Business Hours
Crawford Modern Business Hours are:
Construction: Between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday
Administration: Between 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday
Communication Expectations
Family and personal time is important to us and our Clients. Please keep communication between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm, Monday through Friday, unless there are emergencies. Any communication received after business hours that is not emergent will be responded to during the following business day.
Clients will be given access to BuilderTrend where all communication about the project will take place. Texts and phone calls should only be used in emergent situations.
Unless urgent, please provide any requests (e.g. change orders, materials questions, etc) via BuilderTrend during construction hours. This ensures all information is captured properly and minimizes distractions during construction working hours. Responses and important updates to Client will be provided within (1) business day.
We understand that sometimes it is difficult for a Client to be able to meet during working business hours, so any meetings (in person/phone calls) may also take place between 8 - 9am or 5 - 6pm Monday through Friday, if scheduled in advance. Weekend meetings will be considered on a special basis.
Projects should never be communicated through social media.
As we are ultimately accountable for delays associated with labor, Clients should refrain from socializing when our crew and/or subcontractors are working on the job.
Prior to Beginning Work
Before beginning construction on a Client’s project, the following items need to be addressed:
Client approval of proposal.
Deposit/initial percentage of estimate received from Client (read more details about “Payment” below).
All materials and fixtures are finalized and selected by Client.
All key materials and fixtures (e.g. bathroom vanity, tile, etc) are ordered, shipped, and have arrived on site undamaged.
Project schedule will be pushed back if the items listed above are not addressed.
Crawford Modern is not responsible for making up for lost time on a project if initial payment has not been received prior to desired start date, Client-selected finishes are not finalized and/or change, or change orders are needed (more details on Change Orders below).
With any general contractor, there may be some days when work is not physically occurring at a Client’s home; however planning, scheduling, and oversight for the project is always ongoing. This can be a result of any of the items listed below, but not limited to:
Awaiting approval or inspection for an open permit
Material delays
Sourcing and picking up necessary materials
Last minute subcontractor cancellations / postponements that are out of Crawford Modern’s control
Project being ahead of schedule (thus awaiting tradesmen to get in on their schedule, etc)
Emergencies at another project
Crawford Modern will communicate with the Client if we, or a subcontractor, will not be physically present at a Client’s project for (1) business day or longer.
Workplace Presence
Change Orders
Change orders are often inevitable with a project—whether an unforeseen repair needs to be made or if the Client would like an upgrade that was not originally scoped.
It is best that any desired upgrades outside the existing scope of work are sent via BuilderTrend instead of text messages to ensure information does not get buried in a text thread and is captured properly in one place.
We understand, however, that sometimes upgrades and repairs are discussed on site. Crawford Modern will take note of those specific modifications discussed; however the Client will need to verify that all their requested upgrades are captured when a change order is sent over for approval.
Change orders reviewed on site or received via BuilderTrend will be estimated within three to five business days for Client written approval before proceeding. Timing of change order estimation is dependent upon the immediate urgency of keeping the project moving.
It is important for the Client to review change orders in detail and convey any missed updates to Crawford Modern to ensure everything is accounted for. Rule of thumb: if an upgrade was discussed—but is not listed in a change order—it has not been captured or estimated by Crawford Modern. Therefore, it won’t be implemented unless flagged by the Client and subsequently captured in the change order.
It is usually inevitable that change orders will delay a project, even if only by a day or two. If Client-requested change orders potentially delay the project longer than a couple days (e.g. new material delays, additional installation/craftsmanship requirements, etc); Crawford Modern will inform Client of the potential delays/implications so Client may make an informed decision on whether or not to move forward with the desired work.
Change orders will be estimated and invoiced separately from the original proposal.
