: : Dorris Construction | Our Process : :

The Dorris Construction Process

By allowing Dorris Construction to a team of professionals at the start, you can avoid some common pitfalls in which people often find themselves when they decide to build a custom home. While this list is not meant to be exhaustive, it may help to get you started in the right direction. Before choosing a lot, or a particular plan or style for a home, our clients involve us as the general contractor/builder so we can manage the entire process from beginning to end.

BUILDER

The selection of the right builder should be based on a host of qualifications. Naturally, you will want to review his resume, portfolio, and visit some of the homes he has recently built. His reputation for honesty and integrity in the building community is important, and go hand in hand with his skills as a builder to produce top quality work with the desired results and at minimum expense and waste. When interviewing builders, ask about the various forms of contract options that are available to you and how they impact the final cost of your home. Your builder should help you to understand the specifics and the benefits that each option will offer you. As an example, if you are required to put down a deposit, is that deposit invested and earning interest for your benefit? When you build your dream home, it's important that it is an exciting, pleasurable, rewarding experience. The builder you choose should be someone you not only trust, but someone with whom you are compatible. His willingness and desire to attend to details, to communicate honestly with you and carefully explain each step of the process will go a long way to avert problems down the road. Take the time to interview past clients. Find out about the quality of construction, and especially the level of satisfaction they experienced with his follow up process. When the home was finished, did he respond in a timely and courteous manner to their requests to meet their needs after they moved in?

For more on how to select a builder and general contractor, please click here!

ARCHITECT

The right architect will have many of the same qualities as the right builder. Just as with the builder you choose, you should approve his resume and portfolio, and feel comfortable with his integrity and reputation in the community. Evaluate how he bills his time on this job. Does he charge by the square foot? Does he charge by the hour, or is it a flat fee? And what does his service include? Are the mechanical drawings, the model, or site survey included, or must they be contracted with someone else? It's important to have a clear picture of the steps involved and who is responsible for each part of the process. One of the most important qualities of a good architect is that of being a good listener. He is the one who will put your dreams to paper, and you will want to be confident that your desires are heard and realized in his design. In many cases, the builder and architect will have worked together in the past, and it is to your advantage to find out how they viewed their experience with one another. Again, interview his previous clients. Did he remain available throughout the construction and completion phases of the home? Did he work well with others on previous jobs? Remember, you're building a team and each player is an integral part of building your dream home.

LOT SELECTION

Your builder and architect can be of invaluable assistance in selecting the right lot for your dream home. You can save literally hundreds of thousands of dollars by asking your builder to estimate the cost of the site preparation before you purchase, and allow your architect to review the restrictions outlined in the Design Review Guidelines that go with the subdivision in which you are interested. Is there a building envelope that will determine where you can build on your lot and how large your home can be? Will you have enough room for the pool, the outdoor living room, the tennis court or any other amenity you have in mind? Your builder and architect will ask the questions and find the answers to many of the issues that may not have occurred to you. The following are items to consider before purchasing your homesite:

At Dorris Construction, we offer our services with no obligation to help you select the best lot for your dream home. We firmly believe that involving your Building Team at the beginning, before the purchase of your lot will help you achieve optimum results in the construction of the home as well as save you time and money.

DESIGN

Once your lot has been purchased, you are ready to embark on the creative process of putting your dreams to paper. This part of custom home building involves the delicate balance of what you want, what you need, and what your budget will allow. It is wise to manage all three aspects so that there are no unhappy surprises or last minute changes. Your builder and architect will consult with you regularly to shape the design and the construction of the home. Your interior designer should be involved at this stage to give input as to the types of finishes and furniture arrangements that will work well in each room, and how they will tie together. It is during this phase that your home takes a shape and form on paper, details are outlined from the foundation to the size and shape of the kitchen sink. Your team should help you to not only design a home that is pleasing to you, but one that will appreciate in value based on the decisions you make. Once the plans have been drawn and approved by both the city and the development you are building in, the job goes to bid. Only the best tradesmen are considered in the bidding process.

PRICING

Your builder will manage this portion of the process for you by selecting the best tradesmen with the best price. Without proper pre-planning, it's not unusual to learn that the dream home you envisioned costs more than what you had planned for in your budget. Be sure to understand the entire scope of the quoted price-what it covers and what it doesn't. Some builders will quote prices that do not reflect the total picture of all costs involved. At Dorris Construction, we offer state-of-the-art cost analysis which includes all aspects of the construction, so that there are no unhappy surprises later. It's far better to deal with costs at this stage than when the job is finished and you're presented with unexpected bills.

CONSTRUCTION

This is the beginning of the dream becoming a reality! Your contractor should be driving the process at this stage, dealing with tradesmen, inspections, and the overall construction process. By the time this phase has begun, most of the difficult work is over. You've made the tough decisions; now it's time to enjoy watching your home take shape and become a reality. If you have chosen your team carefully, this process is the most gratifying as you can see the progress made on a weekly or even daily basis. At Dorris Construction, our Project Managers make sure the quality of work provided by the various tradesmen involved meets our standards, and keep you informed of the progress.

MOVE IN

About 45 days before your move-in date, your contractor should be compiling your warranty and product information file for you. Your utilities will be put in your name, and your interior designer will be on hand to schedule the delivery of your new furniture. The finishing touches are being completed and all appliances, lights and gadgets are tested to make sure they function properly. Your final walk through will be conducted with your builder and in many cases, your architect and interior designer. Have your list of questions handy so that you can note the proper operations of all the special features of your home. At Dorris Construction, we know what it takes to make the transition from house to home, and to make your move-in as stress free as possible.

FOLLOW UP

After many months of work and anticipation, your dream home is a reality. This should be the most enjoyable part of your building experience! Now that you are living in your dream home, you can learn how to take full advantage of all the state-of-the-art features from computerized lighting to the alarm system. Your builder should be there to help and guide you through the honeymoon period of really getting to know your home, and be there to meet your needs as they occur. Is he willing to respond courteously and promptly to your requests for assistance? At Dorris Construction, we realize that our relationship with you, our customer, does not end with the completion of your home. We work with you during this final stage to make sure that all aspects of your home function as they should and to see that your expectations are met. One of the hallmarks of Dorris Construction is our commitment to continuous, long term customer service and support.


