Building to your capability and Capacity

Let's be sure to agree over coffee..

Like most in the industry, we believe in building with transparency, genuine integrity, and quality that only aligns with our personal expectation. A Cost + Construction (Cost-Plus) model reflects this way of thinking by providing clients with full visibility into project costs while ensuring there is someone there for quality control, communication, and regular check-in's to ensure you are getting what you have asked for and understand the decisions that could have impacts on your space - both negative or positive.

In the industry, it is a project delivery method for contractors where the client pays for the actual cost of construction (invoices and bills that are incurred for completing the work) plus a fixed fee or percentage (our time and service to perform the management, coordination, and general contractor functions) for our service to act and be your representative for the work. This approach offers flexibility, transparency, and trust, making it ideal for clients who want more certainty and assurance that you are not overpaying or being fooled by hidden costs or markups. 

In the case of general contracting, our internal team, associated professionals, chosen and trusted subtrades will work through Lifestyle to deliver on the project goal. 

In the case of most projects, it is our intention to be clear and upfront for your own planning and time commitment. Although no model is perfect every time, we do our best to keep things simple.  As such, we propose the fixed percentage for the following:  

1) For projects that you would like input, review, and assistance that would involve starting at the  development of a concept design (the very very beginning) - we will package an agreement that will produce permit ready plans at a fixed 8.0% rate of construction value (eg: 8000 per every 100,000), and will be known upon the completion and owner/client approved permit plans for construction.

2) For projects that you have a design and permit ready plans that are ready for a 'takeoff' (formal estimation of anticipated costs consisting of services/materials) - a fixed 7.0% rate of construction value will be used. Should the complexity, staging, and site condition of the project be very unique in nature - we may need to discuss what activities are particular to your situation so that we can appropriately represent you. 

3) For projects that you as the owner would like to participate on and perform certain tasks/functions/work associated to the project, it will need to be tracked and can be formally discussed at the time any outstanding deliverables are known/assigned - adjusted accordingly.

All fixed percentages, per agreement, will have a 0.5% rate added for unforeseen odds-and-ends, printing, and general administrative duties (Construction Administration - CA) that come with business operations. 

So, in layman's terms, a fixed 8% rate is 8.5% with the 0.5% CA as a total. 

You would be surprised.. and if you are not aware of how complex projects operate - there are certain and specific traits that should be applied to each project that will bestow trust, provide updates, and ensure continued clarity/confirmations are approached throughout the important work. 

1. Two-Week Lookaheads (Heads Up!): Ensures that the owners are aware of the activities to come, delays that are influenced by shipping, weather, or other, and advised when there is an interruption to be expected given the environment/situation.
2. Fixed pricing for any Changes or Requests (No Time and Materials if at all possible): Ensures that the cost related to any specific request is agreeable prior to continuing so that time or performance tied to specific work is kept clean and concise.
3. Regular and routine walkthroughs at the cadence of owners/clients (Lets bring a coffee order and see how things are moving along): A predetermined rate of project walkthroughs can assist in the collaboration, understanding, and quality-driven decisions that may be required of the owners as to not impact the project in a critical manner.  
4. Various sources of funds and investments are typically used towards projects from owners/clients (Oh Sh*t! I don't think that fancy sub-zero appliance package is in the cards if we want the glass shower enclosure.): Ensure that early notification of payment or financial struggles is communicated. We understand that hiccups can occur, and we ourselves experienced our fair share. However stressful, awkward, or embarrassing you may think something is - we are all human and faced with growing costs/expenses in life. Come to us early to be a team player and solution focused if you ever find yourself between a rock and hard place. 
5. Adjustments are always possible: During the lifespan of a construction project, we have moments and instances where changes can be responsibly and reasonable requested. We'll be sure that any changes and impacts to the end goals are well known to each person involved. 
6. Lastly, we also are interviewing and choosing to work with you: Not every situation and circumstance will constitute a positive agreement or agreeable terms - it is no issue, nor should it be. Sometimes there are some that don't agree or view things in the same way. If your vision and goal cannot be obtained through us - there is still a contractor out there for you, somewhere!

A piece of honesty based on experience being on both sides: We do expect and encourage owners/clients to be invested, excited, and prepared for some 'ups and downs' along the way. Having a set commitment of time to: review, answer, discuss items that come up is asked of you so that we can do our job as your partner. We will certainly do our best to be timely with any communication, and it is very typical that email communications are preferred for written reference, especially when they may be sent or caught up on in non-business hours of the week.