If a major change order is requested that is not relevant to the original scope of the project agreed upon, Crawford Modern may opt not to work this particular change order into the existing schedule based on potential scheduling conflicts with other projects. In the event this occurs, we will do our best to refer the Client to a tradesmen who can handle that particular request outside our management of the project originally scoped. Crawford Modern will not be responsible for the management or the quality of these refinements as it will be the responsibility of the Client’s and the tradesmen they directly work with.
Crawford Modern only works with subcontractors of their choosing to ensure the best quality of work is being provided as well as for the safety of the Client.
If the Client has a preference of a subcontractor, it will be up to Crawford Modern’s discretion to partner with them.
As permits and inspections are the responsibility of Crawford Modern, we will only partner with electricians, plumbers, HVAC, engineers, etc, who are licensed and insured.
As we are solely responsible for the final product, we rarely allow our Clients to do any of the work.
At the start of a subcontractor’s work, Crawford Modern will walk the subcontractor through the project and ensure there is alignment on expectations and craftsmanship. Crawford Modern will check in on the subcontractor’s work frequently to ensure a professional level of work is being delivered.
Proposals do not accommodate hours to “babysit” subcontractors for their entire involvement on a project. This is why we only partner with subcontractors who we know and trust.
Should the Client notice any issues with a subcontractor’s work or feels something is currently being missed, Client is to notify Crawford Modern immediately via text or phone call so the issue can be addressed in a timely fashion.
Client should not wait until the end of the project to inform Crawford Modern of any issues experienced with regards to a subcontractor’s work or if the wrong fixtures, trim, etc have been installed. This only results in unnecessary expenses and project delays to get new materials ordered and/or get a subcontractor back in to fix.
Subcontractors
There is always a risk that a project will not be completed by a desired date or holiday due to unforeseen repairs, material delays, and newly requested upgrades.
If a client-requested upgrade delays the project significantly, we will do our best to ensure the project is moved along in other ways; however the overall schedule of the project will need to be revisited.
We cannot guarantee working extra hours (weekends, overtime, etc) to make up for lost time with regards to unforeseen issues and upgrades.
It is up to our discretion to decide whether we want to invest in overtime in an effort to keep the project moving.
Rush fees may be applied if the deadline cannot be moved and work outside of established construction hours is required, especially as a result of Client-requested upgrades that were not originally scoped.
Project Delays
Towards the completion of the project, (1) final, in-person walk-through of the project will be scheduled with the Client.
During this walk-through, Client will provide punch list items they would like to see addressed upon completion of the project.
Punch list items are small fixes that relate to the original estimate or approved change orders. Any refinements outside of the original scope or previously approved change orders will have to be estimated and charged accordingly.
Following the walk-through, we will provide a comprehensive list of punch list items to ensure alignment with the Client. A consolidated punch list approved by the Client is required to ensure the project gets wrapped up efficiently and Crawford Modern may address the list in its entirety.
Staggering punch list requests over the course of days/weeks following the in-person walkthrough may result in fees to accommodate the extra time and multiple trips to address.
Punch List
We currently only accept payments via check or QuickBooks (via bank account). Credit cards are not accepted at this time.
Client should notify us in advance if the project is to be funded by a loan that requires appraisals/inspections prior to any payment. We will need to ensure the project schedule accommodates these particular inspections and appraisals.
A payment plan will be outlined in the final estimate for Client approval. Work will not begin until the initial payment requested is received in its entirety.
If a project is delayed significantly (a minimum of (2) weeks), Crawford Modern and Client to determine a modified payment plan so that the project may be billed to “percent complete.” This keeps the project “up-to-date” and ensures that it will be worked back into Crawford Modern’s project schedule as soon as possible once the delay is resolved.
Sometimes unforeseen materials/fixtures delays occur which can cause a project not to be 100% complete for a few months (e.g. awaiting a backordered fixture to be shipped and delivered). The project will be billed to “percent complete” once everything else is fully addressed. Once the outstanding item is received, Crawford Modern will work with Client to schedule the completion of the project. Client to pay the final small balance the day of completion.