FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
What You’re Actually Paying For Labor, Materials & Overhead Labor covers wages, supervision, permits, and job-site management. Material costs depend on quality and quantity (lumber, fixtures, etc.). Overhead (typically ~24–30%) includes insurance, equipment rentals, software, licenses, etc. Contractor Markups / Fees Standard contractor markup is around 10–20% on top of actual costs. Commercial GCs may charge 20–25%, sometimes more. This covers profit and incidental expenses. Be aware: a 25% fee is common and considered fair, particularly for complex projects or design-build work. Contract Model Matters Fixed-price (Stipulated Sum): Single all‑inclusive price—low transparency but high certainty. Cost-plus: You pay actual costs plus a known fee (%). More transparent, but final cost can vary. Builders often disclose a 15–25% fee. 🛎️ Additional Potential Charges Change Orders & Extras Altering scope mid-job usually triggers change‑order fees or additional markups. Rush Scheduling Want faster completion? We charge 5–10% extra to expedite the timeline.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
1. Initial Discovery & Qualification Discovery Meeting: Meet to discuss the customer's vision, scope, budget, timeline, and any existing plans or designs—this shapes the project’s feasibility and next steps Qualification: Evaluate whether the project is suitable and profitable—contractors often prioritize jobs aligned with their expertise . 2. Scope Development & Needs Assessment Needs Assessment: Ask open-ended questions to understand goals, functional requirements, and stylistic preferences Preliminary Project Overview: Draft the project outline—scope, objectives, major milestones, potential challenges—to align expectations early 3. Estimating & Proposal Budget Estimate: Depending on lead seriousness, prepare a rough estimate or a detailed bid (including sub‑contractor quotes and itemized costs) Proposal Presentation: Provide a written proposal with scope, timeline, materials, labor, and fees. Offer tiered options if suitable 4. Contract & Onboarding Contract Signing: Develop a detailed contract covering scope, deliverables, payment schedule, change-order process, and legal terms (insurance, licenses, permits, etc.) Welcome Package: Share onboarding documents—scope summary, milestones, FAQ, communication plan, safety/compliance steps Client Questionnaire: Send questions to gather critical information—contacts, site logistics, priorities—ensuring no details are overlooked . 5. Kickoff & Project Planning Kickoff Meeting: Introduce your team, review scope, roles, timeline, communication protocols, tools (like PM platforms), and next steps . Pre-Construction Services: Include schematic review, value-engineering, permit planning, constructability analysis, and cost alignment—especially under GMP or cost-plus models . 6. Mobilization & Subcontractor Onboarding Site Prep: Order materials, secure permits, conduct utility locates—prepare the site. Subcontractor Onboarding: Prequalify subs, collect insurance/W‑9s, conduct safety orientations, clarify quality standards, integrate subcontractors into systems 7. Active Construction Scheduled Execution: Coordinate crews/trades to follow the plan; manage schedule buffers proactively Communication & Documentation: Maintain weekly check-ins, logs, change-order transparency; document decisions in writing (“to be clear is to be kind”) Quality & Safety Oversight: Execute ongoing inspections, ensure compliance, enforce safety procedures at site-level 8. Client Touchpoints & Feedback Regular Updates: Provide progress reports in writing; schedule bi‑weekly or monthly check-ins to keep clients aligned . Two‑Week Check-In: Revisit outstanding items and ensure momentum—such as missing details or documents . Change-Order Handling: Formalize any additions or deviations via written change-orders, with cost/time implications clarified. 9. Closeout & Handover Final Inspections & Punch List: Walk through with client, resolve deficiencies, verify completion. Documentation Delivery: Provide as-built drawings, operation manuals, warranties, maintenance guides. Client Satisfaction & Review: Collect formal feedback (what went well, what could improve). Offer continued support or warranty follow‑up 10. Project Review & Process Improvement Internal Debrief: Review what worked and what didn’t—process adjustments, lessons learned for future jobs .
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Certified General Contractor with over 50 years of combined experience. Bachelors Degree in Business and Marketing. Retired Fire Fighter/Fire Inspector