Goals to Project Completion: How to get there
by Rachel Ravitch
Once you feel confident about your project goals, here are some good next steps that help you get from goal to successful project completion.
Hash it out in design before starting construction. Design fees are a lot cheaper than stalling construction or making changes to work once it’s installed. As a design professional who has also worked as a construction manager, I can tell you - early decision making & staying the path once construction has started is the biggest way to make sure your project finishes on time and on budget. You will want to make sure to talk with your design team about what kind of visualizations you need in order to make and commit to big decisions. 3D imagery has become fairly commonplace in design studios, however it can add cost to the project. I think this cost is worth it to know that you will have imagery presented in a way that you understand and that will help you commit to your decisions. Here are the types of imagery that designers typically present:
Inspiration images from reputable sources
Floor Plans
Interior Elevations
Exterior Elevations
3D line drawings
3D renderings
Material boards
Do it right. Get the correct permits and hire professionals who can help you get there. We live in an earthquake zone which poses a whole host of fun hoops to jump through in order to make substantial modifications to a structure or build from scratch. However, with the right team of professionals to guide you through the process, you will be able to meet your goals with confidence.
Shop around for construction estimates and make sure to ask the right questions. Here’s a few questions that I think are really important:
Are you a part of the AGC? Why not?
The AGC ensures that general contractors are following best practices to ensure their job sites are safe and staffed with skilled employees.
General contractors receive a discount on their liability insurance as a member of the AGC, so the cost to implement this kind of program pays off by savings on insurance premiums.
In my opinion, hiring a general contractor that is an AGC member ensures that you are working with a team of professionals who are capable of running a business effectively and with the safety of their employees as their primary goal.
What is your safety program?
The AGC has a great safety program - if your general contractor is a part of the AGC they have implemented a robust safety program.
This is an important question to ask because a safety program demonstrates that a general contractor is committed to doing things right and knows that job site safety is an important part of that commitment.
A common pitfall in construction is when contractors “go rogue”. If your general contractor does not have solid, law abiding practices in place to make sure that everything that is done is able to be insured there is a chance that their own liability insurance would not cover damages or even injuries and you could be stuck paying the bill for such damages. Talk with your home insurance agent for more details.
What can we do in advance to make sure the project stays on budget and on schedule? Are there any drawings or specifications missing that are needed to gain more insight on budget or schedule?
Do you usually pass construction and trade inspections?
Do you have recommendation letters from past clients? Do you have recommendation letters from subcontractors?
What is your employee retention rate?
Do women and minorities work in your company? At what level?
As a woman who has worked in the construction industry, it’s a red flag if a company does not have any women on staff. This means the company is incapable of creating a safe space for their employees. Additionally, not having women and minorities in positions of authority is another red flag. In our modern era, companies should have a diversity program and ensure their hiring practices are unbiased.
Have any of your subcontractors liened a property recently?
General contractors are responsible for paying any subcontractors they hire in a timely manner. If the subcontractor is not paid on time, the subcontractor has the right to lien your property.
All general contractors in Washington State are required to hold a general contracting license and carry liability insurance. I would not recommend working with anyone who does not have this baseline requirement in place. Here’s some info about liability insurance for general contractors.
Read about remodeling and what to expect. Here are some short articles that you might find helpful before you embark on your remodel journey.
Mock it up, tape it out and walk through. Mocking up fabrications or furniture in cardboard or with blue tape can really help along the way. If you are repainting make sure to do a mock up of the color in the space where the paint will go and look at it in various lighting conditions (morning, mid day, evening, after dark…) before committing. Professional painting is fairly expensive and it really takes over a space. You really don’t want to have to repaint after you’re moved in. You will want to let your contractor know what kinds of mock ups and walk throughs you would like to participate in ahead of construction. Typically, these are the field walk throughs clients are engaged in prior to install:
Electrical - confirm switch, fixture, and outlet locations.
Plumbing - confirm fixture locations, especially shower heads and hand showers. Make sure faucets don’t interfere with medicine cabinets…
Interior & Exterior Paint - mock up colors on walls or boards in the areas they will be painted
Siding - Mock up the siding material to confirm profiles and details prior to install
Cabinets - Profile details can be viewed at a cabinet showroom prior to fabrication. You will also want to get samples of the cabinet finish prior to fabrication.
Wood finishes - Mock ups of the floor finishes and any other wood clear or stained finishes prior to installation.
Talk with friends who have been there. We all have friends, family members, and colleagues who have completed remodels or new construction projects. Ask them about pitfalls and what they wish they had done differently. Ask them about good experiences they have had with design professionals or builders. Your community is a great resource!
Get in touch! I offer free 1-hour consultations which are a great way to get some questions answered. Email me at rachel@rachelravitchstudio.com to schedule.