4 Things to Do to Ensure Your Home Construction Goes off Without a Hitch
Hey, friends! We’re gonna cut right to the chase on this one: Remodeling your home (or building a new one!) can be, well, a lot to handle. Which makes sense though, right? Your house is getting flipped upside down (not literally, we hope) and reconfigured into your dream home. But as long as you have a dose of patience, and some helpful mentors by your side (hey, that’s us!) you’ll be A-OK.
We also want to share just a few tips on how you can make this process go as smoothly as possible…and dare we even say….fun?
Let’s dive in!
First thing’s first, you’ve gotta find the right contractor for the job
Hiring the right help is always key, no matter what the task at hand is, but especially when it comes to building your house. Lucky for you, we have a handy dandy list of things you should look for.
You’ll want to make sure your contractor:
Uses an app like Buildertrend or CoConstruct so that you can keep your eye on the prize (your new home!) by seeing everything happening in one platform, from schedules to contracts to payments
Has open and clear communication
Loves to solve problems
Has an onsite project manager
Can provide a preliminary bid (rough estimate) before moving forward with a detailed bid
Has a crystal clear process
If you’re needing some recommendations, we love House to Home and MMD, both in California.
Next up, work with a design team who knows when to bring in the right people
Of course, we do happen to know a design studio (hint: it’s us!) that can help. If you’re in the San Diego area, book your design therapy sesh here and we’ll chat about your project! But no matter who you work with, you’ll want a design team that’s on the ball when it comes to getting the job done, and getting the job done right. Here at ASR Design Studio, we believe clients shouldn’t have to sacrifice time, relationships, budgets, or sanity to achieve their dream home.
So when it comes to new builds and remodels, we run a pretty tight ship to make sure your sanity isn’t on the line. Here’s a peek at our process so you know what to expect when you work with us, or so you can check with the design team in your area to make sure they’re just as thorough. (We believe everyone should have an easy breezy time while their dream home comes to life!)
The Team typically includes:
Architect
Interior Designer (eep, that’s us again!
Contractor
Structural Engineer
Feng Shui Consultant
And the timeline goes a liiiiittle something like this:
You’ll start with an initial consultation with your designers to ensure you’re on the same page. (With us, this is our in-depth consultation that comes after the design therapy sesh. Learn more about our full process here.)
Then it’s time for an exploratory phase where details are cemented (but no actual concrete is cemented yet, we’re not quite there!)
Time for the design phase! This is, of course, our favorite part.
After your design team has implemented these design details — including final drawings, presentations, secs, etc. — they will be sent to the contractor to get a formal bid.
Time for you to meet the contractor in person! Things are getting real, bestie! If you approve the bid, your design team will send over their documents to the contractor to get a detailed bid outline and estimated project timeline. (And if you’re doing a new build and are working with ASR, we recommend getting the whole team together from the start to make sure everyone is aligned.)
At this stage, any codes or structural issues are addressed. Not quite as fun as the other stuff, but mega important, babes. We’re on it!
Then we enter the pre-construction phase, where value engineering recommendations are incorporated and city permits are obtained.
Time to build the plans to specification! Well, not you of course, the builders will be taking this off of our plate. Structural work begins, including plumbing, electrical, HVAC, all the behind-the-walls stuff.
Finally, your project is completed (hopefully on-time and on-budget — that’s what we always keep on top of for our clients!) and ready for you to walk through and swoon over.
So as you can see, it’s super important to get the right team from the beginning. If not, this can all start to go haywire — fast.
Now it’s time for a little homework for you
Are you ready for the most fun homework of your life? It’s time to make a wish list! In order to bring your dream home to life, your design and build teams will need to know what that dream looks like!
Here are a few things to get on paper to talk over with the crew:
What have you always wanted from your home?
If you are remodeling your existing home, what is missing?
Are there any specific problems you need to solve?
What would make your home the perfect space for you and your family?
How much of the space will you be renovating?
What are your long term plans for the house?
What is your budget? A ballpark range is totes fine, because your designers can help you determine a realistic budget. (It’s something we do all the time over here at ASR!)
Then, bust out the Pinterest app for a bit of inspiration gathering. Have some fun with this!
finally, let’s talk turkey
We know your big question is: How much will this cost? Don’t worry, we’re going to break down what will contribute to this cost and what will be in economy, standard, and luxury price ranges.
Let’s first take a look at a typical cost breakdown for a new build:
Electrical — 10%
Plumbing — 12%
Special Features 3%
Interior Walls + Ceiling Finishes — 8%
Wall Framing + Exterior Finish — 14%
Roof — 10%
Kitchen Details — 8%
Bath — 5%
Foundation — 9%
Floor Structure — 12%
Finish Floor — 5%
Interior Detail — 5%
Of course, when it comes to actual costs, there are so many variables, including fancy schmancy additions like custom cabinets, high end countertops, and luxury finishes or fixtures. Where you live also plays a role in costs of materials, labor, building permits, and fees. Additionally, the land characteristics of your area will influence cost — remote areas need utility connections, and if your land is on a slope some grading will be involved.
Your finishes will play a big role in the costs, too. Let’s look at some different options for various elements of your home:
Flooring
Economy options would be things like sheet vinyl or standard carpet
Standard options include hardwood or quality carpet
Luxury options are things like marble, inlaid hardwood, or luxe carpet
Bath
The economy option would be a standard plastic tub or shower
For a standard choice, you could put in a fiberglass shower and a built-in bathtub
A luxury bath could be custom-tiled showers and elevated spa bath
Kitchen
For economy kitchen options, you could have base cabinets with quartz counters
For a standard kitchen, you could use good stock cabinets and quartz or stone counters
For a luxury kitchen, expect something more along the lines of deluxe wall and base cabinets, stone countertop, and a large island — you could also add integrated lighting into the counters, cabinets, and other elements of your kitchen
If you want to build sustainably with green features, your construction budget will be higher, but your home operational costs will be lower.
And, of course, the bigger the house, the more expensive it will be!
Well there you have it friends, the 4 things you can do to ensure a smooth remodel or build.
To recap, you’ll want to hire the right contractor, get a design team on board who can help wrangle the project, make a wish list to share with the team, and have some idea of your budget along with realistic expectations about the cost breakdown.
If you’re in the San Diego area and want to get our help with your next project, book your free design therapy sesh here.
Wishing you a dreamy home makeover!
