Questions and answers for home construction projects
What service value does Marwood Construction contribute to the home building experience?
Marwood Construction is focused on raising the bar on the new custom one of a kind home building experience. We do this by operating through transparency and conducting business with integrity. We offer our clients concierge design build services with flexible contract options for their risk tolerance taste.
Why should we work with your firm?
Beyond integrity and transparency Marwood Construction works very hard to earn and maintain our client’s trust. We have been serving clients and investors since 2002 without any unresolved issues or serious disputes. We also have never had a claim dispute filed with the BBB. We take great pride in our companies’ reputation of dealing with clients with the foremost in integrity. We are an accredited NAHB / GHBA general contractor as a Graduate Master Builder and Licensed Certified General Contractor, CGC045381.
What is the most significant difference between custom home builders in Houston?
Most custom home builders use many of the same subcontractors and material suppliers. This leaves their process and on-site management skills to truly differentiate themselves from one another. Unless arranged, your builder will facilitate the process and conduct on site quality control, not someone he hired to supervise the construction.
What are the most important differences between Marwood Construction and your competitors?
In addition to the fore mentioned reasons, Marwood Construction has 40+ years of diverse home building structural types, styles and techniques in construction methods building in different parts of the country. The most important reason is that you will actually work with the builder himself instead of working with his staff as with most new home builders. We can do this as a boutique general contractors by not taking on to many projects.
What are your construction fees?
Our construction service fees are based on the risk associated with the contract delivery method selected by our clients. The fees will be less for a cost plus contract then they would be a lump sum fixed price contract and with the other contract methods falling somewhere in between. We feel that the client should tell us what their risk tolerance they are comfortable with.
Will Marwood Construction build on a lot we purchased?
We will indeed, but often advise our clients to get us involved in the building site selection process as an adviser to assist with due diligence and various cost feasibilities to get a complete picture of all the variables before closing on the lot purchase.
When should I hire a custom home builder?
We recommend selecting a general contractor as early as possible after you have made the commitment to building a unique home. Your custom home builder should be a part of your design build team assisting with conceptual design pricing all the way through to providing a firm budget amount for the final drawings. The advantage to you is that you have the builder through the entire design stage reducing the need for major redesigns after the drawings are complete.
What are the most important factors in selecting their home builder?
There are many important aspects of the home building decision making criteria, but none more than doing business with a firm that operates with integrity and has a professional track record of a honorable reputation. Second to this would be that you and your builder should be like minded and enjoy working together. You are likely to spend between 18 – 24 months together during the design build process. Thirdly, actually working with the builder himself instead of one of his staff members.
What experience, education and accreditations should your builder maintain?
Your custom home builder should have many years of experience .in project equal to the challenges of the home you are considering building. The builder should provide you proof of this experience through his portfolio and other sources that makes you comfortable with his technical proficiencies. He should also be a member of NHBA and the GHBA. Members are encouraged and required to continue their education in developing industry legal affairs and the changing building codes and best practices. Texas does not require home builders to be certified or licensed, therefore you want to do business with a general contractor that continues to improve his trade through education and additional certifications such as the following NHBA accreditations; GMB, CGB.
Does the size of your builder matter?
The home builder size is often relevant to your needs as a customer. This is neither good or bad but speaks to the interaction level with the actual builder. A good general rule is the larger the construction firm the less you will likely actually deal with the builder on a day to day basis. Unless they are a national home building company, their buying power will not likely give them any real pricing advantages. If you require a greater amount of personalized service throughout the process, you will likely be better off with a boutique service firm.
Will the total price of my new home be more expensive with a larger builder?
Clearly defining this question will aid in effectively answering it. Most one of a kind custom builders may build 1 – 5 homes at any given time. If they are building more than that number of homes, they are not likely to be a luxury home builders. Many custom home builders call themselves custom home builders because they will make changes to pre-existing home plans. This is a very different type of builder than the service that Marwood Construction offers.
What are the benefits of a builders strategic partners?
The market size for a highly specialized luxury builder is a small market in comparison to the actual local new home construction housing market. Builders make alliances with suppliers and different vendors for special pricing consideration in exchange for their consumer loyalty. So even if it is not in a client’s interest to buy from a certain vendor or supplier, these strategic partnerships can actually result in higher prices to the home building owner.
Can Marwood Construction help us with financing our custom home?
Marwood Construction can assist in arranging financing for your home project. Although this is not the only financial service facilitation we provide. We also are strategic in developing the documents required by your lender in structuring both the land loan, construction loan and final mortgage loan required in this process.
Can your builder provide a list of custom homes that they have built?
How do I select an Architect / Designer?
We can aid you in this required task as well. We have prepared a Q&A check list for acquiring the services of a qualified and talented architect / designer. We strive to be a part of this collaborating design effort to bring the client the best customer experience possible.
What assurances do I have that I can control the price of my custom home construction cost?
