Residential Home Building & Remodeling
An Introductory Guide to the Process
Thank you for considering J.R. Heald Builders, LLC for your home project. We are dedicated to helping you bring your dream home to life. Whether it’s through custom home remodeling, kitchen and bathroom renovations, complete exterior home renovations and additions, or custom home building, we’re here for you.
You’ve scheduled a meeting with us to discuss your exciting home project. Now what?
PLANNING PHASE
1. Initial Onsite VISIT
We’ll start with an initial phone call to understand your needs, vision, budget, and expectations. Then we’ll meet you on-site to conduct a comprehensive site analysis to further discuss your project’s scope. Our goal is to identify both challenges and opportunities within the space and describe our project planning process.
2. Preliminary PROPOSAL
Within three weeks of our initial meeting, we will present a Preliminary Investment Proposal that outlines your project’s scope of work and its ballpark estimated cost.
We will then invite you to review this Preliminary Investment Proposal to ensure we’ve captured your vision accurately. Doing so allows us to zero in on the scope, which is especially important if there were multiple options to consider for your project. Your feedback and questions are critical at this point to ensure we’re all on the same page and to develop a clear path moving forward.
Once we’ve answered all of your questions and incorporated your feedback, we will wait for you to approve the Preliminary Investment Proposal and move on to the planning phase.
3. Project Planning Agreement
Since every project requires careful planning before the construction process begins, we will enter into an hourly Project Planning Agreement. The invoice will come either periodically or in one lump sum, depending on time and resources invested.
Our pre-construction work starts with the analysis of the project requirements. It’s specifically necessary if you are:
- Selecting flooring for a finished basement
- Figuring out where to place an ADU on your property
- Navigating the numerous options for an addition with a master suite
From there, we deal with vendors to confirm materials, pricing, and availability. We will also secure bids from our trade partners (i.e., electrical, plumbing, drywall, etc.) to include their services in the project timeline and final proposal figure.
Many projects also require visits to design centers to make product selections such as tile, fixtures, cabinetry, countertops, appliances, color choices, and other project variables that will impact final pricing. Some projects require design work with one of our designers – more on that process in the next section. Other projects require expertise from professionals like architects, engineers, surveyors, and/or landscapers. We will engage the trusted professionals whom we partner with to gather their input and incorporate it into the project planning.
Once our project planning is complete, we will present a Formal Proposal to you for your review and eventually a Contract for your signature. This marks the completion of the planning phase.
WE BUILD & REMODEL HOMES
Experience Quality & Integrity from a Design-Build contractor you can trust in the Seacoast Region
DESIGN WORK
As mentioned previously, your Project Planning Agreement might require input from one of our professional designers to capture your unique vision and define your scope of work. We
understand that may sound both exciting and daunting at the same time. So to help demystify design work, we’ve outlined the typical design process in the following steps below.
1. Initial Project Planning Meeting, Concept Development, and Design Measurement
Our designer will work closely with you to develop initial project planning concepts that
emphasize functionality, aesthetic preferences, and any specific design requirements you may have. We may present sketches, inspiration images, and mood boards to help you visualize potential directions.
During the initial project planning meeting, our designer may take digital measurements of the site (if applicable) and submit them to a measurement service provider to obtain accurate dimensions.
2. DESIGN PLAN
Following this, our designer will create a detailed plan for your project. This plan will outline the estimated amount of design time needed and the deliverables you can expect upon completion. You will have the opportunity to select the level of design and selection assistance you would like. Once you share your preferences with us, we will execute the plan.
3. PRELIMINARY DESIGN SELECTION
The designer will present preliminary design concepts. We will evaluate these concepts together, taking into account their practicality, including structural integrity, zoning regulations, and budget constraints.
This assessment may lead to necessary adjustments to ensure that the vision aligns with feasible outcomes. Additionally, we will coordinate meetings with design houses and trusted suppliers to assist you in selecting materials, finishes, fixtures, cabinetry, and other choices that will personalize your project.
4. DESIGN REFINEMENT
We will review the selected concept with the designer for any revisions and incorporate your feedback. At this stage, the designer will create detailed renderings and material selections to provide a complete understanding of the proposed design.
5. Project Budgeting and Cost Estimation
We will collaborate closely with the designer to estimate project costs and maintain transparency regarding budget implications of design choices, allowing informed decision-making.
6. CLIENT APPROVAL AND NEXT STEP
We will present the final design package to you for approval.
Within three weeks of completing the final design work, we will schedule a meeting to deliver your Formal Proposal for construction. During this meeting, we will gather your feedback and address any questions you may have.
When you are ready to proceed, we will sign a construction contract!
THANK YOU!
We pride ourselves on delivering personalized solutions, exceptional craftsmanship, and a seamless process from start to finish. We’re excited to help bring your vision to life. Thank you again for considering J.R Heald Builders!
