Our Process - What To Expect
1. Dream Discovery
At McDowell & Jordan, we take great pride in ensuring that we understand our clients’ visions completely. We recognize that this is absolutely crucial to providing the best possible service. As our valued client, we keep your priorities in mind at all times, and make sure that every detail is carefully tailored to your specific needs and goals. Trust is also of the utmost importance to us – after all, without trust, there can be no successful partnership. That’s why we make it our top priority to build and maintain the trust of every client we work with. You can count on us to work closely with you every step of the way, keeping you fully informed about the building process and making sure that you feel confident and comfortable throughout the entire duration of your project.
2. Assembling the Dream Team
In today’s fast-paced world, no great project can be accomplished in isolation. That’s why we, as your trusted partner, understand that assembling a team of professionals with diverse skill sets and expertise is of paramount importance to the success of your project. After all, each project is unique and demands a set of specialized skills that cannot be catered by a single individual.
That’s why our team of dedicated professionals will work with you at every step of the way to ensure that your desired outcome is met. Be it the expertise of an architect to help you envision your design or a team of skilled craftsmen to execute it, we have it all. Our industry partnerships help us stay on top of the latest trends and advancements, thus ensuring that we provide you with the best possible team for your project.
So sit back and relax, knowing that our team is working hard to assemble a group of experts who are well-equipped to make your project a resounding success.
3. Commitment to the Dream
We understand that the planning of your project is of utmost importance and requires significant attention, time and care. Therefore, we want to make sure that we take full responsibility for this process by formalizing it through the Retainer Agreement. This agreement will serve as a vital step in solidifying our team’s commitment to fulfilling your expectations beyond satisfaction. Here at McDowell & Jordan, we are confident that with our team’s expertise and thoroughness, we’ll deliver results that not only meet your expectations but exceed them. Your project is in good hands, and we are committed to delivering only the best.
4. Dream Planning
A successful project requires an effective and meticulously planned initial phase. Your team of highly skilled and dedicated professionals at McDowell & Jordan will collaboratively with you to develop a well-thought-out project plan that outlines precise specifications and a clear direction. Our team is adept at guiding you through the product selection process and design details while keeping in mind your project’s budget constraints and timeline requirements. Our aim is to ensure that you have a smooth and stress-free project execution experience. Our planning expertise and experience not only minimizes the likelihood of any hiccups during the building phase but also ensures that the build-out is cost-effective, efficient and, most importantly, meets all your project objectives and requirements. Once you have given your approval on the final plans, specifications, and project costs, we will seamlessly transition into the building phase.
5. Creating The Dream
At McDowell & Jordan, we firmly believe that no two projects are alike. Each project comes with its own set of unique challenges and complexities, which we love to take on. We understand that one of the most important things in any project is open communication, which is why we conduct regular meetings to ensure that everyone is on the same page. We understand that embarking on a construction project can be daunting, but it is important to remember that this is YOUR journey! Rest assured that we take great pride in helping our clients create spaces that they can truly call home. Let us work with you to bring your vision to life and turn your dream home into a reality!
6. Living The Dream
At McDowell & Jordan, we understand the importance of creating a long-lasting relationship with our clients. Our team strives to ensure that your experience with us is as smooth and seamless as possible, from the moment we meet for the initial consultation to the day we hand you the keys and beyond. Our team is dedicated to working with you, every step of the way, to make sure that we are building the home of your dreams, together. We take the time to listen to your needs and requirements, and work tirelessly to make sure that every detail is taken care of. We believe that communication is key, and we keep you informed each step of the way, ensuring that you are completely satisfied with the progress of your project. At McDowell & Jordan, you can trust that our team is committed to making your dream home a reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
We do a great deal of work in the Triangle and Triad regions of North Carolina, including Chapel Hill, Mebane, Burlington, Elon, Greensboro, Jamestown, Winston-Salem, and other communities. We have worked across the state, but we choose to focus on the Triangle and Triad so that our principal Josh McDowell or Project Manager Ed Hanson can be on our project sites most days.
Setting a project schedule, including milestones and a target completion date, is part of the initial planning process that occurs once you engage McDowell & Jordan for your project. If you have a specific deadline in mind for your project, we will do our best to meet that deadline.
If it’s not feasible, due to the scale of the project or other factors, we’ll also tell you that and work with you to set the next best deadline. Deadlines in construction work are sometimes subject to factors, such as weather, that none of us have control over, but we keep clients updated on the project status throughout the process, so you always know where it stands.
Yes. For many projects, we handle drawing plans ourselves. For others, we may retain an engineer (when required), or we can work with you to choose appropriate pre-drawn blueprints or select an architect.
Yes. We enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with architects during the design and construction project, and we believe that collaboration ultimately creates a superior outcome for you.
Custom home costs are subject to many variables. As every custom home is unique, it is difficult to generalize. If you have specific criteria, such as square footage already in mind, we can help you understand what similar custom home projects that we’ve done in the past have cost. However, the best thing is to allow us to create a cost estimate based on a detailed plan. We’re happy to discuss that process in more detail with you.
Every project is different and costs can vary widely. The only way to know is to contact us so we can start the process of understanding your goals and your project and creating cost estimates.
Cost plus billing is a format for construction progress invoicing that takes all the expenses for a given period and adds an agreed-upon percentage or fee to the invoice. McDowell & Jordan uses a cost plus a percentage for projects.
A few benefits of Cost Plus:
– Breakdown and transparency of where you are spending. Every invoice includes copies of all the bills, receipts, and expenses for the billing period. For example, we invoice clients monthly and provide a cover sheet with totals for each vendor and copies of all receipts from those vendors. This puts the client in charge of spending decisions that they have control over.
– Lower cost. Because of the shared responsibility for the cost of the job, there is no need to “pad” the job to cover unexpected expenses that may not occur. When someone gives a firm price on a project, they must account for a reasonable number of things that could go wrong on your project which you get billed for whether they insure them or not. Also, because we work on a “cost” basis, any contractor discounts we receive from vendors are passed along to the client.
– Capability of making selections after the project has started. Most people are surprised at the number of decisions that must be made throughout a construction project. With cost plus billing, there is no need to make every decision about what you want on your project just to get a firm price. We allow customers to make decisions at their own pace and change because of alterations to the construction budget. We don’t charge change order fees or penalties. Changes to the scope are handled within the original contract. If there is a cost to the job, you get billed for it. You never get billed for something that didn’t happen.
McDowell & Jordan has an unlimited builder’s license—the highest level of general contractor’s license available in North Carolina. It allows us to handle residential and commercial projects of any type and any size. In addition, we only work with subcontractors who are appropriately licensed for the work they are doing
Yes. We carry full liability insurance and workers compensation policies; we put a high priority on safety and worksite cleanliness. We also insist that all of our subcontractors are properly insured.