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In order to provide the most accurate estimate possible, it is important that we learn exactly what you want from your new home.
To help guide us through this information gathering process, we are going to ask you to fill out a Pre-Estimate Information Request Form.
This form helps us understand your building lot, your blueprints (we can help you with those if needed), the size and shape of your new home, the materials we will be using and the features that are important to you.
We can go over this form together and gather the information together. Or you can do your best to complete the form yourself, send it to us (to see how reach us, go to our Contact Information page) and then we can have a short discussion to make sure we understand what you need.
After this process of gathering information is complete, we will provide you a proposal (click on the sample proposal to the right to see what a real proposal looks like) containing the following information:
1. A summary of your floor plan. Just to make sure we are on the same page, the first thing you will find on the proposal is a recap of the proposed floor plan. . 2. The features of your home. This will recap the important details of your new home. Included in this section are items such as:
Countertops and Cabinetry Flooring, Wall and Ceiling Coverings Bathroom Features Door and Window Styles Roofing and Exterior Trim Style Fireplaces and Other Masonry Built-Ins or Bumpouts or Other Special Features
3. A detailed list of what will be included in the estimate. We do our best to itemize both all the important features of the home as well as to let you know all the significant items that will be included in as part of our estimate. We don’t want you to get to the end of the building process and then discover there are many items you will still have to pay for. So we put everything in there, including the kitchen sink. Here are a few examples of what we try to include:
Design costs (if needed) Permits Septic system Electric and water hookups Temporary power while the home is being built Driveways and parking pads Hydroseeding Landscaping Appliances Builder’s Risk Insurance
4. A detailed list of what will not be included. As we mentioned, we don’t want there to be any surprises. So in addition to telling you what we include, we want to try to inform you about any additional costs you may incur. These is usually a short list and may include things such as financing costs, survey costs (if needed), satellite and phone hookups.
5. A list of allowances for various home components. It is our goal to provide a healthy budget that allows the customer a variety of shopping options. Unless otherwise specified, the allowance will be a fixed price:
Cabinetry (including any requested built-ins) Carpet – a per square yard allowance, including pad Countertops Lighting and fans (excluding can lights and non-visible lighting such as undercounter lights) Masonry – any rockwork (fireplace, columns, exterior rock accents, foundation walls, etc) Plumbing fixtures (excluding standard elongated toilet bowls and bathroom/laundry sinks) Tile Windows and Doors Wood flooring – a per square foot allowance
6. Options – Inevitably, there will be additional features or alternative materials that you will want included on your estimate. So we always include a section of Options along with their effect on prices (both increases and decreases).
7. Customer Selections – As a courtesy, we will also outline all the various items that you will be responsible for selecting during the building process. After building commences, you will be provided with a Customer Selection Guide that will help guide you through the process of making your selections and communicating them to Berg Mountain Homes.
8. Pricing. There are two options when it comes to pricing:
Option 1 All Inclusive - In this alternative, Berg Mountain Homes will provide a single price for your home which includes their fee. This will make Berg Mountain Homes responsible for any construction cost variance as a result of estimating errors or construction material / sub-contractor pricing changes. The only time the price to the Customer would change would be in the case of Change Orders or variances on Allowances.
Option 2 Fixed Fee - In this alternative, Berg Mountain will charge the Customer a fixed fee for managing all construction tasks (permitting, sub-contractor selection, scheduling, project management, supervision and quality assurance). Then all actual costs of construction (all labor, material, permits, fees, etc.) will be charged to the Customer.
In this option, you will also be provided with a very detailed breakdown of estimated costs for every construction category. Berg Mountain Homes will not be financially responsible for any cost variances (nor will we make additional profit if costs come in under budget). We will, however, provide explanations for any significant cost overruns (those exceeding original projection by more than ten percent). And upon request, you will be provided access to original invoices.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have further questions about the estimating process or any part of the building process. We will always try to help in any way possible. Customer service is very important to us.
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