Frequently Asked Questions About the Design-Build process

The 1st phase of a project generally can begin within 3 to 4 months of signing the design agreement. This phase lasts typically 3 to 9 months and is subject to the project's complexity. At this time, we create comprehensive drawings, addressing all details meticulously. Some may experience a wait time between the completion of the drawings and the beginning of construction, depending on the current workload of our field team.

Clients should expect 12-14 months or more to begin construction on their project, considering any weather or other factors affecting construction. All phases are crucial to ensure client satisfaction when a project is complete.

Our production hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Mondays, our crew attends their weekly morning production meeting and will generally arrive at your home as late as 10 a.m.

Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Feel free to call the office during these hours, and we can assist you with any additional questions.

Schedule a 15-minute discovery call with our designer using our website's "Book a Discovery Call" Link.

If you have a question that does not pertain to a construction project, you can email info@odellconstructioninc.com or call us at 440-471-7935 and a member of our team will reach out as soon as possible.

Generally, we do not provide multiple quotes for a project. When searching for a quote that will marry your scope and budget, we suggest creating a list of priorities/goals and a rough idea of your intended investment range. Presenting these items to your consultant will allow them to align your budget and scope by showing you how many items on your list can be completed within your intended range. Typically, this alleviates the need for additional quotes. On the rare or unique occasion that multiple quotes are required, your consultant can provide these for you at $75 per additional quote.

The design phase is one of the most essential parts of project planning, preventing unnecessary delays or cost increases. Because so much planning is involved, all projects require minimum design time. Whether reviewing drawings, making material selections, or drafting documents that match our high standards, the design phase is almost always necessary to provide quality service.

All of our projects are presented with lump sum pricing with straightforward paperwork providing the homeowner with one fixed cost. This is clear-cut, with no surprises once the construction contract is signed. Lump sum also makes it easier to create a “progress-based” payment schedule where homeowners are not concerned about material costs, person hours, and other contingencies that can complicate or confuse a payment schedule. Whether it be rising material prices or other factors that may affect the total project costs, the homeowner can rely on one lump sum as reassurance that the agreed-upon cost will remain the same throughout the construction portion of the project, contingent upon any homeowner-initiated change orders to the original contract.

The initial ballpark is based on the initial conversation and predicted scope of work, giving the homeowner an idea of the total cost during the project proposal phase. The final construction contract is presented once the design, investigations, and all material selections have been finalized.

If you have a preliminary question about your proposal, you can contact our design team at DesignTeam@odellconstructioninc.com. Once a design agreement has been arranged, you will receive contact information for your designer.

Most clients prefer to pay with a check or ACH bank transfer. If you choose to pay with a credit card, you can do so with a 3% admin fee applied.

The design retainer is treated like a deposit or earnest money towards your project. Generally, this amount is 3-5% of your estimated ballpark amount and is paid once the design agreement is signed. Once the design is complete, final project costs are determined, and the construction contract is signed, this amount is invested into your total project cost.

Constant communication between you and your designer will allow you to understand if your choices are within your ballpark. Because your designer curates your selections and other features, you can feel assured that your scope of work and ballpark will align. On the occasion that choices made will increase your investment, your designer will be sure to complete these adjustments successfully before the presentation of the final construction contract, avoiding any surprises.

One of the benefits of working with Odell Construction is working with a company that utilizes in-house carpenters. This is a proactive way of preventing and controlling many common barriers with bidding out work, such as miscommunication, quality control issues, and project timelines. In addition, in-house staff allows us to create a better relationship with the homeowner through consistency. We utilize trusted trade partners to complete the work when working with specialty trades that are not in-house, such as plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. This gives the homeowner

assurance that all work is being completed correctly and on time.

Investigations are completed between the completion of the design and the construction contract. All details and unknowns must be identified to provide the homeowner with a fixed lump sum cost. The project manager would verify any critical factors affecting your final project costs, plan, or design. This would include final measurements and placement of HVAC or crucial plumbing. Once investigations are completed, the final construction contract with final project costs can be drafted.

The payment schedule begins with the design retainer, typically 3-5% of your projected ballpark. Once a design is finalized, the construction contract is drafted and agreed upon; at this point, a deposit is required. After the deposit is paid, additional payments would be based on milestones of the project and broken down into percentages that are agreed upon ahead of time.

The preliminary construction schedule is a baseline to give the homeowner a general idea of their project's beginning and end date. Once all project details have been worked out (such as material ordering and other time-sensitive variables), an official schedule can be created, giving the homeowner a more detailed idea of what will happen each day. However, project schedule changes occasionally occur, and the official schedule will be updated weekly. Any changes or updates will be communicated to you through the Project Manager to ensure all parties are on the same page.

During construction, you can expect to receive frequent updates regarding schedule and progress from the Project Manager and a bi-weekly progress survey via email that allows you to voice any questions or concerns. Direct contact information for your project manager will be provided to you once the project construction phase begins.

Typically, you can move back into your space after the final walk-through and inspections. Occasionally, a homeowner may need to move into or use a space before work is 100% completed. Substantial completion is an agreement between the contractor and the homeowner that the agreed-upon work has been completed until a certain point and that the homeowner can move into the space. Upon substantial completion, the homeowner would make the final payments minus the value of work that has yet to be completed. (This is typically a small portion of work such as cabinet pulls, trim touch-ups, or faucet installation.) The homeowner would then finalize any remaining balance upon completion of the project.