At our first meeting, Envision Homes will review the design-build process in order to give you a clear understanding of the stages involved in custom designing and building a new home. We will listen to your ideas for the home including the style of the home, the size and room layout, details and trim, all the features that will make your home unique. We will also discuss your budget and financing needs to make sure your design ideas and your budget requirements are in line. It is important to discuss your budget requirements at the beginning of the project, so that we don’t over or under design the home ending up with a design and a budget that don’t match. If you own a building lot, Envision Homes will review the land requirements and site development issues with you and discuss how your home might fit on the property. If you don’t own a lot, we will compile an outline of what you would like for property including location, size, cost and then we work with you to find a piece of property that meets your needs.
Once Envision Homes has established a basic design concept and budget for the home, we will prepare a design agreement. Our design agreement is a simple contract between Envision Homes and the homeowner that states that we will work with you to design a custom home. The design cost is a flat fee that is based upon the square footage of the home. We don’t charge by the hour or for extra meetings. In addition, when you sign a Build Contract, the entire design fee is credited to your Build Contract price.
Each home designed by Envision Homes is unique, and we are proud to say we have never built the same home twice. Each home is designed specifically to the requirements of the homeowner. We start the process by asking you to bring us your ideas, magazine pictures, plans you might have seen, photographs, as well as the features you like and dislike in a home. We also ask you to fill out a design questionnaire to further help us understand your priorities and what you want in your home. Once the information is collected, Envision Homes then begins to prepare concept drawings for your review and comment. Designing a home is not a single step, it is an interactive process, that involves an exchange of ideas. The evolving process of home design is the integration of your ideas and Envision Homes' design and construction experience which together will result in the home of your dreams. If you are like most people, you have a difficult time visualizing simple 2D floor plans and elevations. While 2D drawings may be technically correct, they don’t give you the comfort of really knowing what the home will look like until it is up and framed at which time it is either too late or very costly to change. All designs by Envision Homes are 3D computer models which allow you to visualize what the home will look and feel like before construction.
Once the conceptual design of the home is complete, Envision Homes begins preparing detailed construction drawings and specifications which will be used to prepare your build contract. Our drawings and specifications are very detailed and include all the features that were discussed during the initial concept design. Due to the fact that the design and construction is all done by one company, Envision Homes is able to price out your home to include the many elements and features that we discussed during the design stage, thus giving you a more accurate price and fewer change orders.
The Envision Homes Build Agreement is a collection of documents including: your build contract, drawings, specifications, warranty, selection schedule, allowances, draw schedule, cost and construction time. We review with you, line by line, all the details and specifications so you know exactly what is and is not included in your new home. Your build agreement also includes a lengthy section on selections and a listing of suppliers, designers, showrooms, manufacturers, and web sites you can use to help you make your final decisions. We are always available to help and guide you through the entire process.
The first step in the building of your new home is to apply for the various permits and approvals required by the town and state. Each home has different requirements however typical permits necessary to start construction include: a building permit, septic approval by the board of health, well approval by the board of health, conservation approval if there are wetlands adjacent to where the home will be built, and a driveway permit. As construction proceeds additional permits will include electrical, plumbing, gas, oil burner, and smoke detectors. Envision Homes, as part of our build contract, is responsible for applying for all the necessary permits and inspections that are needed throughout the project.
Probably, the most exciting phase of your new home will be watching the home progress through the various stages of construction. Throughout the entire build process, we encourage your involvement. Envision Homes meets with our homeowners on site at least once per week to review the progress and quality of our work. Each stage of construction is personally supervised by Bob to insure that the home meets our demanding quality and craftsmanship standards.
While there is little that is typical about building a custom home, the following is a general outline of activity from initial site work to final occupancy.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
One of the advantages of designing and building a new custom home is that you can select the finishes and features that are just right for you. Throughout the construction process, you will be asked to make a number of selections for finishing the home, including pluming fixtures, appliances, trim, and paint colors are just a few. In order to make the selection process easier for the homeowner, Envision Homes divides your selections into groupings based on the construction process. For each of these groupings, Envision Homes allows ample time to research and view your options. We make suggestions based on the design process, and offer a listing of showrooms and design professionals who are trained in helping you wade through your many options and selections.
As a last step, prior to you taking ownership of the finished home, Envision Homes walks you through every aspect of the finished home. Our homeowner orientation meeting covers basic home care and maintenance, mechanical systems, winterizing, warranties, and much more.
Our warranty covers the home's material and workmanship for one year from move in. At the end of 30 days, Envision Homes sends out a paint crew to touch any nick and scratches that might have occurred during move-in. We follow-up in 6 months, and again at one year. At our one year follow-up, we again send out a paint crew to take care of any minor plaster cracks or nail pops. Envision Homes builds a quality custom home, that we are proud to stand behind, so if you have any questions or concerns we are always just a phone call away.