for 30 years and I have never met anyone like Bill.")
At BNP we love our plants, and the Lakeway building has four separate planter beds that allow for some landscape expression.
Fortunately, one of my closest friends and the third amigo who hikes and swimruns with Trevor and I is Isaac Burrous.
Isaac and his wife Laurie became the owners of Kent's Nursery earlier this year, and if you're a fellow plant-lover, you know KENT'S IS THE PLACE!
Isaac and his crew spent yesterday cleaning the beds and will be enriching the soil before bringing in the new greenery -- which I will proudly share pics of once it's in.
The interior layout was close to perfect before we laid a finger on it, but we did create 6 new offices all of which needed electrical and data outlets and switches.
We also installed over 100 new can lights...
10 security camera locations...Upgraded every switch and outlet...
And upgraded the fire alarm control panel.
We entrusted all this to Tom Dillon of Dillon Electric, and would not have called anyone else!
Tom and Sal worked day in and out as we threw change orders and curve balls at them the whole time, and they smiled all the way through it.
The stairway has a prominent location in our main lobby area, and the existing sheetrocked railing wall was too bland and utilitarian for our tastes.
So we designed a black steel and stainless cable railing feature to make it more interesting.
To fabricate it, we hired PFC Manufacturing and have been so pleased with their careful attention to detail and testing / tweaking for an exact fit.
There were several interior areas where we wanted some wood with more character than the vertical grain, clear-finish trim wood.
For this, we hired Jeffrey Elkins at Renew Wood to make us some material from his collection of salvaged Douglas Fir.
If you've been in any Woods Coffee locations, you will have seen plenty of Jeffrey's material making up the tables and trim details.
This list is far from complete.
Others we are indebted to include:
Yukon Drywall and master finisher Maili Smithson
West Coast Windows
Security Solutions
Bellingham Lock and Safe
Stratum Group
Myriad Network Solutions
Pacific NW Eco Insulation
Risk Solutions Unlimited
McKenzie Spoor of Ideation
Of course, Hardware Sales!
Last but not least...None of this would have been possible without the steadfast work ethic and performance of every single member of BNP Realtors.
Grace Young
Kate Polselli
Chara Stuart
Chelsea Messer
Alana Mey
Jacson Bevens
Paulina Antczak
Jessa Louden
The absolute DREAM TEAM!
*Oh yeah, and while the team packs up their work stations and tools of the trade to make the big move, they've continued to ROCK N ROLL for our clients.
Year to date we're at 138 closed sales with 26 currently Pending.
I can't thank you enough, Crew!
Again, when we're fully moved in, operational, and somewhat settled, I will proudly share more photos.
