From concept, to design services, to permitting and construction

Launching a building project can seem extremely complex and daunting. We walk you through every stage, assembling the right team to ensure your vision remains intact all the way through completion.

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Concept

At this stage, think of the big picture. This is blue-sky time, when everything’s on the table. Don’t hold back. Write lists. Jot down notes. Draw stuff. Start thinking about colors, textures and materials. Tell us everything you want. That way, we can help you get where you want to go.

We like to be involved at this stage. It’s as much fun for us as it is for you. Also, we have a ton of expertise. Pick our brains for new information. We’ll chime in with supportive ideas.

At this point, we start the acquisition of players. We’ll connect you with the right people for your project. We build teams that get the job done. Our depth of players is extensive, so we can find the ones who matchup with your vision.

Budget

Keep your budget in mind at every step of the process. We understand that your project may well be the biggest expense and investment of your life. Most people build a home or business site once or maybe twice. With that in mind, be realistic, but don’t scrimp on quality.

Do it once. Do it right. Do it now.

High-quality construction comes at a premium, and choices made along the way can change that overall cost of the project.

At this stage, you need to get clarity around how much you are able to spend and communicate that to the team. This allows everyone involved help you maximize and stay within your budget.

More about the budget
More About The Budget

There is a simple formula for most creative work, and construction is about as creative as it gets. That formula is:

GOOD / FAST / CHEAP (PICK 2)

Thousands of decisions occur during the design and construction of a project. There are a couple of tried and true approaches to achieving budget success.

  1. Clear Initial Specifications: Lots of little choices during the project can add up, resulting in a greatly expanded overall budget. This phenomenon is known as project creep. Because the changes happen along the way, the budget slowly swells. The most common reason for this is when owners change the specifications after the project is under way.

    For people who are more visually oriented this idea can be expressed like this:

    Budget Wants

    The solution is to integrate the design and build teams in the early stages of the project. Nail down the specifications for fixtures, finishes, hardware, doors, windows, roofing materials, etc. The key to success is limiting the cost variables of the project prior to breaking ground. This results in projects that stay true to their original budget.

  2. Design/Build: This approach works for owners who are comfortable and capable of working with variable budgets. The general scope of the project is established with a clear understanding that the door is left open for the overall cost to change during the process. If you like to make decisions as the project is happening, then this approach might appeal to you.

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Design Professionals

Architects, Engineers and Designers turn concepts into plans. Once we wrap our heads around your desires, we can recommend you to the long-standing partners that we are proud to work with.

We are often introduced to a project through our partners.

Your job here is to make decisions. There are many options at this point and it is critical to work with our team of experts to narrow them down.

Permitting

Permitting is a complex process. It can be an arduous sticking point in the process. We’ve been handling this a long time, and can practically do it in our sleep. We know just the right procedures, agencies, language and players in cities and counties that can most efficiently move your project through the various permit stages.

Construction

This is the fun part. It’s also the easiest. Still, there’s much more to this than meets the eye.

  • Breaking Ground

    The initial step when building a house from the ground up. It’s big machines and massive changes. Adding, removing, shoring, compacting and enhancing soil are all elements of this step.

  • Demolition

    Major remodeling and “scrapers” require varying degrees of demolition. We prefer to demolish in a way that allows recovery of as much construction material as possible.

  • Initial Construction

    From foundation and framing, up to the roof, this is where we build the envelope of the building. Progress is easy to see.

  • Rough Systems

    Thousands of interconnected elements go into this step. Electricians, plumbers, sprinkler systems, tile, flooring, heating and air conditioning specialists and more are involved at this point. This is everything pre-drywall. Progress may be less obvious.

You will be involved in finalizing the decisions you made during the design phase. This is where the Red Dog – Orange Cat cycle often comes into play. A simple change in materials can significantly alter costs. Making good, educated decisions here will help keep you on budget.

Finishing

There are a lot of details that go into buttoning up the final steps. “The Devil’s in the Details” it’s said, and it can seem that way in this phase. Progress may seem slow, but these details are what elevate a project from mundane to spectacular.

The project is close to completion and it can sometimes feel like little is happening. Patience is required at this stage. You’re almost there and it doesn’t pay to rush it.

Living & Iterating

This is where you move in to your new place. After you’ve been there awhile you might think of some new features that hadn’t occurred to you before. We’re happy to talk about how to develop those with you.

Maintenance & Additions

People live in their homes and expand their businesses. Having built your place to begin with, it’s easy for us to make repairs.

When your business or family grows, you need to expand. We can seamlessly add to your project.

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