HOME CONSTRUCTION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What sets Red Rock Contractors apart from other builders?

Answer: Relationship, relationship, and reputation.  You might wonder why relationship came first and second?  One can go to a builder's website and see pictures of the projects they build, and you might even be able to get some generalized pricing and budget ideas.  But one of the biggest parts of building a custom home is being able to have a relationship with the builder you are about to spend the next 12-24 months working with on your dream home.  We pride ourselves on not only building the highest quality custom homes and outdoor environments, but also building lasting client relationships.  In order to check our reputation and the quality and sustainability of our projects, contact our office and we will provide you a complete list of previous clients whom will all give you excellent reviews.

Should I choose my builder or my designer first?

Answer:  Your relationship with your builder will last for years.  Your relationship with your designer/architect should only have to last a few months if chosen and handled properly.  Your builder is ultimately responsible to make sure you remain within your budget.  It is in your builder's best interest to keep the design process moving along swiftly so that we can begin construction on your home.  We will push your designer to keep everything on track.  Red Rock has worked with multiple designers over the years, and can help in choosing the correct designer that suits the client, the budget, and the location.  Red Rock will make sure to inform you and your designer of the multiple unique building practices that allows us to make our homes as energy efficient and comfortable as possible.

I have been told that you need to get at least two or three bids so you can get the best price.  How do I do that if I choose my builder first?

Answer: We use a process called cost plus.  Cost plus allows us to competitively bid every phase, every supplier, and every subcontractor.  We will get multiple bids for all cost line items, organize them, evaluate them and provide you with a comparison and copies of all proposals so we can choose the best value together.

What is a cost plus contract and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

Answer: Cost plus is as simple as its name.  We will only charge you the actual cost of construction plus a fee that is a percentage of the entire project cost.  It gives you complete budget control.  The only way to know the real cost of making changes, additions, or omissions is to be able to review the actual receipts and proposals.  Throughout the process of building and designing a custom home, there will be many, many changes.  You should only be charged the actual costs of those changes.  Most builders increase their margin on changes...not Red Rock.  Cost plus gives you the ability to decrease project cost if needed without a change order cost increase from the builder.  Cost plus also allows the builder to only charge for the cost of construction; not contingencies, omissions, or inflated margins on changes.  It is your house...you should be able to see every receipt, every proposal.

How will you assure the quality of other contracted labor?

Answer: It goes back relationships and experience.  We utilize many of the same subcontractors time and time again.  We do that because they have a proven track record providing our clients high quality at prices that represent a good value.  We inevitably end up with a few new subcontractors on every project.  For every new subcontractor, we do a complete reference check, vendor verification, and insurance and license verification.  We monitor and oversee all aspects of the construction process in order to maintain our quality standards.  We also provide specifications to all subcontractors to ensure they maintain our quality standards.  It is only finished when we say its finished.

What are your fees?

Answer:  It is not just a simple number when it comes to setting our fees.  It hinges on multiples items; location, complexity, finish level, project scale, and level or supervisions requested.  However, our typical fees range from 14-25% depending on the project.

How can I easily determine if my desired plan is compatible with my lot?

Answer:  We will be more than happy to evaluate your lot and project plans to make sure they fall within your anticipated budget, timeframe, and vision.  We work with multiple designers that will be able to adapt to just about any project program to a given lot.

How much will the project cost?

Answer:  I like to compare this question to purchasing a car.  If you were to ask someone what a 4-door sedan costs, what would the answer be?  It depends:  if you are looking for a Nissan Maxima, it's one price.  If you are looking for a BMW 74-5i, it is a completely different price.  The cost of a custom project is dependent of so many variables that it is not possible to provide a quote for construction without gathering quite a bit of information.  Contact our office, and Rick Chafey will be more than happy to schedule a time to discuss your project, and help you prepare some budget numbers to start from.

How do I ensure I can build my house within my budget?  What can I do to stay on track and on budget?

Answer:  The cost plus process ensures that both of us will make sure we maintain a budget you are comfortable with.  Since you will be provided a budget, broken down to each individual item, together we can review and adjust the project details continuously as needed.

