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Native Construction Contracting Inc. - Getting Started
At Native Construction, we realize that for many, the construction process presents an unknown and daunting task. For others, the thought of coordinating with often-unreliable subcontractors and suppliers is mind-numbing. Whether you’re an experienced developer, or a private client looking to refinish your kitchen, we strive to make your project as easy and stress-free as possible.
The Basic Construction Process
- All construction starts with a good set of plans. Most architects will ask that you bring them a survey of the property that is to be improved. If you are remodeling, the existing floor plan may be required.
- Share whatever sketches, lists, photos, or video you may have. Discuss your intentions and any concerns if you have them.
- The architect will provide you with a preliminary rendering and possibly a list of conceptual limitations on paper. Discuss any choices you may have to make thoroughly.
- Feel free to share your progress or any preliminary drawings with your Native Construction project manager. We are happy to weigh-in or provide feedback regarding your choices and their cost-related implications.
- Once you are satisfied with the concept and pricing for the final architectural drawings, contact your Native Construction project manager. We will correspond with the architect and gather all information required to get a head-start on the permitting process.
- When the finalized plans are received from the architect, our estimators will produce a detailed estimate for your entire project.
- If you find the terms acceptable, we will present a contract in AIA format. The contract will provide a scheduled listing of progress payments and projected stage completion dates. You will know when money is due and when your project will be completed before work begins.
- We will continue the permitting process. Work commences as soon as the required permit(s) are received and we receive the initial deposit. Additional progress payments are due as per the contract payment schedule.
- Once the project is complete, we will facilitate all final inspections, accept final payment, and complete all release of liens.
Levels of Involvement
The key to success in custom construction begins with learning about our clients' wants and needs. Native Construction takes a personalized approach to customer service, working hand-in-hand to ensure that each customer’s unique needs are met. We also understand that along with each customer’s unique needs comes a variable level of desired involvement.
Some customers choose to make arrangements for remodels or new construction and leave town for the season while the work is being done, secure in the knowledge that their project is in good hands. In such cases, our project managers are happy to provide photos and video of periodic project progress or to provide information about finish options via email or DVD.
Meanwhile, others request a higher level of involvement, maintaining a presence through all major stages. We also have a number of clients who wish to approach their project in an incremental fashion, often for financial reasons; some simply want to perform certain finish work themselves.
Whatever your comfort level or needs may be, our staff is committed to making the process work for you. In doing so, we provide a customer experience and attention to detail that is increasingly rare among construction companies.
Planning Your Project
Practical Tips for Success
One of the most exciting aspects of home building is allowing your personal tastes to come to life. A home should exemplify and facilitate your lifestyle. Our staff is ready to help guide you through the process of refining your layout or guiding you through the sea of finish choices. We will help you select colors, paints, stains, flooring, countertops, plumbing fixtures, appliances and more. In fact, our experienced professionals regularly identify and recommend quality improvements to design and finish plans that result in both improved function and represent a cost savings for our customers.
Your Architect
A good architect is worth every penny. Here’s how to work with one
Get in Touch with Your Inner Artist
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Regardless of what your project is, the best place to start is often with a pencil and paper. You don’t have to be an artist, but even a “horrible” sketch of your intended project can be very useful. At a minimum, you’ll want to at least write down a list of the things you wish to accomplish. If you have a digital camera or a camera phone, take some photos of the existing site; they speak volumes…better yet, take video. As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words, and a video is worth a thousand pictures.”
Permitting Basics
Submitting an Application
- While property owners can pull their own permits, it’s often best to leave the permitting process to Native Construction. Our professional staff uses specialized project tracking software to ensure that all paperwork required for each stage of your project is properly submitted and that all government inquiries, clarifications, and requirements are dealt with expeditiously. The process ensures that no time is wasted and that potentially expensive delays occur only on the side of government processing.
- If however, you still choose to pull your own permits, property owners may do so, so long as the property in question is not being held in trust. Here are a few guidelines: