Building
A Custom Home
The Process from Start to Finish
by Marla J. Ottenstein
For some, the thought of
building a luxury custom home can be overwhelming, but by hiring the right
builder, everything falls into place. Building a sound foundation based
on trust is the most important piece of the puzzle. The other pieces automatically
fall into place when the general protocol described below is followed.
According to John McGarvey, president of McGarvey Custom
Homes, “Each step in the schedule is a ‘mile-stone’
and a key point of communication between the builder and client. With
innumerable decision points along the way, a qualified builder needs to
guide and educate the client making sure the process goes as smoothly
as possible with no surprises.”
First things first – choose a reputable builder who
is qualified to handle the complexity of building a luxury home. Everything
else pivots around this decision. Make sure you trust the builder 100
percent and that there’s chemistry from the start.
The builder needs to be involved from day one. Hiring the
builder before the architect is easier and more economical for the simple
reason that the builder has lots of experience and technical insight into
the building process. Don’t put the cart ahead of the horse.
Choosing an architect who can translate the client’s
visions into reality is the next critical step. Just as each project is
different, and different builders fit with different clients, the same
goes for choosing an architect, landscape designer, pool and hardscape
designer and interior designer.
“Architects have different architectural strengths
and styles. Choosing an architect goes beyond ability and style,”
says McGarvey. “Personality and compatibility are an important part
of the formula. We give our clients a few suggestions, but ultimately,
it’s their home and it’s up to them who they choose.”
Once the players are in place, it’s time for the first
meeting between the client, builder and architect to establish the premise
for the home and the initial budget. “Preliminary drawings”
of the floor plan are drawn up with the size and flow of the home designed
in correlation to the client’s needs. These hand-drawn drawings
go through several revisions before being made into architectural Computer
Aided Design & Drafting (CADD) drawings.
The next milestone is for the builder, architect, client
and interior designer to layout the standard furniture pieces onto the
CADD-generated floor plan taking into account furnishings for particular
rooms, varying proportions of furniture in relation to the room and any
existing pieces the client wants incorporated into their home. Based on
the furniture layout, adjustments – expanding or adding space –
are made to the original CADD drawings.
Subsequently, the revised CADD drawings go to the “60
percent” phase detailing the exterior elevations, roof design and
window placement.
The builder now plans the roof truss lines and the landscape,
pool and hardscape designers are brought in.
At the 60 percent stage, a preliminary take-off of the hard
surfaces – carpet, stone, wood and tile – is planned in order
to make slab projections. At this stage, based on the projected square
footage for windows and doors and flooring selections, the builder breaks
down all the numbers and is able to prepare a more definitive budget.
The fee structure for 90 percent of custom homes is based on “cost
plus builder’s fees.” This way, the client sees updated invoices
on a monthly basis and is always in the loop when the budget is adjusted.
After the take-offs are done, interior architectural detailing
and structural planning, such as niches, ceiling details, floor tile diagrams,
columns, kitchen and bath plans, built-ins, HVAC, electrical and plumbing,
etc., are planned. If the client is using an interior designer, now’s
the time that they get involved.
After the truss detailing and take-off drawings are done,
it’s time for the architect to generate what are known as “100
percent” drawings. These drawings are essential for the structural
engineer, HVAC, electrical and plumbing subcontractors and land survey
team to work off of to complete the structural planning for the home and
to certify the plans for permitting.
If the home is being built in a private community, the builder
will get the exterior elevations and materials approved by the community
architectural review board before obtaining county and state permits.
People often cringe when they hear the word “permitting,”
but it’s a breeze for the builder who is meticulously prepared and
organized. The more complete the drawings – structural, HVAC, roof
truss, driveway curve cuts, pool and fence, to name a few – the
easier the permitting process. Manufacturer’s data, including window
and door specs, paint colors, roof tiles and hurricane-compliance plans,
should also be included in the packet, as well as the builder’s
notice of commencement.
With permits signed and ready to go, it’s time to start
placing orders, finalize construction schedules and build a house! For
the next 12 months, with hundreds of different activities incorporated,
the client can choose to what degree to be involved or not.What is important
is that the builder has a pulse on the entire project and that the company
oversees every step of the construction progression.
Different environments present different challenges. In Florida,
it is imperative that the builder be proactive and knowledgeable about
mold and water infiltration and what to do to prevent them.
“Waterproofing and properly installed ‘vapor
barriers’ to prevent moisture from entering the home are key factors
to building a sound home and safe environment,” said McGarvey. “We
use rigid insulation, like isonene, on the inside and an elastic, flexible
waterproofing paint on the exterior of the home to fight the elements
of nature.
“In all of our homes, the HVAC is an important component
in the fight against mold. We make sure that the air is dehumidified before
it enters the home by increasing the pressure of the inside air to reduce
the overall humidity.”
The house is built, but before it becomes a home, there are
a series of extensive quality checks and assurances to ensure that everything
is operational and that all the pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly.
“Ten years down the road, the home we build today may have had more
than one owner, but it will always be a ‘McGarvey’ home. We
are perfectionists and have unparallel standards of excellence, and it’s
our responsibility to make sure the job is done right,” said McGarvey.
Building a luxury custom home doesn’t end after the
client takes their final walk-through. Customer service and care is what
sets one company apart from the others. At McGarvey, they understand that
builder service after completion is the key to building a long lasting,
trusting relationship with their homeowners.
They have benchmarked the parameters for excellence in customer
service by introducing the “McGarvey Custom Care” program
where a customer-care technician visits the homeowner for one year on
a once-a-month basis, for an eight-hour “honey-do” project
day. Picture hanging, minor plumbing and electrical tasks, power-washing,
light furniture moving, light painting, whatever the homeowner wants,
the homeowner gets is the McGarvey promise.
“Our goal is that every custom home has its own personality
and that it’s delivered on time and on budget,” says Dan Gerner,
executive vice president of McGarvey Custom Homes. “We strive to
build a home that will exceed our customers’ expectations, a home
of the highest quality that delivers long-lasting value and wonderful
memories for many years.”
For
information on building a custom home call:
McGARVEY CUSTOM HOMES
27599 Riverview Center Blvd., #105
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
239 992-8940
www.mcgarveycustomhomes.com
