Abstract
This paper looks at the relationships forged by a medium sized private house building company from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA with its subcontractors. It describes the partnering process as it has evolved and then goes on to analyse in detail the intricate and symbiotic relationships that the company, Estridge Homes have formed with all their subcontractors. The paper will demonstrate that this is not pseudo partnering but that the relationship between Estridge and its subcontractors is a true two way process; each partner having the opportunity to have an input into their own work and how it fits into the building process as a whole. It considers the value engineering that the subcontractors do by choice and how this partnership affects contracts they have with other builders and house builders. It will go on to demonstrate how the quality and end cost of the finished house has been materially affected by this partnering process.