DESIGN PHASE

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

Our typical turnaround for remodels is 2-3 weeks for the initial design, new construction is about 3-6 weeks depending on size and complexity. The rest is up to you, but typically it takes 6-10 weeks to get to an approved plan, bid and timeline. We try to limit revisions so we can keep forward progress, that’s why we ask all the decision makers to come into the office so we can make as many changes possible in real time to cut down on design time and get your project moving as quickly as possible!

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

Conceptual Design Packages or “Bid Ready Design” is everything you and your builder need to make an accurate estimate for your project. Our designs include the 2-D plan overview, several 3-D renderings to communicate style and finish-out, plumbing and cabinet layout, roof plan and demo plan (if applicable) and additional details the production team needs to make an accurate estimate.

CAN I SHOP OTHER BUILDERS?

Yes, in fact we encourage all customers to do their due diligence before committing to a large project. We allow 30 days from the delivery of the bid/timeline for you to talk to other builders, friends, family and whoever you need to talk to in order to make an informed decision before charging the remaining 50% of the design fee. The most important part of choosing a builder is finding someone you feel comfortable communicating with so that when something inevitably happens on your project, you can feel confident communicating and problem solving as a team to find resolution and keep your project on track.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

WHAT IF I DECIDE NOT TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH MY PROJECT AT ALL OR HOLD OFF FOR AWHILE?

That is okay! Just pay the remaining design balance and come back whenever you are ready. We save all project files for 7 years, so we are able to pick back up where we left off. Estimates are only valid for 30 days.

CONSTRUCTION PHASE

HOW WILL I BE BILLED?

We take a deposit upon signing the build contract. This deposit goes toward permits, pre-ordering materials, operational costs, demolition, and labor prior to the first draw request. After some work is completed, we will submit a draw request based on what has been done. You or your lender will verify that the work is completed prior to funding the request. Anticipated draw requests follow the budget and timeline. Change orders and upgrades are also identified in draw requests.

WHAT KIND OF RECEIPTS AND INVOICES CAN I EXPECT?

We provide a turn-key service, which means we pay our subs, artisans, and laborers daily or weekly, and we in turn charge you after work is completed. Your draw request or invoice for allowance items serve as your receipt. We have worked hard to establish excellent relationships with our vendors to receive the best service, pricing and reliability possible. In turn, we do not disclose our trade pricing as per our agreement with various to-the-trade-only vendors.

HOW DO ALLOWANCE ITEMS WORK?

Allowance items are up to you to choose. We set an amount in the budget to give you a guideline, but the exact amount spent will be billed on the draw request instead of the budgeted amount. For instance: if we set a budget for $1,500 for plumbing fixtures and the cost is $1,250, that is the amount that will be billed. If the cost is $1,790, that amount will be billed. We do charge a small margin on allowance items to cover ancillary expenses such as extra parts, shipping, and change in price from the original quote. If you prefer to order your own allowance items, that’s okay too. Just coordinate with your team to ensure that you are ordering the correct items and accessory parts. Your Trinity invoice serves as your receipt for these items.

HOW DO UPGRADES WORK?

Upgrades are decided prior to beginning the project as they effect the overall budget and timeline. We strive to get you everything on your wishlist AND stay in your desired budget, but when this isn’t possible, we move these items to upgrades with an anticipated budget and timeline. This amount may need to be adjusted depending on the precise combination of upgrades chosen and will be agreed upon in the final budget prior to project start.

WHO CAN I EXPECT TO SEE ON MY JOBSITE?

Team members will identify themselves and are available to answer questions. You will see workers or crews present without a manager, but we will never send someone to your house who is unsafe or untrustworthy. If you feel something is wrong, let us know IMMEDIATELY. Construction sites are magnets for theft and crime. Someone will secure your jobsite every day, but it is a good idea to remove all valuables from your home prior to the project starting. There are down days. While we try to keep these to a minimum, some are unavoidable. If no one is working at your jobsite, please refer to your timeline.

WHAT ARE YOUR WORKING HOURS?

We work on jobsites Monday-Saturday 7 AM - 7 PM. Hours may vary due to trade type, neighborhood restrictions, and season. Office hours are M-F 9 AM - 5 PM. If there is an emergency please call us any time. We are a family business, evenings and weekends are reserved for family time. If you have questions or concerns outside of business hours, please write them in an email and a member of our team will get back to you the next business day.

WHAT ABOUT THE MESS?

A clean jobsite is our goal. We will do our best to keep things tidy throughout the process, but some mess is unavoidable. Construction dust from even the smallest demolition will get EVERYWHERE, so it’s a good idea remove all items from areas where construction will take place. Put away and cover any items or furniture left behind. We will plastic and tape off areas where work will not be taking place, but dust will still find a way in. After work is complete, we send in a final cleaning crew to clean up the dust in all areas we worked in, but dust will continue to settle for up to 2 months. We can help arrange for a cleaning crew to follow up at regular intervals after the project is over. We cannot take responsibility for ANY personal belongings on a construction site, we recommend removing EVERYTHING from the home and, if possible, move out during construction.

MOST COMMON TIME AND BUDGET OVERAGES

UNFORSEEN REPAIRS

When you’re doing a remodel, you are coming behind someone else’s work and likely working on an older home. Codes and standards of practice change with time, and some things may have to be corrected before moving forward. Also, aging homes may have unseen rot, insect damage, or poor craftsmanship. We always try to anticipate this from the offset, but some things just can’t be anticipated. When this happens, we always try to give you as much notice as possible and work with you to figure out a way to resolve the issues so that you are getting a final product that we know is safe for your family.

CHANGE ORDERS

The number one reason a project may go over time and/or budget is due to change orders. Change orders alter the timeline, cause us to go backwards over work we’ve already completed, and gets us off course. Anytime we must deviate from a contract with a sub or laborer, it costs us extra time and money. Changing materials last minute may mean we are waiting for special order items to come in or having to make last minute trips to pick items up.

UNEXPECTED CHANGES IN MARKET

Any industry that deals in commodities and labor is subject to change at a moment’s notice. Labor shortages may cause us to choose between paying more or waiting until a specific crew becomes available. Lumber prices have increased drastically over the last 5 years and may continue to do so. We can compensate for these situations by bulk ordering materials and pre-arranging labor at the offset of a project, change orders may interfere with these practices.