November 4 was a special day in Barriere for Liz and Jim Gilbertson. It was the day they were given the keys to a beautiful new home in Barriere’s Riverwalk subdivision, a home that both have been dreaming about for the past few years.
“It took us three years to get here,” said Liz Gilbertson, “But we’re here, and it’s a go. We don’t have to pack bags of pellets to the stove anymore, because now we have geothermal heat in the floor. The house is clean, neat, and open, environmentally friendly and easy to care for. We couldn’t be happier.”
Gilbertson went on to say the couple have been living in an RV since Aug. 24, due to the fact their previous home had sold with a possession date earlier than they expected.
“We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Wes and Kenny Beharrell,” said Gilbertson, “These two guys and their crews have bent over backwards for us. They’ve worked to midnight and 2 a.m. to get the house ready for today. It it hadn’t been for these two guys I don’t know what we would have done; if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be here.”
Riverwalk partner Wes Beharrell, of West Properties and Developments Inc, said he feels that Liz and Jim Gilbertson’s home on Spruce Crescent is a turning point in demonstrating what is possible on the Riverwalk project. “It is that tangible proof that we can not only beat market standards in time to completion… but we can also do it without jeopardizing quality or cost. That being said, we must all give credit to where credit is due,” said Beharrell, “Our work force, both full time and part time, have always been committed to the Riverwalk vision, and without their commitment to our project, we would have missed deadlines within the construction process.
“The Gilbertson’s home, from start to finish, was completed in under 12 weeks. And, because we felt strongly about rectifying some losses they experienced from a previous contractor in 2010, West Properties and Developments Inc. was committed to providing them their home for $40,000 less than market value by building their home at cost – material and labour; along with Ken Beharrell providing all of his labour and services free of charge. West Properties and Developments Inc. may not have made money on this project, but we felt it was the right thing to do for Riverwalk, and the right thing to do for Jim and Elizabeth Gilbertson.”
Beharrell noted he is also very happy with the progress they’ve been experiencing at Riverwalk; considering not only how far they have had to come, but also that they have had to endure the housing and investment markets over the past four years.