OUR DESIGN & BUILD PROCESS
Welcome to JNL Designs & Construction, Casper's Design+Build company. We specialize in renovations of all sizes and new construction of residential homes. We believe in providing a profession and enjoyable experience for every client. Our staff will walk with you through every step of the project; from overall layout & spatial planning to final paint colors and finishes. Our goal is to provide a new, transformed space or custom home for our clients that is magazine worthy and that they can enjoy day in and out.
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If you’re ready to move forward with your project and you’ve started doing some online research to try to figure out where to begin and who to call; you may be feeling excited, overwhelmed, or even nervous about the process ahead. Don’t worry, that’s completely normal and our steps below will help define what you need and how to get it done.
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The guide below will help you understand our process and what to expect from Our Team of professionals.
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*This Process is for Kitchens, Bathrooms, Basement, and Addition Projects.
*If you’re remodeling within the existing structure of your home, we will utilize our in-house CAD software. For new additions or new construction projects, we will meet with our architect to determine the cost for drafting plans. Already have an architect? No problem. Contact us when your drawings are permit ready, so we can meet to review them to make sure we set a realistic budget.
FIRST
EDUCATION
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RESEARCH IDEAS
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INITIAL CALL & CONSULTATION
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REALISTIC BUDGET ESTABLISHED
Explore Ideas & Formulate Must Haves
Start your journey by exploring the internet for your likes, dislikes, and everything in between. Take a look through our project portfolio for ideas. You can also check out some idea books on Houzz.com or PInterest.
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Get Specific About Your Project
What type of project are you looking to start? Is it a kitchen only or is it actually the kitchen and floors throughout the first floor? Getting specific about how you plan to use the space before the next step will help you get realistic with a budget before talking with a potential contractor.
Formulating a Budget
Use the must haves list you just created to understand what a realistic budget would be. There are great tools online to help with getting a general idea or remodeling costs. Check out our Pricing Guide page.
Research Contractors
Start researching sites like the Better Business Bureau, AngiesList.com, Houzz.com & Yelp.com to help in your search for the right design-build contractor. Don't be afraid to call or ask for references on any potential contractor you're thinking about hiring. Also look at reviews on Google.com and social media sites, past customers will be sure to share their experiences both good and bad. MOST IMPORTANTLY!!! Call the Building Department and verify licensing, insurance and if the contractor is in good standing.
Before Calling Us
We know that good communication is the number one way to achieve a successful project and happy customers, so from the initial phone call we will be asking lots of questions to learn how we can serve you best. So to prepare for our first conversation, take a look below about what we will discuss.
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During our first phone call, we’ll talk about your project including both your wants and needs. We will also talk about the type of contractor you’re looking to hire. We understand that we’re not always the right fit for everyone and each project. Let’s talk about it and find out together.
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This initial call will take 15-20 minutes
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Items we will discuss during our first phone call:
Basic Information:
Where is your project located?
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We have very specific areas we serve because we want to make sure we can manage your project with a high level of customer service and attention. Contact us to find out if we work in your area.
What project are you looking to complete?
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We want to make sure we are the right fit for you, so this question is an important one. For more information on how we run your project check out our FAQ page.
Why do you want to do this project?
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We love partnering with our clients to help make their home a place to make lasting memories. So tell us the deep reason on why you are ready to make such a significant investment in your home.
When are you looking to have the project completed?
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Do you have a deadline of when you are looking to complete your project? Whether it is a graduation party, or an expected new born, let us know if you have a date in mind so we can go over how long your project design, permits and build-out may take.
How much are you looking to invest?
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Setting the right budget is the most important part of any project. Without the numbers lining up, you’ll be wasting your time. Let’s talk about what you are looking to spend. If your budget is realistic, we can help come up with ideas that will provide the best value for your investment. Check out our Pricing Page for guidance in setting a realistic budget.
Some other questions we may ask:
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What year was your house built?
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How long do you plan to stay?
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Primary reason for the project?
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Have you ever remodeled your home before? How was that experience?
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What is the number one thing you are looking for in a contractor?
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During your research for this project, are you talking with other contractors?
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How are you planning to determine who to work with?
At the end of our conversation together we will determine if it make sense to set up an appointment for the discovery meeting. If it doesn’t seem like we are the right fit for your project, we will try to refer you to another qualified contractor that can serve you better.
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Second
Discovery
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In-Home Meeting
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Showroom Meeting
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Design Meeting
Initial Walk-through
Our initial walk-through is executed under our Discovery Fee which is 1% of the estimated project cost or value, which is determined through the First Step in the process.
