Building a new home or undertaking a major remodel of your existing home is a demanding and time consuming endeavor. Choosing a professional team with the right personal fit and chemistry and with the right construction experience and project management capabilities can make the difference between a pleasant and engaging experience and difficult and trying one.  It goes without saying that it is in the best interest of all involved to make sure the fit is a good one.

The following table summarizes the four “relationship phases,” discussed in more detail below, and the key things we need to do together at each phase. Suffice it to say that Timberdale’s goal in working together is to make the experience as smooth and rewarding as possible and to eliminate the surprises and conflicts often associated with construction projects.

We begin working together by getting acquainted in a series of informal meetings that allow us to become familiar with your needs and for you to become familiar with our capabilities and operating approach and style. At this stage you may want to tour some of our completed homes to judge directly our construction quality and style and, perhaps, get some new ideas. Also, we provide a reality check by discussing preliminary budget and timing requirements for the contemplated project.

At the successful conclusion of our introductory meetings, we would agree on getting started with either the design (assuming Timberdale is hired to design & build) or the pre-construction organizational tasks. At this phase of the relationship, Timberdale schedules a series of formal meetings with the client to obtain more information and/or feedback.  In all cases these meetings would be well organized and agenda-driven.  We develop and review with the client detailed, preliminary budgets and schedules and discuss their potential impact on the final design. We coordinate all other aspects of the design and/or pre-construction work, keeping you fully informed of our progress. We also provide the support and documentation required by the construction lender and insurance provider to assure that these important tasks proceed smoothly. To initiate these design and pre-construction work activities, we normally require that the parties enter into either a design contract (assuming Timberdale is hired to design the project) or a pre-construction consulting agreement. The pre-construction consulting agreement compensates us for work on the client’s behalf prior to a construction contract being entered into. Typically, we credit the fees earned under this agreement back to you upon signing a construction contract.

Moving from the design and pre-construction activities to getting your new home built involves arriving at a meeting of the minds on final construction plans, specifications, budget and construction schedule. At this point a construction contract that formalizes our understanding of these matters is signed and work begins. As work on your new home or newly remodeled home progresses, Timberdale schedules periodic formal meetings to review construction progress and to obtain specific inputs required from the client (such as material selections) to assure work proceeds on schedule. Many informal meetings at the site will also occur where we will discuss construction progress, details and seek your input and feedback. Budget reviews will occur monthly, usually around the monthly billing cycle. We work closely with the client’s construction lender to comply with all requirements to facilitate prompt processing of loan draw-downs.

When the project is completed Timberdale will conduct a final quality assurance inspection with you to confirm that everything is completed to your satisfaction. We also provide an orientation session on the house and its systems and provide you with an owner’s manual. The owner’s manual documents all aspects of the home’s systems and maintenance requirements. We also inform you on how to get post construction care from Timberdale through our “iron clad” warranty support and how we can assist in other ways to make your new home experience as rewarding and pleasurable as possible.