Today I got to meet Joseph Bertrand from Central Vermont Building & Design, LLC. Thank you to Phil Godenschwager for suggesting Joe.
Our meeting was at the house site in Randolph Center on Ridge Road. We were welcomed with kisses from Mazey Cooley.
It was wonderful just standing with this view, but standing with a builder, someone who can help deliver a dream was great!
I think Joe Bertrand and the Cooleys are well-matched. He believes in quality and not rushing a job. He is willing and able to make lots of suggestions with all of his experience, but respects what the owner wants as well. He has been building in the Randolph area for over 30 years. Beautiful work. He believes in simplicity when possible and that is my goal as well. It was a pleasure meeting him. I am convinced he would recreate the Cooley house and we would have a wonderful (modernized in only the best ways) little white Cape on the hill again.
Though I don't think we are ready to start this year, the house could be started in the fall season with the foundation, get the shell up, then work on the interior over a winter. It could be finished by the next spring/summer for move in!
I would like to do some preliminary work before that process. Take trees down (unfortunately two of the Maples close to the house do not look great) and have a source of wood for a wood stove, then install the new septic system which Joe said the state of Vermont almost always requires a mounded system (but the site to the north of house would allow for that since it naturally is somewhat bowl-shaped), put up the garage (which would provide storage and a work space for the builders), and look at the water/well situation. So maybe the house could be a Fall 2025-Summer 2026 project.
He can start with some basic estimates, but more exact estimates would come after drawings from Phil of the floor plan plus elevations. Then decisions on heating, cooling, flooring, kitchen, walls, ceilings, trim, windows, siding, roofing, etc. That would then provide us with a clear quote/contract.
What I need is more estimates from other builders so I know we are making the right choice. The problem…they are all busy and don’t get back to me. One from Chelsea, Vermont did call me back once and I had forgotten to turn my phone sound back on (after being silenced for the night) so I missed his call. I will keep trying.
Joe said we could save the fieldstone in the foundation to use for stone walls!
Notice all the chervil growing in that northern part of the lot (the septic system location).