We often find ourselves in a conversation with a banker, a real estate agent, or just people trying to understand what we do. And then they ask us "OH...so you are flipping houses?" Big developers like to ask this (and also long lost relatives we haven't seen for a while).

It drives us crazy because the connotations of the word "flip" run counter to why we wake up in the morning. The idea of "flipping" a house is something fast on a very specific timeline. Developers put as little cash into their "flips" as possible because their goal is maximum profit for as little work as necessary. There's so many "flipping" shows on TV that most people are doing it horribly. SPEK would hope the average home buyer can see the tell-tale signs of a a "flip", but unfortunately many can't. They can get duped into purchasing a style-less lemon that just leads to years of struggle.

SPEK recycles old houses because we see this as a form of art. Buildings and the way they affect the people who live in them is a medium for artistic expression. Our projects comprise design, sculpture, installation, and performance. That is why when people see our projects, the experience is completely different from everything else available on the market. There is often a moment of delight, an open mouthed stare, exclamations, or gleeful chuckles when people tour one of our places. Our creations touch and speak to people more than a "flip" ever could. That's because we make art. We don't build houses...We build lifestyle! It's a well designed life we strive for.

So call us obsessive because we focus on every square inch of detail. Call us crazy because we refuse to stick to a schedule even if it means going overtime to make our projects "right." Call us insane because we don't make the profit margins most people in "the business" do. But whatever you do...

PLEASE DO NOT CALL US "HOUSE FLIPPERS":

• We invest more money in our houses than we purchase them for. We invest in great design and materials. We invest in both practicality and "wow."

• We fix infrastructure issues before they become a problem for our buyers. This means new AC, heat, plumbing, insulation, and electric in many cases.

• SPEK does everything by the book. We get all the city permits, pass all the inspections, and pay all the fees that are necessary to do a job right. We trust third-party inspections even though they add time and cost.

• Our focus is not on profit, but on making a product that is simply the best quality available on the market for the price. Our margins are small (don't call us "developers" either).

• Our projects are like a holiday bird. They can't be rushed or served before they are "cooked" to perfection. If you want a SPEK house it is worth the wait.

• We care about the people who live in our projects. We want our projects to enrich their lifestyle. It wouldn't be art if it didn't actually change lives.