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This week got off to a slow construction start, but we made some good progress over the weekend. The electrical is oh so close to being done. We also put together a list of “to do before inspections” and “to do before drywall”. The list is still a bit daunting but at least we know what needs […]
And on the 16th week…we took a break. Ok, it makes a lot of sense to tackle exterior projects during the long summer days, but staying inside and pushing wire through your walls? Nonsensical. Especially, when there are ferries to ride and whales to see and general lounging in the sun to be had. So […]
Week 15…Week 15?!? Well, it certainly feels like it. We’ve had a few set-backs in the last week and are still (almost) knee-deep in electrical work. The power part has been pretty straight forward, but the low-voltage, cat 5, cable, etc. is a different story. And even though we put together an electrical plan, we’ve […]
Not too much to post this week. I was out of town most of last week, visiting my family in Oklahoma. Kyle had a fairly busy week/weekend outside of the house, but was able to tackle a few more tasks. 1. There’s nothing like doing yearly maintenance on one part of the house while you’re busy […]
With the long holiday weekend and cloudy weather, we were able to make some headway on electrical. Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell. First of all, I think there is a misconception (or at least, my misconception) about electrical work. What seemed like the straight forward task of running some wire and popping in some boxes has manifested into […]
An architect is a qualified professional that not only designs your home or remodel but acts as your advocate throughout the entire process. A good architect will listen, they’ll be honest about how much things cost and how long things take and they’ll use their years of expertise to navigate an onerous permitting process, help vet potential contractors and be there for you during construction. If you don’t have an architect, that work is either done by you or the builder and compromises and sacrifices will inevitably happen.
This depends largely on the size and scope of the project and where you’re located. In some jurisdictions it’s easy and straightforward to get a permit, in others it can take 6 months to a year or longer. We usually advise clients to budget 3 -6 months for design for smaller projects and 12 months for larger projects. Permitting timelines can extend those estimates. Construction can take 4-6 months for small remodels or 16-18 months for custom homes.
Absolutely! We love to see what clients like (or don’t like!) and we’re used to gleaning the important info from all sorts of media – photos, sketches, diagrams – we’ve seen it all!
Maybe – this really depends on the housing market and how much time you have before you make an offer. It also depends on the property itself. If you’re looking at a house with a steep slope, we may advise that a geotechnical and structural engineer make their own evaluation. This can add more time based on people’s ability. We can usually make some basic recommendations based on our knowledge of the local codes, but it’s not a replacement for a more thorough feasibility study. If possible, we usually recommend that people make an offer contingent on a more thorough analysis. What we don’t want to do is give you a rosier outlook only to find that there were some unexpected issues with the property.
Depending on the scope of the project, phasing can be a practical approach. However, we usually advise that homeowners do everything in one phase if possible – this not only takes less time but simplifies the permitting process and is a more appealing process to contractors. When you phase a project, you have repeat mobilization costs that create a more expensive project in the end than doing it all at once. We’re happy to talk through phasing options though as each project is unique and sometimes it does make sense.
Yes! For us, interior design is an integral part of our process. We enjoy working with homeowners to think about their homes holistically and have extensive experience in all aspects of the design process.
In our experience, successful projects have homeowners that are engaged but trust us and the process. They ask questions and are clear communicators. They make timely decisions and speak up if something doesn’t feel right. They’re transparent about budget and schedule constraints so there aren’t missed expectations.
Say hello. Tell us about your project.