The Key to Project Success
When Alex Molkentin founded Fern Hill Construction, he set out to build more than homes. He built a process. In this episode of Builders, Budgets & Beers, Alex shares how preconstruction became his secret weapon for scaling a profitable, chaos-free construction business... backed by data, clarity, and stronger relationships across clients, subs, and designers.
Contents
When Alex Molkentin launched Fern Hill Construction in Boulder, Colorado, he brought more than his family’s legacy of craftsmanship. He brought a hard-earned belief that successful projects aren’t born in the field. They’re forged long before boots hit the ground.
“Business is solving people’s problems,” Alex says. “And that starts with setting clear expectations, and delivering on them.”
In this episode of Builders, Budgets & Beers, Reece sits down with Alex to talk about the evolution of his career, the hard lessons learned from running a family business, and why preconstruction when done right can be the single most powerful lever for builders looking to scale, reduce chaos, and protect profit.
From Craftsmanship to Constructing a Business
Alex’s story starts in Ohio, where he grew up watching his father and grandfather build intricate custom homes with remarkable attention to detail. But despite their skill, the business always felt like a struggle.
“They were incredible carpenters,” he says. “But I didn’t want to be constantly behind the eight ball. I wanted to build a sustainable company, not just beautiful homes.”
After years of working in both residential and commercial construction, Alex stepped away from his family’s business, traveled the world, and eventually returned to the U.S. with a new philosophy: building cool things with cool people, but doing it in a way that works financially.
Preconstruction as a Business Strategy
To Alex, preconstruction is not just planning. It’s marketing, education, and risk management rolled into one.
It’s how you help a client understand not just what their home will look like, but what it will cost, how long it will take, and what the journey will feel like. It’s also how you avoid the all-too-common dynamic where a client brings in $2M expectations for what turns out to be a $5M build.
“We think of preconstruction as the articulation of the client’s expectation in tandem with how we’ll solve their problem,” Alex explains.
Rather than bombarding clients with 500-line-item spreadsheets, Alex and his team tier the budget into digestible phases. They manage information flow to reduce decision fatigue, and design a service experience that mirrors the quality of the home they’re delivering.
Redefining Relationships with Subs and Designers
Preconstruction isn’t just a client tool. It’s a cultural foundation for the entire project team.
Fern Hill requires subs to participate in paid preconstruction time, helping identify risks, value engineer designs, and plan more accurately. Alex sees it as an investment in better work, and more respectful relationships.
“I want my trades to make good money and feel confident in the process,” he says. “And if I’m going to promise a client that we’re managing cost and risk, that starts with getting real numbers from the people doing the work.”
He applies the same thinking to his relationships with architects and designers, offering Fern Hill’s cost data and risk analysis as value-add services that support more accurate design decisions from day one.
Data-Driven Confidence
The result? Fern Hill delivers projects within 4% of their estimated budget. That figure isn’t guesswork. It’s built on robust internal data, clearly scoped change orders, and a strict separation between budget shifts (builder-driven) and scope changes (client-driven).
“You can’t run a successful business without tracking and analyzing your data,” Alex says. “Precon only works if it’s tied to real numbers.”
It’s why Fern Hill has shifted from reactive project management to proactive project leadership- building trust with clients, partners, and the community alike.
The Bigger Picture: Advocacy, Not Just Execution
The heart of Alex’s message is simple but powerful: Builders are not just builders... they are advocates. For the client. For the trades. For the project’s success.
“This industry has room for people who care deeply about the work, but also want to run a great business. Preconstruction is where those two goals meet.”
Alex isn’t afraid to say what many think: Yes, construction is complex. Yes, change orders are inevitable. But with the right process, expectations, and mindset, builders can deliver beautiful homes without sacrificing profitability or peace of mind.
📸 Follow Alex on Instagram: @builtbyfernhill
🎧 Check out his podcast: The Build Project
🌐 Learn more about Fern Hill Construction: www.builtbyfernhill.com
