JCDM Home Builders
Architects - Designers - Builders - Remodelers
What's Next
OUR UNIQUE PROCESS --> Design Build --> What's Next --> Designed Success --> Selecting a Contractor --> Financing --> Client Care Warranty
What's Next
Douglas G. Ferguson, Division Manager of JCDM Home Builders, has spent many years carefully developing a process to make each client’s project an enjoyable journey from beginning to end. You can expect creative thinking, detailed planning, and exceptional project management from JCDM Home Builders. Before your project starts, you will know what it will look like, how much it will cost, and how long it will take.
Here’s how:
1. Site Analysis and Preliminary Budget
At your first home appointment with JCDM Home Builders, (at no charge to you), we actively listen as we discuss your overall wants and needs for your project. A JCDM Home Builders Design Associate evaluates your existing environment and the proposed work site. We ask for your ideas, give design suggestions, and determine what is most important in the way you will use the new or remodeled space. Together, we review the planning and building processes and how they are structured to ensure your project's success. We also review the overall project budget so that we can design within that budget.
2. Design Services
To begin the design process, a Design Services Agreement is signed along with the payment of a retainer. After entering into a Design Services Agreement, you would be responsible for the design costs pertaining to your project, however, you would not be committed to JCDM Home Builders for the construction of your project. We will begin by measuring the existing structure and reviewing the property conditions. The overall scope of the design work determines if the comprehensive plan requires either structural design or space design or a combination of both. At the next meeting, JCDM Home Builders presents one or more initial design concepts for your review and revision. After several additional design review meetings, a set of Selection Drawings will be completed for your approval.
To begin the design process, a Design Services Agreement is signed along with the payment of a retainer. After entering into a Design Services Agreement, you would be responsible for the design costs pertaining to your project, however, you would not be committed to JCDM Home Builders for the construction of your project. We will begin by measuring the existing structure and reviewing the property conditions. The overall scope of the design work determines if the comprehensive plan requires either structural design or space design or a combination of both. At the next meeting, JCDM Home Builders presents one or more initial design concepts for your review and revision. After several additional design review meetings, a set of Selection Drawings will be completed for your approval.
3. Specifications
JCDM Home Builders prepares an initial Specifications Document, which is a comprehensive scope of work from the Selection Drawings that you have approved. This includes a detailed description of each step of the construction process, from concrete to framing to electrical. We review this with you to assure that all previous discussions regarding constructions details are included in this document. The Specifications Document clearly describes what is and is not included in the project, providing a clear understanding of everyones expectations.
4. Selections
At this point we finalize the details, such as materials and appliance choices. This is
when the fun starts! A JCDM Home Builders Interior Decorator or your Design Associate works with you one-on-one to help you with selections: from countertop colors to tile backsplash patterns to the design of fixtures and cabinetry handles. Working closely with our Decorator or Design Associate, you can rest assured that your selections are expertly coordinated to enhance your space and communicate your unique taste. All of the items selected and details for all choices are gathered together into a Selection Planner and is also incorporated into the Specifications. 5. Vendor Walk Thru
During this meeting, JCDM Home Builders Production Department Manager with a Project Manager and/or a Lead Carpenter that will visit the job site. This will be the first time that members of the production department will physically be on your property and it gives everyone involved an opportunity to make suggestions concerning placement of materials, entry points and other logistical concerns. The JCDM Home Builders Design Consultant, Estimator, and any other staff members who have worked on designing your project will also be attending this meeting. We will also have our mechanical vendors review the existing mechanical conditions, which also allows them to be able to suggest alternate solutions. Based on the scope of the work involved, additional specialty vendors or material suppliers could also visit the site. This meeting is generally held from 8am until noon on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. The homeowner is welcomed to be involved, but in most situations, the owner does not need to be at home during the Vendor Walk Thru. Generally, there will be at least two or three JCDM Home Builders employees scheduled to be at your home the entire time to assist with any questions the vendors might have and to throughly review any concerns our JCDM Home Builders team members might have with each other.
6. Construction Packet
JCDM Home Builders prepares for you a complete construction packet consisting of:
Your Design Drawings
A custom Specifications Document covering your project
The Selections Planner for your specific choices
Your Construction AgreementYour personalized Construction Schedule
Once the Construction Packet has been approved, a complete set of Permit Drawings including any structural designs will be created and submitted to the local Township, Village, City or County Building Department. In most cases, most of your materials for your project will be ordered at this time which will be prior to the start of any work on your site.
Depending on:
Depending on:
- The complexity of your project,
- The delivery date for your project's materials,
- The length of time needed by the building department to review the permit drawings,
- Our Production Department's current backlog,
7. Pre-Construction Meeting
Once the zoning and construction permits are issued and most or all of your materials have been delivered to our warehouse, a Pre-Construction Meeting will be scheduled. Your JCDM Home Builders Design Associate and the Project Manager or the Lead Carpenter assigned to your project will review the entire project to ensure that any unanswered questions are addressed. A JCDM Home Builders Associate will then meet with you at the job site to review the entire scope of work, walk through the project and discuss how the job will be built. Also at this time, specific details are discussed, such as where materials can be stored, how your home will be protected from dust, the location of our job site sign, entry point(s) into your home, the location of the lock box with the house key, security concerns, and how to safeguard your pets during the build, will be some of the items that will need to be reviewed. At the end of the Pre-Construction Meeting, the "Passing of the Baton" will occur where your Project Manager or Lead Carpenter will become your primary day to day contact person for any thoughts or questions that you might have concerning your project.
8. Construction
Once your project has started, your JCDM Home Builders Project Manager
or Lead Carpenter will provide you with a weekly time frame of the work to be done each week and the following week. Our Production Associates are always available to discuss the overall project and any specific questions you might have. During the construction of your project, you may also contact your JCDM Home Builders Design Associate or our office at any time with questions. Your JCDM Home Builders Design Associate works on a weekly basis with our Production Department Manager and is brought into the construction phase as needed. JCDM Home Builders goal is to work on your project in a timely manner in order to move the project to completion as soon as possible. 9. Punch Out
Prior to completion, you and your JCDM Home Builders Project Manager or Lead Carpenter will walk through the project and record any small items or details that need to be altered to ensure you are 100% satisfied with your project.
10. Project Completion
When your project is complete, you will receive a detailed packet of information about warranted products and services. JCDM Home Builders will also ask you to complete a satisfaction survey. We value your feedback so that we can continue to identify ways to make our construction process streamlined, predictable and enjoyable. If we have done our job very well, we will have earned a client for life.
Let us Help You with Your Construction Project.
Contact us today!