We have crafted a process which puts the customer’s best interest as the driver for how the whole process is laid out. We want our customers to know exactly what they are buying and what it will cost before they are asked to sign a construction contract with Daley Design + Build.
We accomplish this by determining all of your selections in the Design phase, before we bid the job out to subcontractors and material suppliers in the Deal phase. This ensures that by the time we’re sitting down to sign a construction contract we have a binder full of material quotes and labor bids for your job, so that we’re creating the budget with REAL actual numbers for your home.
We also go the extra mile and take our homes through a full set of 3D Renderings to literally show you what we intend to build for you. Building custom homes with high customer satisfaction is realized when expectations between the customer and design team/builder are aligned early in the process.
If expectations are not aligned in the beginning of the project (a downfall of most other builders’ Guaranteed Maximum Price contracts), customers can end up with an extremely nice home, but not be happy with how they got there. This dissatisfaction typically results from selections (made during construction phase) not staying within builder-determined allowances, and the associated budget increases taking a project (sometimes $100k, $200k or $300k+) over-budget.
We think that “Allowance” and “Guaranteed Maximum Price contract” are some of the dirtiest terms in custom home construction as allowances only represent arbitrary numbers that are not necessarily connected to what the client is envisioning in their head, and Guaranteed Maximum Price contracts are only guaranteed if your selections stay within all of the Allowances (otherwise you’re getting your checkbook out).
During the Design Phase we will develop custom floor plans and explore all facets of the exterior and interior design, along with finalizing selections and specifications. By doing this we ensure that all Design elements have been thoroughly analyzed, detailed and specified for accurate bidding. Design Phase results in a “Design Package” containing: Architectural Plans & Specifications (with Product Photos), Site Engineering Plans, Landscape Plans, and a set of interior and exterior 3D Renderings.
During the first half of the Deal Phase we will competitively bid out the design for all major construction elements (including foundation, framing, cabinets, windows and doors, etc.), and develop an actual construction estimate based on real material quotes and labor bids. This is an open-book process where the customer is welcome to review the bids with us to discuss lowest bid vs. best subcontractor for the job. We are all about saving our customers money, but you typically get what you pay for, and bottom-dollar subs don’t typically produce top quality work.
During the second half of the Deal Phase the customer, builder (and realtors if applicable) can have an open and honest discussion about the projected build cost and total project budget, along with discussing the terms of Daley Design + Build’s Cost-Plus Construction Contract. DD+B’s cost-plus Builder Fee % is guided by a sliding scale that varies by total projected construction cost.
In a Guaranteed Maximum Price contract (used by most other builders), any money the builder doesn’t spend can be kept as additional profit, which incentivizes some other builders to cut corners. In a Cost-Plus contract, the Builder Fee is determined by the total cost of labor and material invoices paid (Total Cost x Variable Percentage Builder Fee), so cutting corners and not spending money only whittles back the Builder Fee. Therefore given that all of our projects are run on a Cost-Plus basis, you can be sure that we are implementing all of the best practice details that really should be incorporated into your project. We believe that the true quality of a home is determined on how well/cleanly things are implemented in places that will never be seen when the build is complete.
Our goal is to make the Construction Phase as fun and stress-free for the customer as possible. At this point in the project you should be focused on enjoying watching your new home come to life. One step at a time, all of the pieces come together like clockwork until your new home is ready for your move-in. We expect to have periodic meetings with each customer to answer any questions that come up during the construction process.
These are custom homes…and sometimes customers come up with new/different ideas during the construction phase about how they’d like to see something finished. These are easily addressed under the Cost-Plus contract as there are not typical Change Orders (where the builder might be making a 50% mark-up on your change). We take mid-construction changes in stride, and the Builder Fee on these changes is the same % as already agreed in the Construction Contract Builder Fee.
Choosing to work with a custom builder who utilizes BuilderTrend project management software, coupled with a mobile interface, can offer a multitude of benefits throughout the construction process. BuilderTrend is a comprehensive construction management platform designed to streamline communication, enhance collaboration, and optimize project efficiency. When paired with a mobile interface, these advantages become even more pronounced.
One primary benefit is the heightened level of communication and transparency that BuilderTrend provides. The software allows for real-time updates, enabling clients to stay informed about the progress of their project, view schedules, and access important documents from anywhere using the mobile interface. This transparency fosters trust between the client and the builder, as it ensures that everyone involved is on the same page, reducing misunderstandings and potential conflicts.
Efficiency is another key advantage. BuilderTrend’s project management tools, such as scheduling, budgeting, and task management, enable builders to organize and track every aspect of the construction process. The mobile interface enhances accessibility, allowing project managers and team members to update information, track changes, and address issues on the go. This flexibility can significantly speed up decision-making processes and keep the project on schedule.
Collaboration is crucial in any construction project, and BuilderTrend facilitates seamless teamwork. With the mobile interface, stakeholders can easily communicate, share updates, and provide feedback regardless of their physical location. This ensures that everyone involved, from architects to subcontractors, is working cohesively toward the project’s success.
Additionally, the customization capabilities of BuilderTrend contribute to its effectiveness. Custom builders can tailor the software to suit the specific needs of each project, integrating their workflows seamlessly. This adaptability ensures that the software complements the builder’s unique processes and requirements, enhancing overall project efficiency and quality.
In summary, the combination of a custom builder using BuilderTrend project management software with a mobile interface delivers enhanced communication, increased efficiency, improved collaboration, and a tailored approach to construction projects. These advantages contribute to a smoother construction process, ultimately leading to successful, timely, and well-executed projects.