How long will it take to complete the project?

Answer:  Depending on the project scope, a typical custom home takes between 10 to 18 months from when we break ground.  However, do not forget that there is a substantial amount of time required for planning, design, permits, and HOA approvals that will all add to the overall time frame.

How do I avoid being overwhelmed by the details?

Answer:  Taking on a custom home project can be a daunting task, and the best way to avoid being overwhelmed is to ask for help in areas that you do not feel comfortable.  Red Rock will handle all of the construction details, coordination, budgeting, scheduling, etc.  However, there still is the need for finalizing all of the finish details (cabinets, flooring, paint choices, door styles, countertops, appliances, etc).  We recommend that unless you have alot of free time and are very comfortable with these tasks that you hire a professional interior designer to help.  With so many choices available, a professional interior designer will make for an extremely enjoyable experience, as well as bring to light any great ideas and products you might have been unaware of.  We can recommend a number of very good interior designers that we have worked with in the past.

When should I impose my personal tastes and desires?

Answer:  From the beginning to the end and everywhere in between!  We are building this house for you to enjoy and live in.  It should be the pinnacle of everything you desire.  We will certainly provide some input when necessary or to help in the decision process, but it is your input that makes it your home.

What happens if I want/need to make changes during the construction of my home?

Answer:  We are open to any and all changes, and will even recommend some of our own during a typical custom home project.  We will advise you of the cost of the changes, extension of time needed for some changes, and the impact to other aspects of the construction in order to allow you to make an informed decision.  Using cost plus, you will also be able to see the real cost of changes, and not be charged some inflated margins.

Who supervises your construction?

Answer: We have an expert staff of Field Superintendents that will handle the day to day construction activities of your project.  There is also a Project Manager in the office that assists with getting bids, scheduling, and maintaining your budget.  In addition, Rick Chafey oversees each and every custom home or remodeling project to make sure our standards are upheld.  

Who will I be dealing with during construction?

Answer:  You will be assigned a Project Manager who will handle most of the communication and project coordination.  He will keep you updated with respect to scheduling, budgeting, and confirming selections, as well as help keep you informed of any changes or upcoming issues.  Even though you will work with your Field Superintendent and your Project Manager on a daily basis, Rick Chafey will still be your main point of contact, and will oversee your entire project.

How often will I be updated on the progress of the construction?

Answer:  As often as you need to be!  As a standard practice, we try to provide a written update every week, which will include a schedule and budget update as well as a look forward as to what to expect in the coming weeks.

What type of warranty do you provide?  How long is the coverage?

Answer:  We have always provided an uncompromising level of service to our clients.  Although we can only provide warranty service within the legal requirements of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, we will always provide our assistance in any aspect of maintaining your home, or upholding the warranties of manufacturers, suppliers, and subcontractors.  Whether your home is still "technically under warranty" or not, we will be more than happy to assist you in resolving any sort of problem.  Almost every one of our clients has us maintain keys and access to their homes at all times in order to be able to handle warranty issues, service issues, or emergency repairs.  For many of our clients that have multiple residences, we also visit their homes periodically just to confirm everything is in order.  You will have 24 hour access to Red Rock Contractors in the event of any problems, and we will respond with whatever resources are necessary to provide you with complete satisfaction; just ask our previous clients.

In what geographic area do you build the most homes?

Answer:  Most of our projects are in the Phoenix Metro area, primarily the east valley, including Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Paradise Valley.  However, we have traveled as far as Flagstaff and Payson for some of our clients.

What does Red Rock Contractors do to "build green"?

Answer:  Red Rock has been on the forefront of environmentally stable and friendly building practices since inception.  Building green is not new to our team; it is just now becoming a common concept for everyone.  We use building practices that minimize material usage and construction techniques that provide for much more economical operating systems.  We specify a number of different building products to minimize resource usage, increase efficiency, increase indoor air quality, and increase overall sustainability of your home.  From lumber choices to appliances, from air-conditioning to pool pumps, there are many ways to increase the "green" in your home.  For a thorough discussion of why Red Rock is so "green", please contact our office to set up a meeting with Rick Chafey.