Making It Happen

Whether you are a first time home buyer, this is your first renovation project, or you have been down this road before, the desired outcome is the same…MAKE MY PROJECT HAPPEN!

With this in mind, we suggest the following plan as a way to minimize your upfront financial expenditure while making sure the appropriate issues are considered during the planning process.

Your Financial Objectives
The first step in the process is establishing a ballpark idea of what you are willing to spend on the project. We can typically determine if your budget matches your project.

Preliminary Designs
Early schematic drawings are a great idea so you can see how your construction project might look. We can have a designer or architect create basic drawings, taking into account such constraints as grades, roof lines, window/door locations, etc. There is a small fee for this service.

Zoning/Utilities/Building Codes
Once the schematic design is complete, we contact the municipal zoning office and review the plans to insure they work within the local zoning ordinances. Sometimes it is necessary to file for an appeal or zoning variance. We also do an evaluation of current building and fire codes, utility locations and overall  code compliance.

Budgetary Pricing
The next step is to develop budgetary pricing, assuming certain allowances for those items that have not been determined.

Incentives
We always like to review what types of incentives may be available to you. Your project may be eligible for local, state, and federal tax incentives. Sometimes these incentives are what make the project financially feasible for you.

Construction Documents
Once you feel comfortable with the budget, it’s time to have the final plans and construction documents prepared.  If there is a significant structural issue with your project, then engineered drawings may be necessary.

Final Pricing
At this point we can finalize the cost of your project. This is a good time to add in your creature comforts and dream items in some areas and consider cutting back in others.

Get Going
Finalize financing, sign the contract, file for permits and start making it happen.

This may seem like a long process, and sometimes it is. But we have been through it countless times and we know it works. This is the best way we know of to prevent those “surprises” down the road while protecting your financial investment.  Even if you have started the process before you call us, we can pick things up wherever you happen to be and complete your project on time, on budget and to your complete satisfaction.