Organization in the Building Process
Working with Bluerock Utah — Part Three
Welcome back to the series of working with Bluerock. As you recall from our previous posts found here, and here, we walked through what it looks like to work with us and why building a relationship with your builder is KEY to achieving great success with your project.
Today we are jumping into organization and why it is critical to the building process. Organization is the second of our four ROCK pillars.
When you work with someone that is a ‘hot mess,’ not only do they struggle to stay on top of your project and give you the best outcome, but you will 9 times out of 10 end up incredibly frustrated because you will have NO idea where things are. We at Bluerock aim to squash any and all frustration, and we do that with organization. Let’s break it down.
Builders who are organized not only keep you as a client in the loop, but they help you know exactly where in the process they are so you can both stay on track, achieve your goals (hello moving day), and stay on budget.
In this post we want to break it down into stages. We have three we often work in. They are PreConstruction, Construction and Post Construction — real original, we know.
PreConstruction
In this phase you should be working with your builder to go over a few things. One of the most critical is the pricing structure they use. We talked about that in the Relationship post found here. Make sure it is clear who takes the risks, who is responsible for what, and what will happen if there are overages or if prices change. That way there are zero surprises when they do arise.
You should be establishing a communication plan with your team. Will you be communicating daily? Weekly? How will that communication take place? Will you be texting or emailing? Do you meet at the job site? How often? When it happens, how will that take place? We at Bluerock like to not only give you daily updates on what was worked on, but have a place that you can come and check in with photos, real time updates and budget tracking so you are never in the dark. Read more about Communication here.
PreConstruction is also a time for hellos! You need to meet the key members of your team including your design team, key subcontractors, and other points of contact. You want to know who to talk to when issues come up or if you have questions. We also want to get to know you and your family, your neighborhood, and others who may be involved in the project.
A key part of this phase is to walk through the process. To know what things will happen in what order. Like what happens if there is a filing issue, how does filing work, what to do when you have a concern and how those will be addressed. Knowing all these steps helps make the process smoother for both parties.
Lastly in this phase is working on getting all the necessary permits and approvals required in the state of Utah. We at Bluerock are happy to take care of that for you. If you are in charge of getting them for your build, we are happy to assist so that there are no delays in your building process.
Construction
Now that all the prep is done and you have established your communication lines, it is time to start the fun part, building! In this stage of your build you will go into a few different things.
We will set up a process of picking materials and getting them ordered and to your job site. Some of our clients enjoy going to stores and choosing their materials. Others prefer us to provide samples or have vendors and suppliers meet our clients at the project site. Whatever your preference, we help facilitate that process early on in the project.
Then the fun stuff starts! You get to see what is being done and when things are going to be moving. There should be a system in place for you to not only see what was done on a specific day but to know when things are going to be done. We invite you as a user in CoConstruct, our project management software, so you can easily access the progress and know key deadlines as they approach.
In this stage we will also be working together to maintain the communication plan that we set up during the PreConstruction stage. It is crucial that we maintain our lines of communication including how we report errors and issues in the field. This helps us remain in control during the entire build. We also have a system in place to accommodate changes you wish to make during the project. Setting clear expectations on how to address mistakes and also changes will ensure you get your exact desired results. Remember, we treat our relationship as a partnership and we love working together to achieve your desired results.
Lastly, we move into the Post Construction stage.
Post Construction
In this stage, construction is complete (Moving Day!), but sometimes there are a handful of items for us to resolve. Once the project passes the final inspection and receives a Certificate of Occupancy, you are free to move in and occupy. At this point, our one year warranty begins and you are able to enjoy your new space!
At the time of completion we will walk the project together and create a Punch List of items for us to address. We work diligently to complete all of those items after you move in. Sometimes you find additional items after you move in. Simply let us know and we will evaluate the issue and resolve it as quickly as we can. During the course of the one year warranty, if you discover anything amiss, simply communicate with us and we or our subcontractors will take care of you.
Bluerock Will Take Care of You
We have been working in the Utah construction industry a long time, so we know what to expect and how to avoid certain headaches. We will always pull building permits on our projects for you so there is no dealing with the city or inspectors. We will always work with engineers to ensure that every drawing and rendering gets an engineering stamp, even when a change is made on a blueprint. We will always have insurance that is necessary when it comes to building your home. We will always make sure our subcontractors’ checks have lien waiver language in it, and that when a check is endorsed, it is also signed. And of course contracts — our licensed and insured subcontractors are under contract with us to protect you.
When a project is highly organized from start to finish, there is not only a successful outcome, but the journey is enjoyable as well!
“When a project is highly organized from start to finish, there is not only a successful outcome, but the journey is enjoyable as well!”
Build with Bluerock
Are you ready to start your build? Contact us for more information on how to get started with us today.
