Our Building Process
We work closely with you to build your dream.
We understand that, as our client, you want every aspect of your new home, room addition or remodeled space to be absolutely perfect, so we take the time to listen to your design goals, architectural ideas and budgetary concerns. We consider the entire home building process to be a mutual partnership, and we are proud of the fact that our clients also become our friends. Our multi-phase approach to building and design allows us to fully customize this client-builder relationship to better suit our clients' design preferences, lifestyles and building objectives. This process normally proceeds as follows:
Introduction
In this phase, we typically provide you with our industry credentials and discuss your design goals, building style preferences, conceptual drawings, budgetary concerns and the anticipated construction time-line of both parties.
Site Selection & Review
The Greater Grand Rapids area is one of the most beautiful places to live in Michigan. We have established relationships with local real estate, architectural, design, and banking professionals and are happy to provide recommendations if you desire assistance with lot selection, plan design or financing arrangements. If you have already decided on the perfect location for your dream home, this would be the phase where we visit the site together. During the site visit we typically discuss issues such as location access, landscape and topography conditions, local ordinances or applicable building restrictions, positioning of the home, desired views, and privacy issues. For Remodels or additions, this is where we would do a site visit to your home and discuss your vision of your dream home.
Pre-Construction Agreement, Preliminary Cost Analysis
By this stage in the process we have developed a fairly thorough understanding of the building site, your design goals and preliminary construction budget and, it is during this phase that we request a deposit for any additional design or architectural services to be performed. Both parties enter into a Pre-Construction Agreement and we begin to discuss in greater detail the initial design plans as well as the preferred finishes, fixtures and appliances. This is also the point at which we provide you with a Cost Analysis, which is based on conceptual drawings or preliminary blue prints and in some cases includes design and finish options that are more in-line with your construction budget.
Budget Approval, Construction Contract, and Building Permits
At this stage, we present you with an itemized and detailed Budget. Both parties execute a Construction Contract and we each firmly commit to moving forward with the project, and proceed with obtaining any permissions, approvals or permits required to start the Construction phase.
Construction Begins
We will meet or correspond more frequently with you during this phase and it is this point at which your design really begins to take shape. After the surveying and permitting processes have been finalized, we prepare the location and secure the site for building activity. The excavation work begins, the foundation gets poured, the exterior and interior walls are framed and the roof goes up. For Remodels, this is when we would start the demo/rebuild process. The plumbing, mechanical, and electrical utilities are roughed-in. The wall and ceiling finishes, window and door styles, lighting, cabinetry, counter tops, flooring and appliance selections are also finalized and ordered during the Home Construction phase.
Project Close-out
Our commitment to quality and client satisfaction lasts as long as our homes do. Your new home/remodel is professionally cleaned prior to completing the final walk-through with you and we provide a hands-on demonstration and detailed Homeowner’s Manual to ensure your familiarity with the home's features, appliances, and operating systems.