Ideally, we become involved in a project before or shortly after the architect is selected. This allows us to give input on cost, scheduling, permitting, materials, considerations of building on our Island and other issues that can shape expectations and affect the success of the project. We foster as collaborative an effort as possible, offering expertise throughout the design process and suggesting solutions to problems that occur later in the field.

From inception, we manage every project with an experienced team of office and field professionals. Our Office Manager and her Assistant are primarily responsible for accounting, job tracking and supporting clients with myriad issues. Our Project Facilitator coordinates the flow of information among client, architect, designers, subcontractors, office and job site. A Project Manager assigned to each project oversees the day-to-day progress of the work in the field and normally has one major project as his sole focus during the construction period. Andrew Flake is personally involved in every project, attends team meetings, participates in every substantial decision and is in regular contact with architect and owner.

A successful project demands effective communication. We hold a weekly team meeting on each project. We also encourage biweekly meetings, either at the site or through conference call, with the architect, owners (at their option) and other relevant parties to review scheduling, costs, change orders, allowances, punch lists and other matters that require discussion.

When a project is completed, we offer a warranty period and stand by our work. We prefer to remain involved with the property, not just through the warranty period, but throughout the life of the house. We have found that the harsh Island climate eventually creates some need for maintenance. We employ a special crew to perform maintenance and repair on an ongoing basis if requested by the owner.

Once selected as builder, we recommend formalizing our agreement with the owner under AIA contract A111 which is based on the cost of work plus a fee. We guarantee the maximum cost, including a contingency. We prefer to work this way because all costs are known to all parties. When engaging subcontractors we execute an AIA Standard Form of Agreement between Contractor and Subcontractor. We issue a Schedule of Values biweekly that tracks all costs and fees by line item, attaching to it copies of all invoices and back-up information. We issue standard AIA Change Orders to track any changes approved by the owner and architect.