(For first-timers, the “LTHS mini-” is a 2-page general overview of Universal Design and building science basics while the full version covers in grand detail every area of a property, even the yard.)

Before describing changes to the survey, we’ve also spruced up our sites, including creation of a page dedicated to the LTHS where you can always find the latest version. I’ll update the survey no less than quarterly, sooner if warranted by major changes to building science, accepted practice or codes.

Aside from cosmetic changes, the most significant difference in the updated version is the inclusion of many (well over a dozen) hyperlinks to supporting information or examples. Any text underlined or in a different color/font is likely a link so click your mouse on those words and you’ll open a browser window to more information. (The linked product examples may or may not be something we use or recommend so email me if you’re curious. You can also see examples at our Gallery.)

As always, we welcome your questions, comments and suggestions. The LTHS was developed to improve home life and teach “universal living“. Please share with those you care about.

From the Suggestion Box, here are direct links to the PDFs. Click respectively to download:

Lifetime Home mini-Survey (LTHS) | BuilderFish 4-12-12

Lifetime Home Survey (LTHS) | BuilderFish 4-12-12

So your first question, “What’s the margin and how is it determined?” The margin will be stated in writing within both a detailed estimate and the contract, you won’t be caught off guard. We don’t start (or proceed with change orders) until you approve, in writing.

How it’s derived “depends” on your design and build selections unique to your project and any changes you make; there’s no cookie cutter, one-size-fits all. Because it’s based on invoiced costs per job, we cannot simply apply a uniform margin to every project and be able to meet our overhead and earn profit. Therefore the applicable and necessary margin for YOUR project is derived from an algorithm we developed that would induce slumber if dissected. Frankly, the margin is what it is, either you agree or we cannot accept your project.

Look at it another way, business-as-usual contractors mark up everything including labor, therefore some projects unnecessarily subsidize others to ensure the builder is profitable. We wouldn’t like this if we were a homeowner, we’d agree to pay a fair rate for top quality but we wouldn’t be so thrilled about funding the company’s annual deep sea fishing trip. So we decided to be as open and transparent as possible (without teaching a class on construction finance management) by showing the costs and our cut for performance.

Although our required margin may be different for your design-build than what we’re charging another seemingly similar project (even next door), each owner is paying based upon their unique job scope, the choices and changes made for everything, and for what we can profitably do the work. Beforehand you will agree in writing to the margin we propose, we’ll guide your budget and you will see and the architect will confirm all invoices to be paid at predetermined stages (draws) per the contract.

Lastly, if we seem too expensive for your palate, that’s fine; but, ask other builders to price similarly and share with you their invoices and margins. Unfortunately you won’t be able to compare quality of the finished product but regardless, see what they say when you propose this. We’re willing to bet it won’t be, “Super!”

Questions? Please email.

We call it “The BF Way”, from start to finish we partner with you and everyone including vendors and trades with but one goal, your satisfaction of our adamant standard for top quality. For example, the architect doesn’t simply produce blue prints and say, “Here ya go, have a nice day.” The architect (and maybe a designer too if not the same person) fly alongside and collaborate with us and you during design and throughout construction too. (The architect even reviews for accuracy our invoices.)

The IPD method encourages and holds accountable both the design and construction teams, surprises are a rarity with everyone starting and working from the same page as the project progresses to completion. Put another way, we do NOT start unless everyone understands the plan.

Compare to traditional “business as usual” with everyone engaged independently, completing their individual tasks as if on an island and deliverables often are not agreeable to everyone down line, and you can understand how quality and cohesion suffer. Other than weather or materials related disruptions nobody can foresee (and those happen but should be mitigated), projects planned properly move smoothly even through hiccups because everyone is communicating and understands the reasons “why” and their role within THE schedule. Never among teammates should you hear, “I wish I had known.”

The BF Way is proven, the best practice because work nowadays is so specialized that the enemy becomes inexactness if everyone isn’t communicating and coordinated, and we refuse to build any way other than exactly.

Click the links below to review our overall process and the work flows for design development and construction. Think of this approach as a one-stop-shop for delivering your dream home from daydream to doorway.

BuilderFish Process and Beyond

BuilderFish Design

BuilderFish Build

Contact me if confused.

We also price uniquely, using a method called Schedule of Values.

Seen this house? Like me, you might’ve grown up in one, or come home to it daily. Did you know that more than half of our nations houses were built more than three decades ago? Review the data and graphs within The Current, and learn about our concept of building new within old walls.

Todd Hawkins, Director of Client Happiness

Click The Current, review a few and please subscribe. I write and release Friday mornings. I do my best to make them informative and entertaining (each edition includes something useful having absolutely nothing to do with our cause, or even our industry).

I post different things to each of our social media. This blog is tutorial (how to do things around your property), the fan page is for showing/goofing off, and the newsletter more of a thought piece along with some fun stuff.

I realize you’re bombarded with newsletters but I hope you’ll at least take a look and see for yourself that ours is better! Your life at home might just get easier learning how to make your house more convenient and comfortable.

Recycle your house into a Lifetime Home

Changes include:

• new products we’ve discovered and/or are now using
• replacing any mention of fluorescent with LED lighting
• multiple embedded hyperlinks to source material, additional information or manufacturers/vendors

There are numerous active links (anything underlined blue, all dot-coms as well as the green title of the document) to make the surveys convenient and save you time Googling. Click the underlined text and you’ll be taken to that web site. If you rest your mouse pointer over blue underlined words, you should see the web address to which you’ll be re-directed when you click those words. Email me and I’ll forward as raw PDF attachments if it’s not working.

Remember, because I’ve added and deleted since the original, the line items have changed. Please reference the version date at the top and specific line item if you have a question so we’re on the same page.

Click this link or see the Lifetime Home Survey tabs on the home page of this blog or main site to download the mini- and full version PDFs.

Questions or comments?

What a missed opportunity. Do you see it? Notice what might’ve been?

Instead there will be exterior steps to every entrance when, with only a dash of forethought and proactive design, there could’ve been zero steps and a flush threshold entrance at each entry point on the main level. Instead of step-free ease, residents and visitors will climb to a doorway on an essentially flat lot in a new neighborhood of mostly level parcels.

This is how inaccessibility becomes baked in from groundbreaking, due only to lazy design and construction. This sows the seeds of future ramps, which are the worst “cure” for correcting an at best inconvenient and at worst prohibitive entry into any home (i.e. imagine using a walker or wheelchair, and in bad weather).

Alternately, there could’ve been no steps and a wide, roll-in entrance for maximum convenience, safety and ease for anyone of any age or ability, carrying stuff, pushing a baby stroller, pulling luggage or lugging groceries. What would the movers prefer?