OUR PROCESS

THE FIRST MEETING

At BCC, we believe that the client experience begins when you reach out to us.  After you make an inquiry, we will reach out shortly to get more details and prepare for our first meeting.

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We think that the first meeting should be more than a jobsite visit to help us with pricing.  Rather, we take the time to understand your project, your wants, your needs, your budget, and so forth.  We make suggestions, ask questions, and foster a productive discussion that allows us to fully understand your vision for your project.

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As the client, this first meeting is a great time to ask us any questions about your project or to highlight any specific wants or not wants!  Maybe you have a specific trim you want, or you'd love if it was possibly to save the piece of trim/wall where you marked your kids heights over the years... We get it!  These requests and expectations are exactly the details we like to know.

THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE

There is more to pre-construction then ordering materials and picking a day to start.  At BCC, we believe that doing our due diligence in pre-construction always leads to a more successful project!

Depending on the size and complexity of your project, we will tailor our preconstruction activities accordingly.   For smaller projects or projects with well defined scopes, we are generally able to produce an estimate quickly and accurately.

Generally, for larger projects such as large remodels, additions, or new construction, we will enter into a pre-construction services agreement with the client.  This agreement allows us to focus on the details of your project up front and accurately price and schedule the project.  And as an added bonus, this pre-construction services fee is then credited back to you when we enter into the actual construction agreement.

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Why do we use a preconstruction services agreement?  Simply answered, it allows us to generate the most accurate, most complete, and most detailed budget possible for your project!  While many contractors make assumptions or throw square foot numbers together to form a budget, we understand every project is a little different and has specific characteristics we need to account for.  The result... our budgets are accurate and complete, leading to many less change orders or unexpected costs!

THE GMP PROJECT DELIVERY METHOD

At Baver Custom Construction, we like to employ a GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price), Other common terms used to describe this method are a NTE Proposal (Not to Exceed) or a Guaranteed Cost Proposal.

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So what does this mean to you?  Simplified, a GMP is exactly what it sounds like, a guaranteed maximum price for your project.  By taking the time up front to understand your project and carefully evaluating challenges, site conditions, and complexity, we are able to provide you with a proposal that gives you the true expected cost of your project with no hidden costs, fees, or future change orders!

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You've probably heard horror stories from friends and family about other contractors who gave them a great price, but then after change order upon change order, suddenly that seemingly good price became inflated well past the original budget.  Unfortunately, this happens all too often mainly because of two factors, a low bid mentality and change order profit.

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However, at BCC, we believe it doesn't have to be this way.  We believe in having honest, trusting relationships with our clients which begins with how we structure our proposal for your project.  Our GMP proposals are made up of the following components: the defined cost, the allowances, and the contingencies.  The defined costs are items in the proposal for which we are able to develop an accurate estimate; items like replacing a window of a known size, or building a new partition wall, etc.  The allowances are for items where the scope isn't fully defined, but it is known there will be some scope related to that item; an example might be we will include an allowance of 20,000 dollars for your kitchen cabinets if you haven't yet decided on a design, or we include an allowance of 2000 dollars for relocating mechanicals hidden in the walls of your remodel.  We know these items are going to be there but we don't know the extent of their scope, so rather than charging you a change order we decide to include an allowance up front.  If we use the allowance, its not extra cost to you; if we don't use the entire allowance, that amount is credited back to you!  And finally contingency, which is an amount set aside for unknown items; because if one thing is for certain, there are always unknows or surprises.  Maybe its a rotted window sill or some water damage.  By including a contingency to cover these items, we are able to address them quickly and without a change order!  And as with allowances, if the contingency is not fully used that amount is credited back to you.

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There are a few additional benefits to using a GMP delivery method.  First, the invoices are typically more detailed and broken out with supporting documentation.  Essentially, you get to see exactly what you are paying for.  Another benefit to using the GMP method compared to a traditional bid delivery with lump sum billing is that the overhead and profit (O&P) margins are fixed and visible. Heard stories of contractors seemingly charging 30, 40, even 50 percent profit on change orders or on projects?  Or of contractors being unwilling to provide a breakdown of their invoices?  Not at BCC.  When doing a GMP, we believe in setting agreed upon margins up front and sticking to them. Our GMP invoices are very open and honest with supporting documentation, allowing you to see exactly what you are paying.  Why?  Because that's how we foster an honest and trustworthy relationship with the client.