Homeowners Identify a Need To Improve Their Home

Homeowners contact Hammerschmidt Construction, Inc. (HCI) because they have identified a need to improve their home. In a brief telephone call, we ask for a description of the improvements they would like to make and provide an introduction to our services.

Complimentary Consultation

Our design team meets with the homeowners to learn more about their goals and ideas for their home. We ask them to bring photos, wish lists, and/or sketches of their ideas and any plans of the existing house, if available. We discuss the scope of the improvements and projected budget. At the end of the consultation, we both determine if we’d like to work together and if so, we prepare a Design Services Agreement.

Design Services Agreement

A Design Services Agreement is prepared including a project description and a Budgetary Estimate for the construction costs. The Budgetary Estimate is provided at this early stage, before design costs are incurred, to assist homeowners in making cost vs. benefit decisions about the improvements they are considering. The agreement details the design services we will provide to prepare a complete set of plans including structural and Title 24 engineering and compile a Fixed-Price Quotation. Upon approval of the agreement, a meeting is scheduled to begin the Design Feasibility phase.

Design Feasibility Phase

HCI researches local zoning and building code requirements and meets with city departments to identify any impediments to the project. After reviewing the requirements and the Budgetary Estimate, we help the homeowner determine if the project is feasible as described, would be feasible with revisions, or should be abandoned.

Preliminary Design Phase

Once feasibility is confirmed, HCI creates preliminary floor plan layouts with room sizes and adjacencies and schedules a meeting with the homeowner to review the proposed designs. A “Selection List” is given to the homeowners and also provided electronically to record all of their choices for fixtures, finishes and materials and a list of vendor locations and websites to visit. Homeowner reviews the layouts and provides any changes to HCI. Changes are incorporated and HCI submits the design to a structural engineer and to the city for informal “approval.” The proposed start date for construction and length of construction are discussed.

Design Development Phase

HCI completes the exterior elevations and as-built drawings of the existing home and prepares the electrical layout, cabinet locations, door and window placements and specifications for HVAC, plumbing, low voltage, mechanical and vacuum as required. The selection list is reviewed. Contractor and/or Interior Designer assist the homeowner in making remaining selections. A revised Budgetary Estimate is prepared and reviewed with the homeowner.

Construction Documents Phase

Final plans are reviewed and stamped by the engineers and any documents and applications required by the city are completed (demolition permit, temporary power, construction details, etc.) . HCI submits the final plans and an application to the city to obtain a building permit. Concurrently a Fixed-Price Quotation is compiled incorporating the specific materials selected by the homeowners and fixed-price quotations from subcontractors. HCI submits the completed plans and a permit application to the city.

Preparation for Construction

A construction contract and a production schedule are prepared and a start date is set. A pre-construction meeting is held with the homeowner and our design team as the official “hand-off” to our production team. During the meeting, the logistics of the project are discussed including a review of the construction process, property access, protection of existing structure, and owner’s requested locations for storage of construction materials. A time for weekly construction meetings is set and the invoicing and payment process is reviewed.

Construction

During construction, weekly progress meetings are held on site with the homeowners, general contractor, production manager, and project foreman. Job progress is reviewed and the homeowners are apprised of the upcoming schedule.

Project Completion and Warranty

At the time of substantial completion, we inspect the project together and make one list of any remaining items to be completed. A final inspection is held and any city requirements are addressed. Once the project is completed the warranty period commences.