	The Dorris Construction Process By allowing Dorris Construction to a team of professionals at the start, you can avoid some common pitfalls in which people often find themselves when they decide to build a custom home. While this list is not meant to be exhaustive, it may help to get you started in the right direction. Before choosing a lot, or a particular plan or style for a home, our clients involve us as the general contractor/builder so we can manage the entire process from beginning to end. BUILDER The selection of the right builder should be based on a host of qualifications. Naturally, you will want to review his resume, portfolio, and visit some of the homes he has recently built. His reputation for honesty and integrity in the building community is important, and go hand in hand with his skills as a builder to produce top quality work with the desired results and at minimum expense and waste. When interviewing builders, ask about the various forms of contract options that are available to you and how they impact the final cost of your home. Your builder should help you to understand the specifics and the benefits that each option will offer you. As an example, if you are required to put down a deposit, is that deposit invested and earning interest for your benefit? When you build your dream home, it's important that it is an exciting, pleasurable, rewarding experience. The builder you choose should be someone you not only trust, but someone with whom you are compatible. His willingness and desire to attend to details, to communicate honestly with you and carefully explain each step of the process will go a long way to avert problems down the road. Take the time to interview past clients. Find out about the quality of construction, and especially the level of satisfaction they experienced with his follow up process. When the home was finished, did he respond in a timely and courteous manner to their requests to meet their needs after they moved in? For more on how to select a builder and general contractor, please click here! ARCHITECT The right architect will have many of the same qualities as the right builder. Just as with the builder you choose, you should approve his resume and portfolio, and feel comfortable with his integrity and reputation in the community. Evaluate how he bills his time on this job. Does he charge by the square foot? Does he charge by the hour, or is it a flat fee? And what does his service include? Are the mechanical drawings, the model, or site survey included, or must they be contracted with someone else? It's important to have a clear picture of the steps involved and who is responsible for each part of the process. One of the most important qualities of a good architect is that of being a good listener. He is the one who will put your dreams to paper, and you will want to be confident that your desires are heard and realized in his design. In many cases, the builder and architect will have worked together in the past, and it is to your advantage to find out how they viewed their experience with one another. Again, interview his previous clients. Did he remain available throughout the construction and completion phases of the home? Did he work well with others on previous jobs? Remember, you're building a team and each player is an integral part of building your dream home. LOT SELECTION Your builder and architect can be of invaluable assistance in selecting the right lot for your dream home. You can save literally hundreds of thousands of dollars by asking your builder to estimate the cost of the site preparation before you purchase, and allow your architect to review the restrictions outlined in the Design Review Guidelines that go with the subdivision in which you are interested. Is there a building envelope that will determine where you can build on your lot and how large your home can be? Will you have enough room for the pool, the outdoor living room, the tennis court or any other amenity you have in mind? Your builder and architect will ask the questions and find the answers to many of the issues that may not have occurred to you. The following are items to consider before purchasing your homesite: Location. Is the location one that will add value to the lot in the future? What will be (or has been) developed in the area that can enhance or detract from the value of your future home? Is it conducive to the lifestyle that you envision (eg: golf course, lake, or hillside lot)? Views. What views can be maximized from this lot? Will they remain after future development is completed? How can you incorporate them into the design of your home? Tranquility. Is the lot located on or near major cross streets, airports, or industry that may disturb you later? Practicality. Do you have children that need to be close to schools and parks? Do you commute to work and need close proximity to freeways to make driving time shorter? Contour of the lot. Do the washes or natural drainage passages impact the building of your home? If so, how can they be diverted or managed, and how much will it add to the cost of your home? Home Owners Associations. How do the CC&R's and the Design Review Guidelines impact your lifestyle and the design of the home? At Dorris Construction, we offer our services with no obligation to help you select the best lot for your dream home. We firmly believe that involving your Building Team at the beginning, before the purchase of your lot will help you achieve optimum results in the construction of the home as well as save you time and money. DESIGN Once your lot has been purchased, you are ready to embark on the creative process of putting your dreams to paper. This part of custom home building involves the delicate balance of what you want, what you need, and what your budget will allow. It is wise to manage all three aspects so that there are no unhappy surprises or last minute changes. Your builder and architect will consult with you regularly to shape the design and the construction of the home. Your interior designer should be involved at this stage to give input as to the types of finishes and furniture arrangements that will work well in each room, and how they will tie together. It is during this phase that your home takes a shape and form on paper, details are outlined from the foundation to the size and shape of the kitchen sink. Your team should help you to not only design a home that is pleasing to you, but one that will appreciate in value based on the decisions you make. Once the plans have been drawn and approved by both the city and the development you are building in, the job goes to bid. Only the best tradesmen are considered in the bidding process. PRICING Your builder will manage this portion of the process for you by selecting the best tradesmen with the best price. Without proper pre-planning, it's not unusual to learn that the dream home you envisioned costs more than what you had planned for in your budget. Be sure to understand the entire scope of the quoted price-what it covers and what it doesn't. Some builders will quote prices that do not reflect the total picture of all costs involved. At Dorris Construction, we offer state-of-the-art cost analysis which includes all aspects of the construction, so that there are no unhappy surprises later. It's far better to deal with costs at this stage than when the job is finished and you're presented with unexpected bills. CONSTRUCTION This is the beginning of the dream becoming a reality! Your contractor should be driving the process at this stage, dealing with tradesmen, inspections, and the overall construction process. By the time this phase has begun, most of the difficult work is over. You've made the tough decisions; now it's time to enjoy watching your home take shape and become a reality. If you have chosen your team carefully, this process is the most gratifying as you can see the progress made on a weekly or even daily basis. At Dorris Construction, our Project Managers make sure the quality of work provided by the various tradesmen involved meets our standards, and keep you informed of the progress. MOVE IN About 45 days before your move-in date, your contractor should be compiling your warranty and product information file for you. Your utilities will be put in your name, and your interior designer will be on hand to schedule the delivery of your new furniture. The finishing touches are being completed and all appliances, lights and gadgets are tested to make sure they function properly. Your final walk through will be conducted with your builder and in many cases, your architect and interior designer. Have your list of questions handy so that you can note the proper operations of all the special features of your home. At Dorris Construction, we know what it takes to make the transition from house to home, and to make your move-in as stress free as possible. FOLLOW UP After many months of work and anticipation, your dream home is a reality. This should be the most enjoyable part of your building experience! Now that you are living in your dream home, you can learn how to take full advantage of all the state-of-the-art features from computerized lighting to the alarm system. Your builder should be there to help and guide you through the honeymoon period of really getting to know your home, and be there to meet your needs as they occur. Is he willing to respond courteously and promptly to your requests for assistance? At Dorris Construction, we realize that our relationship with you, our customer, does not end with the completion of your home. We work with you during this final stage to make sure that all aspects of your home function as they should and to see that your expectations are met. One of the hallmarks of Dorris Construction is our commitment to continuous, long term customer service and support.	Learn more about the process of selecting a general contractor by clicking here!