Home Builders Cedar Park Tx

Feb 7

What should my builder do during the pre-construction phase?

Now, you have completed the architectural design phase of your custom home. It's time for the pre-construction phase.

Your pre-construction phase will be filled with progress. Some of it you'll see, others are going to be done behind closed doors. Your builder will have a long list of things to do during this period. You will need HOA approvals, city permits, utility orders, possible constructability issues, selections options, guidance, builders' risk insurance to quote. A project schedule to be built, a budget to refine with each selection, subcontractor agreements to implement, and key trades to align.

Let's look at some key things your custom builder should do during this time.

Make (and Follow) a Timeline for Pre-Construction

A pre-construction timeline should be created by your custom builder. This is about builder accountability. Your builder should have effective internal processes to ensure that each phase of the project is a success. There is a good chance they have established a timeline and set deadlines for the team's pre-construction actions. You should establish expectations now that your builder has established internal processes. This can be done by asking for a pre-construction timetable.

A pre-construction timeline is just one of the 60 items in our Pre-Construction Checklist. We use this checklist for all of our projects. Each pre-construction timeline will be different for each home or location, but the checklist generally includes target deadlines.

Complete structural engineering (and civil, if required by HOA/city).
Construction budget creation (several deadlines in this multi-step process).
Completion of surveys, drainage plans, MEP, and other plans. Required by the HOA and/or city
Submit to HOA for approval (and anticipated approval date).
Submission to the city for a building permit (and an expected permit date).
For homeowners, the creation of a comprehensive selections program
Provide guidance for homeowners on key items
Construction schedules created
Execution sub-agreements
Kick-off meeting for key sub-s
Preliminary site work (tree removal, temporary fence, etc.

This pre-construction timeline will have TARGET deadlines and no hard deadlines. This step is crucial because the builder organizes their team and assigns responsibilities to ensure that your home gets to its starting point efficiently and effectively.

Give a Clear Selections List

This is a huge decision. It is crucial to make as many choices upfront in order to ensure that your Home Builders Cedar Park Tx goes smoothly. Before you start digging, your custom builder should be able to provide you with a list of all the selections that they require. A clear plan from your builder will make the selection process easier for both you and your designer.

Your custom builder should have an internal process for collecting your selections and procuring materials to ensure that construction is on time. We often hear builders relying too heavily upon interior designers to manage the entire selections process. The builder provides plans upfront and then requests specific choices from the homeowner or designer. This makes the entire process more complicated, chaotic, and frustrating than necessary. The homeowners and the interior designer can know in advance when they will need to make selections throughout construction by providing a detailed selections schedule during pre-construction. It is even better if the builder sends regular updates that highlight which selections should be emphasized next.

Before you start digging for your new home, here are some of the things that you should consider:

Exterior doors and windows
Exterior materials/colors/details
Roof
Appliances
Plumbing fixtures
Interior beams
Fireplace details
Types of interior design
Locate floor plugs
Mechanized shades locations, if desired

These selections must be made early as they impact the architectural design, as well as the electrical plan, plumbing groundwork, and foundation of the home. This is very important early in the construction process. The foundation height variation can be affected by interior flooring materials. It is important to determine which areas will be carpeted/wood/tile to ensure a foundation that works for you. These selections should be made quickly as many of them can take a long time to make.

Create a project schedule

Before you break ground, it is essential that your custom builder prepares a construction schedule. This gives their team and their subcontractors a plan to follow and to which they can hold each other accountable. This schedule is essential in order to avoid missing material ordering deadlines, completing steps in the wrong sequence, making sub-stacking and coordination on-site more difficult. These errors can lead to significant delays in construction.

It is a great way to make sure your custom builder and your contractor are on the same page regarding your project. It will also help you understand the progression of construction on your home through each phase.

Your home building experience will be much more smooth if your builder is efficient in this phase. All the best!

Cedar Park Home Remodelers

Cedar Park, Tx

(737) 307 8281