By entering into a design build agreement, we as the vested partner will facilitate the design process as a working member of the design team. We provide assistance in the
conceptual budgeting of various design scenarios and work with the architect and designer developing a high confidence construction budget for working drawings. This regular cost updating through the entire design process allows the client to be in control of the budget and the design process.
How do I protect myself from my builders systemic financial risk?
This is a good question. It does not matter how long a firm has been in business or how large or small. As we witnessed during the 2009 national financial crisis, there are too many variables to consider and to little disclosure provided to you as an owner to completely insulate yourself from your builder going out of business during or shortly after building your new home. There are some effective measures we can recommend to mitigate this risk if you are interested in discussing these options.
How do I protect my insurance risk interest in my home during construction?
Insurance is a risk management tool with many open ended exposures. Most builders carry general liability insurance. They may also carry workman’s compensation if they have employees on site. As a general rule builders should require their subcontractors to maintain both general liability and workman’s compensation as well. The lender should require the property title holder to provide builders risk insurance to mitigate the risk of substantial losses during construction. These insurance binders will provide you with sufficient insurance throughout the construction process.
What to Keep in Mind before Home Remodeling?
As you are remodeling your home, you need to first keep in mind the requirements of all the family members and the future additions to the same. Don’t forget to calculate the cost and test run the color scheme to see if you like it. Marwood Construction can help you with planning a modern and unique design for your home remodeling, along with giving you a 3D illustration of the same.
How long will the Home Remodeling Project Take?
The experts here at Marwood Construction would sit with you to brainstorm about the project, and based on the same, determine the time it would take for the complete remodeling. This would be divided by the hours the subcontractors would be working, and the number of days they would require for completing it. However, a significant chunk of the average duration depends on the area you are about to remodel.
What is the Ideal Budget for the Project?
There is no ideal budget for the project because it entirely depends on the scope. A few things you need to keep in mind while you are chalking out the same are the quality of the project, materials, labor required, and the affordability of the same. At Marwood Construction, we offer the most competitive rates and make use of state-of-the-art equipment for every project.
What happens at the Initial Construction?
At the initial construction, the experts at Marwood Construction sit with the clients to discuss the requirements and align the same with our extensive experience and capabilities. During this time, the clients get to share their vision for space and also clarify any questions that might be there in their minds for the same. Following this, a contract is drawn, and the deadline is fixed before we start working on the project.
What is the Meaning of Design-Build Home Building?
Design-build is a method where both the design and construction services are provided by the same company. At Marwood Construction, we offer a streamlined communication process so that we can provide a unified flow of work for the clients till the time the project is finished. This encourages everyone to be on the same page at all times and deliver only the best to the clients.
Is Building a Custom Home More Expensive?
The answer to the question depends on the plans you have set aside for the custom home. If you are looking forward to a plain and simple home, then a custom-home would not be expensive at all. But if you are choosing elements that are rare and have to be sourced from other parts of the world, the cost of construction would go higher. At Marwood Construction, we make choices that do not compromise with the quality, and yet are available at competitive rates.
Is Home Renovation a Correct Move for Homeowners?
Home renovation is much more than just adding modern elements or making drastic changes throughout the space. If executed by professionals who are skilled at their work, the home renovation can increase the value of the space, thereby boosting the rental income, as well. Renovation can also make your house more comfortable than what it is right now.
How is the Home Renovation Project Supervised?
At Marwood Construction, we delegate specific project managers from our team of experienced professionals who look after the ongoing of every project. They would be responsible for the scheduling of materials and traders, along with meeting the building inspectors, ensuring quality control, and making all the safety checks. The project manager would constantly be in touch with the clients to keep them updated with the latest developments in the home renovation.
Can Changes be made During the Custom Construction?
The entire idea behind going for a custom construction is getting to choose what the elements you want to incorporate in your home are. So, if you are willing to make any changes while the build is in process, you can get in touch with the project manager or supervisor, and discuss the matter with the team and we would run over the changes with you, personally and see how to incorporate them in the plan.
Can Different Materials be used During the Construction?
Marwood Construction is a reputable general contractor in Houston serving the community for over a decade now. This has given us enough experience to work with any project using all types of materials. Our main aim is to provide a hundred percent client satisfaction at competitive rates, and this includes the best of materials required for all elements during the construction.
How Long After the Construction is Complete can Services Resume?
It is always recommended that you commence the company services at least a week after the construction is complete. This gives enough time for the authorities to take care of the safety inspections, payments, easements, completion of any side-work related to the project, and even resolving site access issues. However, once these things are over, you can move into the newly constructed commercial space and resume business as usual.
What are the Types of Commercial Construction Projects that the Company Specialize in?
At Marwood Construction, we have the experience and expertise to take on any commercial construction project, be it big or small. Some of our specializations include professional offices, showrooms, hotels, penthouses, and even condos. Having said that, we possess the expertise and means to take on any new challenge that may come our way and deliver them successfully to the client’s satisfaction.
Do you have additional questions?
If you have any additional questions, we are always pleased to meet with you and to offer you our services if you have the need.
