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GENERAL |
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DESIGN |
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ESTIMATING |
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CONTRACTS AND PAYMENTS |
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PRODUCTION |
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GENERAL |
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How long have you been in business? |
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Michael McCutcheon started the business in 1980 and incorporated in 1987. We established our office at 1280 Sixth Street at the time we incorporated. |
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How big is your company? |
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The company currently has over 30 full-time employees, with twelve office staff, including three Production Managers and two Designers. Each job is assigned a dedicated Project Manager, who remains with the job. This provides the "small company" benefit of close attention to each individual job while allowing the "large company" benefit of experienced professional management. |
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Where do you work? |
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Our core work area includes Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and San Francisco Counties, but we occasionally travel further if the work is really appealing. |
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What kind of work do you prefer? |
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We prefer well-designed projects within a reasonable drive from our office. A green building focus also piques our interest, but the most important criterion for the success of any project is the people involved. Projects go best when we work with discerning and responsive clients. |
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DESIGN |
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Can you help with the design, plans and permit for my job? |
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Our in-house capabilities include design. We have a talented design staff, including both an Architectural Designer and an Interior Designer, who can design and specify any type of project, from kitchen and bath remodeling to additions, decks, exteriors, new homes and light commercial work. |
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But I already have my own architect and/or interior designer. Can you still work with us? |
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Of course. In fact, about half of our work is designed by outside designers. We love to be inspired by the ideas of architects and designers, but please note that in such cases we like to be involved early in the project so that we can consult on design and cost to keep the project on track. Often, our in-house designers can work with your design team to help with drafting, construction details, shop drawings or material selections, as needed. |
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Can you help me pick materials and finishes? |
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Yes, we have an extensive library of product literature and samples. We often help clients and designers select materials. We can help make sure that these choices are both aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective. Also, we know which products have performed well for our clients in the past.
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ESTIMATING |
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Do you competitively bid jobs? |
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No, we prefer to "negotiate" contracts with Owners. We provide cost consultation once we are the preferred contractor for the job, rather than free bids on speculation. Detailed estimating can take many hours; this is time we would rather spend pricing work we know we are going to build. Our "no competitive bid" policy has evolved over the years. Adopting this policy has allowed us to focus our energies on clients who seriously want us to undertake their projects. |
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What is the "negotiated" contract process? |
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A "negotiated" contract means that we work with Owners from the inception to develop a project. On larger projects, we work very closely with the architect or designer as well.
After an initial telephone conversation, an appointment is made to view the project. At that meeting, we have a thorough discussion about the full scope of work and the timeframe - in order to decide if the project would be mutually beneficial. We do not charge for this initial meeting. If it is decided that we should go ahead, we will then begin the pre-construction process and pre-construction services.
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What are "pre-construction" services? |
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McCutcheon can provide pre-construction services during the design stage of a project; this includes design, estimates and schedules, suggestions on materials and subcontractors, construction detail consultation and more. Typically, we will not charge for these pre-construction services (other than for design) so long as we build the project. |
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How much will the work cost? |
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We provide estimates for the cost of the work. Much of our work is "fixed price," meaning that we negotiate a fixed contract amount with the client before starting a job. Some projects are better suited for the "Time & Materials" method, in which we charge by the hour, plus a fee. Typical "T&M" rates are $80-$95 per hour with a 20-30% fee on all labor, subcontractors and materials. |
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Will I get the best price with McCutcheon? |
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While we may not suggest the lowest initial budget, we are confident that we provide excellent value in the long run. Our focus is on helping our clients get the best value, not necessarily the lowest price. As we learn the priorities, we fine-tune our recommendations regarding subcontractors, materials and methods to help our clients and their designers realize the highest satisfaction for their budget. |
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CONTRACTS AND PAYMENTS |
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What type of contract do you use? |
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Our standard contract is drawn from various sources. It uses relatively simple terminology and language, and includes all necessary state and federally required forms, i.e., Notice to Owner, Cancellation Notice, Lead Notice, etc. We prefer to use our own contract, although we will substitute AIA contracts when the Owner or Architect specifies them. |
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What is a typical payment schedule? |
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We invoice every two weeks for work that has been completed prior to the billing date. On fixed-price jobs, we provide a detailed percent complete billing, listing each job category and the percent complete (and billable) to date.
Time & Materials invoices provide details on all labor, subcontractors, materials and fees for the billing period.
Since we invoice for work that has already been completed and for which the subcontractors and suppliers have already been paid, we ask for payment within five days of the date of the invoice.
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How about change orders? |
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On fixed-price jobs, Change Orders occur when the Owner requests a change in the scope of the work. We use our accounting system (Sage Master Builder) to generate a written Change Order for each change, which must then be approved in writing by the Owner before it becomes binding.
On Time & Materials jobs, we sometimes use Change Orders to reflect any changes that have occurred since the last budget revision. We can provide "budget comparisons" to help track these changes.
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PRODUCTION |
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How many jobs do you manage simultaneously? |
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We can build ten or more jobs at any one time. Our office management provides support, but the day-to-day details are managed on-site by our Project Managers to ensure a smooth workflow during the course of a project. |
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With that much work going on, how do you make sure each job is handled properly? |
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Our Project Managers have the luxury of focusing on only one project at a time. Unlike in small companies, where the person running the job (frequently the owner in very small firms) has to cover all bases at once, our Project Managers can focus on quality work - one site at a time. This ensures the highest possible quality with the fewest possible distractions during the day. |
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Do you subcontract some of the work? |
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We subcontract much of our specialized work, such as concrete, plumbing, electrical, heating, drywall, tile, etc. This saves our clients time and money, since we could not possibly have the in-house expertise and equipment available through the best subcontractor specialists. By the way, most of our subcontractors have worked with us for many years and have become part of our extended "family." |
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Who will build my job? |
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Early in the process, we identify which of our Project Managers would make a good fit for your job. We are happy to discuss with you this Project Manager choice, and to arrange a meeting between you and the Project Manager before your job begins. |
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How long will my job take? |
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McCutcheon provides computerized schedules for virtually every job we undertake. These schedules are created using Microsoft Project and list each item in the scope of work, from protection to punch list, with corresponding dates. A schedule is included in all of our construction contracts, allowing the Owner to monitor job progress with ease. |
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How do I find out more? |
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Check out the rest of our website, then call us at 510/558-8030 or send us an email. Out office is located in Berkeley, California at 1280 Sixth Street (at Gilman), next to Jimmy Bean's café.
We have references available for seriously interested parties. If you'd like to see some of our projects, we can arrange job tours.
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