At McCue Custom Homes one of our primary goals is to make the process of building your new home an enjoyable experience for you. It is a different kind of experience, and one that many families never have the opportunity to go through. It can be an exciting, but sometimes overwhelming experience, also.

Therefore, we believe that the better informed you are about the homebuilding process, the less chance of any "surprises". By breaking the process down into stages, we hope that it will be easier to understand. Please keep in mind that each home is unique, and therefore the time schedule for each component can vary due to weather conditions, unforseen events and other conditions outside our control. Also, the size, features, and finish materials of your home can alter a completion schedule, which is normally 6-8 months from groundbreaking.

In this section we provide you a step by step guide to the building process. Here are the various stages you can expect to occur during the construction of your new home.

Planning/Preliminary Design stage

A great deal of your time, thought and personality will go into your new home. You will be asked by us to make many decisions. Most people start with a "mental scrapbook"of housing ideas. These ideas are then communicated to us in the early stages---as part of our design/build approach to homebuilding--- so that we can ultimately create a home that is uniquely you. Some new home buyers begin this process with a great deal of construction knowledge. Others know what they like or dislike in a home, but have not been exposed to the technical side of home building. Regardless of your knowledge level, we will guide you through the entire process.

Some of the details of your new home will be determined outside of your or our control. Building codes, engineering, and homeowners' association requirements will impact the plans, and, possibly, the cost of your home.We will point these out and discuss them with you during our preliminary meetings.

You may already have a plan in mind, or perhaps, one you saw in a plan book or magazine. Regardless of the source of your ideas, once you present this to us, we can begin to provide a preliminary conceptual plan.

Preliminary Cost Estimate stage

We will prepare a Preliminary Cost Estimate based on the preliminary concept plan. The preliminary cost estimate is NOT a bid. It is only our best estimate of the total cost of your new home based on then available information, and the average cost units for the same homes in similiar size, features and quality.

At McCue Custom Homes a Preliminary Cost Estimate consists of a detailed construction cost breakdown of the various components of your home---i.e., foundation, framing, drywall, cabinets, countertops, floor coverings, etc. It will also include our constuction management fee for building your home. (The advantage to you of using a construction management agreement, rather than a fixed bid contract will be explained during one of our first meetings)

If the Preliminary Cost Estimate is within your budget range, we will proceed with the next step---Final Design.

Final Design stage

It is at this stage that you begin to make your final selections on your new home. This includes the final size, floorplan, features, specifications, and exterior and interior materials of the home.

Of course changes can be made at any time during the construction process. However, once the plans are approved by building officials and a building permit has been issued, a change could necessitate re-drawing, re-engineering, and re-approval by the building department and /or homeowners' association. These extra steps can be costly and can cause delays in construction. To avoid this, we encourage you to take full advantage of the design and cost estimating process, and arrive at a final plan that serves your needs and your budget.

Final Budget stage

The Final Budget stage is actually a meeting to review the final plans and cost estimates. All details are gone over again by McCue Custom Homes as builder and you as owner, and any changes or allowances are made at that time. We will also review the construction schedule, review your selections,, review change orders, and discuss any miscellaneous items requiring a decision by you. Then we will arrive at a final budget for the construction of your new home.

Construction Agreement stage

This is the point when you give us the legal authorization to act as your builder, and to proceed to build your new home. The Construction Agreement is the legal document that is signed by McCue Custom Homes, as builder, and yourself, as owners, that spells out all terms, conditions, agreements, and responsibilities of both parties in the construction of your new home. It becomes part of the building plans and specifications previously agreed to between us.

A sample of the Construction Agreement will be provided to you during one of our early meetings so that you will have adequate time to review.

Construction stage

Now, we can finally begin to build your new home !!! This is the point we all look forward to. Your dreams of your new home can start to come true, and we can once again do we love to do--build it for you ! Here is what you can expect to occur over the next few months.

Site Work
Your home site is surveyed and staked, marking the lot
boundaries for placement of the home. Excess trees and brush are removed and preliminary earthwork begins.

Foundation
The ground is excavated and the foundation is set and poured with concrete. Once the concrete is cured, the foundation is waterproofed and backfilled with dirt. All below grade utility lines--water. sewer, electrical, etc.-- are installed and run from the street to your foundation.

Framing
Your exterior and interior walls are framed up along with exterior wall sheathing and house wrap. Then the roof rafters or trusses, along with the roof decking is added. Upon completion of the roof framing, roof felt (roof underlayment) and shingles are put down. Also the windows and exterior doors are set, as well as the soffit and fascia.

Exterior Finish
Any siding and trim, brick, stone or stucco is installed at this point. Driveways, sidewalks and patios are poured later, usually after the sheetrock has been delivered.

Mechanical
At the mechanical stage, HVAC (heating, ventilation,air conditining), plumbing, and electrical systems are roughed in. This includes all drain and vent pipes, electrical wiring and service panels, and ductwork. Bathtubs, shower units, furnaces and other large items are also normally installed at this point.

Insulation
Insulation , both batts and blown, is added between studs in all exterior walls, between ceiling joists, under exterior floor surfaces, and any other area subject to exterior air penetration. Also, gaps between framing, windows, doors and exterior penetration for utilities is insulated to reduce potential for air leaks.

Interior Finish
This stage is usually the longest, as it involves several trades and components. Drywall is hung and finished first and ceilings are textured. Painting and staining begins. Then electrical trim and fixtures are placed. Following this stage, hardwood floors, tile, window and door trim, base trim, and interior doors are installed. Kitchen cabinets and bath vanities, along with countertops are set. Final plumbing, and door and cabinet hardware go on. At about the same time, the outside AC unit, Hot Water Heater, light fixtures, faucets, and appliances are installed. Carpeting goes down, windows are cleaned, touch up painting occurs. Finally, the entire house is cleaned and made ready.

Landscaping
Your yard is graded to a final grade, sloping away from the foundation. If there is a deck, fence or irrigation system, it is then installed. Finallly the shrubs and trees are planted , including borders, and the yard is seeded or sodded.

Completion stage

The final walk-through and inspection occurs with the builder making any "Punch list" of any cosmetic or mechanical items needig attention. We will explain the mechanical functions of the homes equipment, review warrantys, and give tips on how to best maintain your home.

If the home is located in an area that requires a final inspection by a building code official,we will order the inspection. After a satisfactory approval, a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued, and you will ge given thekeys to your new home.