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Once at your home, we will spend 30-60 minutes getting to know each other. We will hear what you have in mind, provide advice or guidance, and talk through your goals, desires, and any fears you may have regarding the project. We won’t get into the fine details, but we will talk about your vision in a big picture sense. We will discuss the feasibility of your ideal budget range. While we won’t know the exact cost of your project at this point, starting this discussion and talking about some practical numbers will go a long way in helping us direct you moving forward. We know you will have lots of questions for us and we will leave time to answer those. We will also talk over our process and the next steps.
There are 2 possible outcomes from this meeting:
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OUTCOME 1: We move to execute the Design Agreement, and a retainer fee which is typically 5% of the preliminary estimate. If we agree that you are ready to start this step, we will set up a meeting with the designer or architect, we will also inspect, measure, photograph and document the existing space. In some cases, people bypass this step and move straight into the Build Contract (this is strictly project dependent). During this step, we will review material selections appropriate for your project, review a preliminary scope of work and provide a refined estimated project budget. For some projects, we will create a Good-Better-Best estimate so you can get an idea of how your selection choices can affect the final price.
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We will talk about design ideas that could affect the price.
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We will review a demo of the online project management scheduling and communication system we use.
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If the preliminary scope of work and investment range are agreed, we move to the Selection & Proposal Phase.
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OUTCOME 2: We agree that we are not the right fit for your project.
Third
Design
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Layout & 3D Renderings
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Selections & Specifications
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Fixed Fee Proposal
Once the Design Agreement is signed and retainer is paid we start the design & selections phase.
Design Ideas
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We will create for you a few (if needed) “rough drafts” of possible design solutions for you to view with us. In this phase we will narrow down the ideas you like best, and dial in a final design. This is an exciting step because we show 3D renderings of designs including cabinets, walk-throughs, and elevations (these are project specific and may not apply to every project). Once you love the final design we move right into the selections phase.
Interior Material Selections
Now that you have essentially viewed and approved the overall design/layout of your project (the big picture design), at this point in the process we will start selecting all of the fine details and finishes your project will need. These include things like cabinets, countertops, flooring, plumbing fixtures, tile, paint colors, etc. All of your decisions are made before the construction starts, making the process go much smoother for you in the long run.
Estimating & Documentation
While you are working with our designer, our team will also be hard at work finalizing all of the important construction details, so that we can have a fully completed set of construction documents ready to go. This will include any additional job-site visits, adding dimensions to drawings, creating wall sections, adding important notes and (if necessary) have any engineering work evaluated for code compliance. After this phase, you are ready to start construction!
Construction Agreement
Now that all of the details and associated costs for your project have been determined and your selections have been finalized, we will prepare for you a “Build Agreement”. This is the contract that outlines the scope of work, the schedule, and the payment terms.
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Fourth
Build
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Permits & Plan
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Online Management Portal
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Completion
Turning ideas on paper into reality begins at this phase.
After your permit is approved, we schedule and start your project. Our craftsmen arrive at your home each day, equipped to transform your ideas into reality. Your project manager regularly meets with you and our trade partners to review the progress. With our craftsman, you’re in good hands. We’re also ready to answer any questions you have as the project moves forward.
Permit Submittal
We will prepare and submit to the appropriate building department any necessary permit applications. This can take anywhere from two weeks to two months, depending on where you live. No matter how long it takes, we take care of all permits and inspections.
Project Scheduling
All of your project information is uploaded to our online scheduling software at this point. All communication is recorded through our website, which can be accessed through your smart phone or computer at any time.
Pre-Construction Meeting
Prior to showing up for the start of the project, we will schedule a “Pre-Construction Meeting” where we review all of the details about your project, and make sure we are all still on the same page. This meeting includes everything from parking and dumpster location to accommodating pets or residents of the home. We will go over any questions you may have about the project schedule.
Project Communication
Probably the main reason why we have so many happy clients is clear, timely communication during and throughout the project. Your assigned project manager visits the project daily and will go over any questions he or she may have. We also utilize the online scheduling software to communicate back and forth.
Project Manager
Our in-house construction staff will take over from here. You will be assigned a Project Manager and they will be your daily point person for your project. They will be scheduling the work, answering questions, problem solving, updating you on progress or issues, etc. Remember, with our process, 99% of the details are decided on in the design phase. This helps the Build step go much smoother.
Finally,
Enjoy
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Move In
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Celebrate
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1 Year Warranty
We stand by our work and have extended our workmanship warranty to cover 3 years, which is much longer than most of our competitors and certainly longer than the industry standard of 1 year. Our craftsmanship always conforms to the guidelines stated in the NAHB Residential Construction Performance Guidelines.
So what does this mean for you? Peace of mind.
When your home remodeling and construction project is completed, your relationship with JNL Designs & Construction continues on. If you have issues, we will be there to make sure they are taken care of promptly.
We believe that a well thought-out, organized process gives you a great experience.
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Contact us to see if this process will be the right fit for your project.