At Parker Builders, we realize that building a new home is a major life decision for you and your family. Concerns regarding design, value and quality are all important aspects of selecting the right builder for you. We have taken the worry out of the home building experience by making all of those concerns a part of our company's mission.
A successful project always begins with careful pre-planning, and in this case, planning requires a thorough understanding of your site. Let's take a closer look at what goes on before we can begin building your home.
A lot survey with bearings and distances is essential. It enables us to identify the lot and determine the actual area. Surveys are the starting point for every home building process. A topographical survey shows us the existing grades on your property. This information helps us determine the scope of the site work that will be required once the plot plan and proposed grading plan are completed. Once the exact size of the lot is measured, we then investigate all site zoning requirements, which include allowable lot coverage, setbacks and building height requirements. We use this information to determine what size home can be built on your home site.
Prior to designing the foundation of any home, the type of soils that lie below the surface should be investigated to determine the structural suitability of the soil conditions for building purposes. A geo-technical engineer can determine the bearing capacity of the soil so that the foundation can be properly designed.
Now the fun begins! It's time to decide what your new home will look like. You'll browse through a wide variety of Parker Builders home designs and select the one that's best for your family. Our team will help customize your home to meet all of your needs. Need an extra bedroom? A finished basement? A bright and airy sunny room? The possibilities are endless, and you'll love the experience of designing your brand new Parker Builders home!
If municipal water/sewer is NOT available, a well and septic design will be required. These designs must be approved by the local Board of Health and Municipal Engineer.
Next, we conduct a survey of property to determine the actual location of your home, proposed finish grades, location of well and septic (if applicable), driveway, sidewalk, deck layout, etc. This information helps us create an accurate site cost estimate. At this point, utility companies are contacted to plan the location of underground and/or overhead utilities to your new home (i.e., gas, electric, water/sewer, telephone, etc.)
Finally, we take all of the information collected in the previous steps and submit the entire package to the municipality to determine if the proposed home and site work meet local zoning criteria. The municipality will make certain that the home is in compliance with all local zoning regulations and that no additional approvals or variances are needed to obtain building permits.
Once the final plans are approved, the grading and plot plans and construction documents are submitted for building permit approval. All plans will be reviewed by the local building, fire, plumbing and electrical inspectors. In addition, the Municipal Engineer reviews the final grading and plot plans. Once these reviews are completed and approved, construction permits are issued by the municipality and we can start building your home!
Home site development is the first step in the home construction process. During this stage, existing structures on the home site (if any) are demolished and removed, and lot clearing and tree removal takes place. Once the lot is cleared and ready for construction, the excavation of the foundation begins.
This is it -- we're finally ready to create your new home you've been dreaming about for so long. You'll love watching your home take shape right in front of your eyes. Read on - and find out what you can expect to see at each step of the home building process.
A home is only as good as the foundation on which it rests. The foundation is the concrete structure that supports your entire home. During this phase, we'll pour the footings and install the foundation walls.
The frame is the "skeleton" of your new home. Many people consider the framing stage to be the most exciting, as they watch their home suddenly transform from a floor plan drawing into a real, three dimensional living space with rooms, walls, doorways, windows and a roof.
If the frame is the skeleton, the rough mechanicals are the internal organs of your home. During the next several weeks, dozens of people will be hard at work installing the inner workings of your home: plumbing, heating, air conditioning, lighting, cable TV, computer networks, phone lines, fireplaces and much more. Your construction superintendent will schedule a time to meet you at your home and discuss the placement of these items. Once this stage is complete, you'll have your first opportunity to walk through your new home!
Now that we've installed everything "behind the scenes" that makes your home tick, we'll need to cover it all with either paper, plastic or paint. We'll finish the walls and roof, install the doors, and lay on a coat of paint. Outside, we'll rough final (not sod ready) grade your lot and finish your homes exterior using your chosen colors of siding or brick materials. One of two other events can happen at this time. If you are using our equity program you or the contractors you have chosen can begin things such as a finished drive, landscaping, and walkways. These items can be paid out of your allowance that you have provided for in your construction loan. If you have chosen our turnkey services we will begin work on these items for you. By now, you've already visited our Home Design Gallery and carefully planned out your new dream home. Now that hard work will pay off, as we install your cabinets, counter-tops, sinks, faucets and all of the smaller hardware that you'll be using on a daily basis. (door knobs, light switches, towel bars, etc.). You can't help but smile as you imagine your future in the home you've created.
Your new home is almost complete as we take care of the finishing touches. We'll wait until the very end to install any special flooring or carpeting you've selected, to protect your floors from dust, scratches, and normal foot traffic. But we're not done yet. After local building inspectors conduct their final inspection and issue a certificate of occupancy (where applicable), Parker Builders conducts its own thorough Quality Standards Inspection (QSI). It's our way to ensure that each home we build meets the highest quality standards. Once we're done, we're proud to put the Parker Builders name on your new home.
After weeks of hard work and patience, it's time for you to take one final walk-through to make sure everything meets your satisfaction. Before you move in, we'll walk with you room-by-room to provide you with a complete orientation of all of the features of your home. We'll then turn the keys over to you. Congratulations! You are now a proud owner of your brand new Parker Builders home!
After you've had a chance to settle in, we'll contact you once again to assist us with one of the most important stages in the home building process. . . Our Customer Satisfaction Survey. We'd like you to tell us what we did right, anything that we may need to work on, and your overall impression of the services we've provided for you. We use this information to ensure that Parker Builders provides the highest quality service to each and every customer. Parker Builders has established a homeowner referral program. We encourage you to tell your friends and family of the services and value provided by Parker Builders.
For each referral that builds a home with us, we'll reward you with a $500 check to show our appreciation! Now that you're an expert in the homebuilding process, we invite you to explore the many new home choices offered to you by Parker Builders. Feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions. We look forward to adding your name to the list of satisfied Parker Builders homeowners, and to making your new dream home a reality!
