FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Interested in working with us but want all the details first?!
Here’s a list of our most frequently asked questions & our best answers. If this doesn’t do it, shoot us an email to office@ottercreekhomes.co & we will get back to you with an answer ASAP.
how does this process work?
First things first, submit an inquiry on our contact form and then head over to our services page & scroll down to ‘How Does It Work” we explain the step by step process in detail right there!
what style of projects do you specialize in?
We specialize in new builds and home renovations (think kitchen, bath or whole home). We also offer custom millwork pieces in each of our projects such as custom vanities, built ins, etc.
once i fill out the contact form what happens next?
We will connect with you via email asking for more information regarding land location, home location, etc. and then if this project seems like a good fit for our team we will set up a time for a phone consult.
do you provide quotes?
No, we don’t provide up front quotes. The nature of custom remodels/new builds don’t lend themselves to a simple quote or “bid”. At OCH we call it budgeting and it happens during the pre-construction & design process. Since we're a design-build company, we first gather your inspiration to get a better understanding of your vision. This allows us to provide a starting point for the budget based on this inspiration. If this feels good we then move into a pre-construction agreement which allows us to develop more firm pricing alongside the design.
do you offer in-home consultations?
Yes, we do. We first connect on a phone consultation and if the project fits for all only then do we come out for an in-home consultation.
what does the in-home consult consist of?
Our in-home consults are time for us to come to your home or land, see your space/ site in person and talk feasibility and get to meet you. This consult allows us time to evaluate your space/ site, ask questions and take photos to gather information to come to a rough budget for the project.
who will actually be working on my home?
Chris (Co-owner & Director of Operations), Luke (Lead Carpenter), Ryan (Apprentice Carpenter), Seth (Lead Carpenter), Charlie (Carpenter), Aden (Apprentice Carpenter), Dan (Project Manager) & Jared (Project Coordinator) will be the faces you see everyday on the job. Lauren (Co-Owner & Creative Director) & Erica (Designer) will work with you on all things design behind the scenes & occasionally will be on site. Get to know our team more here. All subcontractors will be vetted from our list of trusted subs!
can i hire you just for design services?
No, at this time we only offer our design services in tandem with our construction services. We are full service for our clients creating a streamlined experience encompassing both design & build.
how long do projects normally take?
This really depends upon the project at hand, the material selections added as well as your schedule. We try to accommodate our clients schedules as often as we can. Timelines truly depend on scope & complexity but during the rough estimate phase we will definitely go over this!
do i have to take care of permitting?
No, you don’t! We take care of all permitting and inspections. We want this experience to be as streamlined as possible for our clients.
HOW DOES PAYMENT SCHEDULE WORK?
We take a deposit of 20% of project costs up front and you're billed on a bi-weekly basis for your project, percent complete. You will receive emailed invoices from AJ our office manager.
do you work with bank financing?
Yes ,we do. We have worked with Holy Rosary Credit Union, Northeast Credit Union, and Bangor Savings Bank with previous clients and have all been great experiences. We do ask that you share this information with us up front as some of the work regarding bank financing will affect the budget as a whole.
do i have to communicate with subcontractors?
No, you don’t! We handle all the communication with our sub contractors! Jared (Project coordinator) will be your point person for any and all questions regarding subs. We also fully take care of any questions, payments, etc. from our sub-contractors. Allowing you to sit back and enjoy the experience!
should i contact the architect first or you first?
We have preferred architects we work with, we prefer you contact us first and then we reach out to the architect in our community that we think would be the best fit for your project. We stress reaching out to us first so that budget can be a driving conversation in the plans the architect develops. *too often we have seen potential clients come to us with plans that are outside of their budget which then requires more time and money to rework them*
can we provide any of the work “sweat equity” on our home?
We do not offer this as an option for our clients solely based on the efficiency & timeline of our projects. We plan to control the process from start to finish to make it as streamlined as possible for our clients.
should we ever expect additional costs above the outlined contract cost?
If it’s a fixed price contract, no. We work incredibly hard to get firm pricing from our subcontractors in the pre-construction phase and stick to our allotted budget for material selections in house. If your project is a cost plus project there may be some costs from subcontractors that come in above what was allocated for but this will be thoroughly communicated along the way and will not be a surprise at the end of the project.
is it ok to visit my home while it’s under construction?
Yes. We know that the time of building or renovating a home is such an exciting process and we welcome visits. We do ask that you coordinate with Jared our project coordinator on your visits as we want the home to be safe and in good condition for your visits!
is it ok to live in my home while a renovation is taking place?
This depends on the type of renovation you’re doing. If it’s a full home renovation no, but if it’s a partial renovation such as a kitchen, yes! We will set you up with your appliances in a separate room or basement and can set up a temporary work space for you while the renovation takes place in your main space!