Our Proposed Business Approach

The vast majority of Beam projects are contracted and completed on a ‘cost plus percentage’ basis. This implies payment of the contractor’s actual true costs plus a fee.

This process requires a high degree of trust and comfort for both the client and the contractor. The contractor covenants with the client to serve their interests and goals. The entirety of the project paperwork, documentation, and billing is held in trust for the client by the contractor, is open to inspection at any time, and passes from contractor to client at the close of the project.


How Does BEAM Develop a Plan?

Program Discussion | Design Concept | Planning Budget | Working Drawings | Specifications
Working Budget | Bids/Cost Plus | Contractor Selection | Final Budget | Begin Construction

1. BEAM begins with a Program Discussion.
   This typically includes a one page summary of the client’s needs, desires, and budget; and expected paths towards meeting these.
    
2. Next comes the Design Concept.
   This will usually include one or two very rough sketches of elevations and a floor plan showing what the design intent will be, accompanied by a written summary of the design concept and how it will address the Program needs, alluding to architecturally significant styles or types, with the language that the proposed structures and project will have. This hopefully involved much site planning and many visits to integrate the Concept with the site. This phase typically goes through many cycles as decisions are made, rejected, and re-made; all part of what is known as the ‘design process’. The sketches will become a little more detailed with each decision.
    
3. Planning Budget.
   As the above stage draws to a close, a preliminary Planning Budget will be drawn up. This attempts to price some of the Design Concepts and various options, and begins to interact with the program budget. This phase will also go through many cycles and help redefine some of the concept sketches.
    
4. Working Drawings.
   The approach of this phase signals the beginning of graphically describing the project. Drafting will encompass as many drawings as are necessary to communicate the project to the various trades people who will build and work on it.
    
5. Specifications.
   Simultaneous with the Drafting phase, written specifications will be developed. These basically describe exactly what the products are that the project will consist of - manufacturer’s catalog numbers, specie of wood, finish, wall coverings, flooring materials, window and door scheduels, etc.
    
6. Working Budget.
   As the Drafting ans Specifications begin to draw to a close, a true Working Budget can begin to be formulated. It will remain necessary to reference the Drawings, the Specifications, and the Working Budget repeatedly to ensure the Program issues are being properly met.
    
7. The Bid Process / Cost Plus Process.
   In order to Bid a project accurately it is necessary to have all the Drawings and Specifications complete. This allows the contractor or builder to price the project more exactly and make suggestions for less or more expensive items. The contractor or builder also at this time can include a price for additional work and a price to process change orders.
   
   The Cost Plus Process is a bit more organic and often more flexible in nature. Often one can proceed to this process without completing the specifications or the complete Working Drawings. Extreme care must be taken to ensure that the Working Budget is intact.
    
8. Choosing Builders / Contractors
   In either format - the Bid Process, or the Cost Plus Process - the basic issue is choosing a contractor or builder that is competent, trustworthy, and is personally comfortable with the client, the budget, and the intended concept. The quality of craftsmanship must meet the project goals. We look to form a team and need team players.
    
9. The Final Budget
   As it gets nearer and gains approval from both parties, discussions and decisions on budget reporting during the job, billing cycles, time frame, choosing the sub-contractors, insurance, workers compensation insurance, and scheduled completion dates all enter into the discussion/decision process.
    
10. Construction Begins!
    When Construction Starts, all of the homework is complete. All that is left is fine tuning, keeping the project on schedule, keeping the budget updated, job costing, bill paying, and making sure the client is satisfied.

Nearly all Successful Projects go through these basic phases. Successfully completing them is what BEAM does best - it is our business and we can put it to work for you.