Dueck Builders Process
We are a customer-centered custom home builder. Since we began in 2006, we have built more than 40 custom homes. From humble beginnings in Fort Garry, to mansions in Charleswood we have made sure that our clients are fully informed on all aspects of the build. Since the very beginning of the company, we have maintained that building healthy, sustainable homes is not only affordable, but it also simply the right choice for today’s homeowner.
Clear communication is important to a great working relationship with our clients. To this end we have outlined our process below.
1. Introduction Meeting
At this meeting we will ask you questions about how you envision using your home, and what kind of partnership we should expect while building together. We will get to know each other briefly as we highlight our build process and answer questions you may have about us or the product we offer.
We request that you bring any plans and ideas that you have developed to the initial meeting. Bring us your ideas about the footprint, square footage, style, function, and finishes. We will take your plans and ideas and provide you with a budget number within a week. Our estimates are only as good as the details you provide. Alternatively, we are also comfortable starting with a budget and working with you to discover what is possible within that number.
The introductory meeting is 100% free, no commitment required.
2. Conceptual Plans and Detailed Estimate
We hope that after our introductory meeting you decide to give us the opportunity to draw the conceptual plans so that you can see your dreams for your house take shape. After we agree on conceptual drawings, we create a detailed, line-by-line estimate of the project cost. Knowing what you want in a home and how it all fits with the budget is a crucial step in making sure that all aspects of the build run smoothly.
We believe your home should be uniquely yours. For this reason we have a drawing rate of $95 per hour that covers all renderings you want, floor plans, revisions, and engineering details. We can keep you informed with the time spent on your plans and give you an accurate estimate of how long we expect your specific project to take. A good rule of thumb on homes over $500,000 is to expect to spend 1% of your home value on drawings.
At this stage we will go through a holistic review of what you want from your home and what sustainability can mean in your case. We will use our experience in a variety of building methods to design the best possible home for you.
3. Building Contract
After the conceptual plans are done and we have an agreement on the budget numbers we sign a contract for building the home and collect a deposit. We then begin work on final plans, structural review, permits, and other pre-build paperwork. From here on out we work as a team to deliver the results that are laid out in the previous steps. This is where the exciting part begins!
4. Construction Drawings
While we are doing the construction drawings, we will continue to keep you updated with ongoing drawings of elevations, layout, and roof lines. We will work with you and an interior designer to make sure that you are happy with how the home takes shape on the inside and out. We will make changes according to your requests.
We suggest you continue to consult with a certified interior designer throughout the build. We have a few we typically work with and try our best to pair you with someone who specialize in designing the styles that you have expressed to us. These meetings are extra, and the costs will be arranged depending on the designer chosen, your preference, and the intensity of the scope required from them.
5. Changes
We understand that during the building period it is likely that you will want some changes made. As the building takes shape, your ideas as to what you want may continue to be shaped as well. Our cost-plus structure allows you to make the changes with the understanding that you pay for the direct cost of the changes. There are no extra change order fees. We seek to provide maximum flexibility for you to express your character in your new home.
6. Possession
On the day of possession, we will do a walkthrough with you and make a detailed list of incomplete items. We will address these items with you through detailed communication and planning. If there are seasonal issues that arise at this point, they will be dealt with as weather permits.
Ten months from possession, we will instigate a conversation about the one-year check-up. We will request that you send us a detailed list of items that need attention as we prepare for the one-year walk-through. To ensure that we can properly address all the concerns listed, we will require the list to be submitted one month prior to the one-year walk-through.
