Unique insight(s) that no one else has, Unique Services that no one else offers...

Why are we unique? NCHHC’s Services are not offered by anyone else in the area. Further, unlike most company’s doing business today, NCHCC is proactive, not reactive. We don’t just manage the costs-to-date or those in question at the moment, we use our experience to control costs that have yet to even be realized.

NCHCC works with each Client to identify their personal priorities and goals for the Project. We then develop a custom, cost-management strategy to meet them. We factor in Schedule and quality – not just cost. To help along the way, NCHCC offers access to a diverse, deep Subcontractor/Vendor “base” built over 22 years in SWFL – a deeper “bench” than any individual Builder has.

Why are we unique? NCHCC is proactive, not reactive. We don’t just  reconcile the costs-to-date or analyze those in question at the moment, we use our experience to control costs that have yet to even be realized.

Engaging NCHCC in the process is easy! Simply direct your Architect or Builder to provide us with the latest information on your Project.

What steps can you take to help control your
Project’s costs?

NCHCC helps Clients navigate the entire process. We offer the following services to protect Clients that are considering Contracting for a Construction Project AND those who already have. Construction already underway? Frustrated with how your Builder is managing (or, more likely, not managing) your job costs? Though the earlier we get involved the better, we can be brought on at any point. It’s never too late to start controlling your Project’s costs.

A. Pre-Contract – know more accurately NOW what the REAL end-of-the-day costs for your Project will be

I. Analysis of Proposed Contract Documents

  • The Contract itself
  • Proposed Budget (see “Base Budget Analysis” below)
  • Plans
  • Specifications

The Budget you’re considering at this point of the process is NOT truly representative of the actual end-of-the-day costs of your Project. NCHCC will provide the Client an assessment of the information available at the time. We will call out line item values that are low or missing altogether and other discrepancies.

Perhaps you’ve been given Budgets from multiple Builders with bottom-line, total costs that vary considerably. If all pricing is based on the same information, how can that be? We will provide the Client a detailed, “apples-to-apples” comparison of their Proposals and Budgets. 

We will make sure that the right questions are asked and answered NOW, while you have the most leverage in the negotiation. We sweat the details. By making sure that the information you are considering is accurate and comprehensive BEFORE you Contract, we help ensure that you make an informed decision.

B. Post-Contract: Save 10’s-to-100’s of thousands of $’s on your Project with these services (relative to the Project’s scale):

NCHCC Post-Contract services are designed to protect Owners without impeding on the Design or Selection processes. We strive to work with Owners, Architects and Designers to ensure that their Designs are achieved and Product/Material Selections installed.

I. Project Start - Base Budget Analysis

NCHCC will assess the Budget that your Builder has provided and confirm that it is in line with your expectations regarding Specifications/Finishes and overall Schedule.

Do you know that the Budget you’ve been provided has enough money in it to pay for the wood flooring that you know that you want, but have not yet selected? Surely there is money allocated for an Air-Conditioning system, but will it cover the costs for the premium, linear slot diffusers that, though not “required”, are a staple in high-end homes? Bet not.

We look at and assess ALL Budget line items and, importantly, look for and confirm that Budget money has been included for all of the applicable ancillary and “soft” costs that will likely be incurred over the course of construction.

II. Project Buy-Out

NCHCC will work to make sure that your Builder procures competitive bids for as many of your Budget’s line items as possible and that those bids cover the complete Scope of Work, so that you aren’t subject to extra costs after-the-fact. We also screen for “duplicate” Scope and make sure that Subcontract draw schedules are reasonable.

We will ask the Builder to work harder to negotiate lower costs on your behalf.

These services are provided throughout construction – as your Builder orders the work to be done – and help ensure that your Construction costs stay as “on-track” with the Budget as possible.

III. Cost of Changes

By definition, a Custom Home will undergo Changes as it is being built, most of which will result in additional costs. Formal Change Orders are impractical for all involved, but the Builder must effort to cost and attain the Client’s approval for Changes prior to doing the work. The effort put forth varies, but the result is always the same = Budget Creep. We make sure that Changes are reasonably priced and hold the Builder accountable to their cost estimates. More importantly, we will take them to task for the costs of work done WITHOUT their having performed said diligence.

IV. “Value Engineering”

Value Engineering offers you the opportunity to decide whether or not to save Construction costs by making a Change to the Scope of Work of the Project. There are always some opportunities to Value-Engineer your Project. Your Builder should be actively pursuing these alternatives and offering them to you without your having to ask for them.

Unfortunately, few Builders actually do.

NCHCC will identify opportunities and, if you’re interested, direct the Builder to provide you the information about the specific Change and potential cost-savings associated with it. You may decide to accept the Change and savings, or not, but at least you’ll have been given the opportunity.

V. “Options & Upgrades"

Often, there are options and upgrades readily available to you relative to a given Scope of Work that you might be interested in, but aren’t aware of and may never be offered. Though the Builder stands to add Fees to the Project by selling them to you, they also take time to administer and may add time to the Project Schedule. The Builder may calculate that it’s not worth the hassle to even ask you if you’re interested in such features.

Based on your input, NCHCC will work to prod the Builder to provide you the opportunity to decide on options or upgrades that you MIGHT want. You may ultimately decide to decline them, but you will have at least had the chance to consider them.

VI. Monthly Statement Review

Your Builder will generally provide you with a Statement (Invoice) monthly for the costs of the Project incurred over that same time frame. Most Clients pay the balance due without scrutinizing or questioning the Statement. Before they know it, the costs have spiraled out of control.

The Builder will contend that the cost information has been in the Statements they’ve been sending all along – that it should not be shocking that they are what they are.

NCHCC will scrutinize each Statement for you. We will call out questionable invoices and make the Builder answer for them. We make sure that cost “credits” are truly realized and diligently watch for “duplicate” costs/invoices. Costs that are clearly the result of Builder mistake(s) should be borne by them. We will track all line item costs, document and control “Budget Creep” as it happens. Your costs may legitimately go over Budget, but all overages will be justified. You will not be shocked.

VII. Final Cost Forecasting

NCHCC will use its expertise to create and maintain a report projecting what the actual, final costs of the Project will be. This information will be available at any given time in both a detailed and “snapshot” format. Your Builder will bring all available resources to bear as they scramble to finish your likely-overdue Project. The result of this “ask-questions-later” approach: cost spikes that most Budgets can’t compensate for. Final Subcontract draws will also begin to flood in. We will make sure that you hold a reasonable amount of retainage in order to maintain leverage and keep the Builder motivated to prioritize FULLY completing your Project. This service represents a culmination of all the work outlined in the items above.

Please contact NCHCC today for a free consultation.