Building or renovating a home is one of the largest investments most people make. Yet most homeowners enter the process without anyone in the room whose sole obligation is to protect their interests. Architects advocate for design. Contractors advocate for construction efficiency. Neither is obligated to represent you.
An Owner's Representative changes that equation. With four decades of experience building in Aspen, Jackson Hole, and now the Willamette Valley, Martin Kribs provides the expertise, oversight, and advocacy that ensures your project is delivered on time, on budget, and to the standard you're paying for.
What an Owner's Rep Does
The Owner's Representative acts as your expert proxy on the project. You shouldn't need a construction background to hold your team accountable. That's what we bring.
Pre-Construction Oversight
Review of architectural plans, engineering, and specifications for constructability and cost implications. We catch problems on paper before they become expensive field conditions. We evaluate contractor bids, verify scope alignment, and ensure contract terms protect you.
Contractor Selection & Negotiation
We help you select the right builder through a structured qualification process — not just the lowest bid. We review contracts, negotiate terms, and ensure the agreement protects your timeline, budget, and quality expectations.
Construction Monitoring
Regular site visits to verify work quality, progress against schedule, and compliance with plans and specifications. We document conditions, flag deficiencies early, and ensure corrective action happens before problems compound.
Budget & Schedule Tracking
We review every pay application, track change orders against the original scope, and maintain an independent budget projection. You'll always know where your money is going and whether the project is tracking to schedule.
Change Order Review
Change orders are where budgets go off the rails. We review every change order for legitimacy, pricing accuracy, and scope alignment. If a change is unwarranted or overpriced, we push back on your behalf.
Punchlist & Close-Out
We develop a comprehensive punchlist based on contract documents and quality standards — not just what's visible to an untrained eye. We verify completion, review warranties, and ensure you receive all close-out documentation before final payment.
Who Benefits from an Owner's Rep
Owner's Representative services are valuable whenever the complexity, cost, or stakes of a project exceed your personal construction expertise. Common situations include:
Homeowners managing a major renovation or new build who want professional oversight without micromanaging the process themselves. Out-of-state property owners who can't be on-site regularly. Clients who have hired an architect and general contractor separately and need someone to coordinate between the two and protect their interests. Property owners who've been through a difficult construction experience and want an advocate the next time around.
If your project budget exceeds $250,000, the cost of Owner's Rep services typically pays for itself many times over in prevented errors, avoided change orders, and quality assurance.
Why Martin Kribs
Most Owner's Rep firms come from a project management background. We come from a design-build background. That means we understand both sides — the design intent and the construction reality. We know what things should cost because we've built them. We know what quality looks like because we've delivered it for four decades in markets where the standard is uncompromising.
Aspen and Jackson Hole are environments where every material choice, every detail, every finish is scrutinized by clients who accept nothing less than exceptional. That's the standard we bring to every Owner's Rep engagement, regardless of project size.
Engagement Structure
Owner's Representative services are typically structured as either a percentage of construction cost (usually 3-5%) or an hourly consulting rate, depending on the level of involvement you need. We can provide light-touch oversight with periodic site visits and document review, or full-engagement representation with weekly presence and comprehensive project tracking.
We'll discuss the right level of involvement during an initial consultation and propose a structure that matches your project's complexity and your comfort level.