Client Advisor

Job Description

Job Description

About Timeline

Timeline Design + Build is a family-owned, high-end residential design-build firm serving the Bay Area since 1990. We bring architecture, interior design, and construction together under one roof to create thoughtfully designed homes and a more integrated client experience. Timeline's core values are: Integrity, Rigor, Collaboration and Cooperation, Growth Mindset and Proactiveness. 

About the Role

We are looking for a Client Advisor to lead prospective homeowners through the beginning of their journey with Timeline—from initial inquiry through a signed Design Agreement and transition into design and preconstruction.

This is a consultative sales role, not a traditional transactional sales position. The Client Advisor helps clients understand their goals, determines whether Timeline is the right fit, educates them on our process, establishes realistic expectations around investment and timing, and guides qualified opportunities toward a clear decision.

The right person is comfortable asking difficult questions, discussing significant project investments, qualifying out poor-fit opportunities, and building trust without relying on price-based selling.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead Qualification & Business Development

• Respond to and qualify inbound inquiries based on scope, budget, timeline, and client fit.
• Manage prospective clients through the CRM from initial contact through close or disqualification.
• Develop referral and strategic business relationships that generate qualified opportunities.
• Maintain a disciplined, accurate, and transparent sales pipeline.

2. Client Discovery & Education

• Conduct initial sales consultations and discovery conversations.
• Understand client goals, motivations, priorities, concerns, decision-making process, and expectations.
• Explain Timeline's design-build process, including design, feasibility, preconstruction, permitting, and construction.
• Establish realistic expectations around investment, scope, schedule, and project complexity.
• Clearly communicate the value and advantages of an integrated design-build approach.

3. Site Visits & Project Discovery

• Lead initial site consultations and assess basic property conditions and potential risks.
• Identify early feasibility, scope, and constructability concerns.
• Translate client goals and project information into actionable direction for internal teams.

4. Sales Process & Closing

• Guide qualified prospects through defined milestones from discovery through Design Agreement.
• Coordinate with design, estimating, and preconstruction teams.
• Maintain consistent follow-up and clear next steps.
• Ask for decisions and close agreements while maintaining long-term client trust.
• Accurately forecast pipeline activity based on actual client engagement.

5. Internal Handoff

• Ensure complete and accurate transfer of client, project, budget, scope, and expectation information to the design and preconstruction teams.
• Participate in transition meetings and remain available to support relationship continuity.
• Minimize information loss, rework, and backtracking after the sale.

What Success Looks Like

• The right projects enter the pipeline; poor-fit projects are identified early.
• The CRM and sales pipeline are accurate and current.
• Qualified opportunities progress through the sales process predictably.
• Clients understand Timeline's process, value, investment expectations, and next steps before entering design.
• Design and preconstruction teams receive clear, complete project information.
• Sales produces quality projects and long-term client relationships—not simply more contracts.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in consultative sales, business development, residential construction, architecture, interior design, real estate, or a related field.
• Strong communication, listening, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Comfortable discussing project investments and financial considerations with high-net-worth homeowners.
• Experience managing a CRM and sales pipeline.
• Strong business judgment and ability to qualify opportunities objectively.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with creative, technical, and construction professionals.

Preferred: Experience in high-end residential construction, remodeling, architecture, interior design, or design-build; familiarity with HubSpot and structured consultative sales methodologies such as Sandler.

Who You Are

You are:

• Client-focused without being a people-pleaser.
• Curious and skilled at asking good questions.
• Confident discussing money, expectations, and difficult topics.
• Disciplined about follow-up, documentation, and pipeline management.
• Proactive about identifying risks and creating next steps.
• Collaborative and comfortable working across Design, Production, and Leadership.
• Honest enough to tell a prospective client when a project may not be the right fit.