Frequently Asked Questions

  • FCC is a B100 licensed General Contractor. Our past projects include residential remodels, commercial remodels and custom one-of-a-kind custom homes. The unifying aspect of each project is their uniqueness. We have built a lot of great projects, but we have never built the same thing twice. We would be happy to partner with you through process of building your dream project including but not limited to master suites, kitchen remodels, whole home remodels, and that special custom house you have been dreaming of.
  • You will find us working in the most desirable neighborhoods along the Wasatch front from Farmington to Provo as well as Summit and Wasatch counties.
  • Give our office a call. One of our representatives will be glad to discuss your project and its unique needs. During this first call we will ask many questions about the desired project and where you are at in the process. We will discuss the costs of similar project to make sure we are in the right ballpark. This call will introduce our FCC process and make sure we are a good fit for each other.  If we mutually agree that we are a good fit, we will schedule a second meeting to discuss the project in great er detail.  
  • We will either meet at your home or our office. We will walk the site and get a feel for the existing conditions. We will discuss the proposed project and discus the pro’s and cons. Based upon this additional information we will discuss how this may affect the anticipated costs of the job.  We will then discuss the next step, the Pre-Construction Phase, see below for the full process.
  • Simply put, our process is all about communication, setting expectations and building the project as much as possible on paper. This level of detail allows the project to run faster, smoother and protects the client from costly job cost over runs.
  • The first thing we build is the team. The team includes the client as the ultimate decision maker. Next is the builder. And finally, the third part of the team is the designers and architects.
  • Once the team is assembled, we create a preliminary budget. This is the starting point so as design progresses, we can discuss how those decisions will affect the costs.
  • During the design process we will have regular team meetings to review design updates and discuss the pros and cons. FCC will also involve the necessary trade contractors to provide feedback and solutions to any issues that arrive. We will also make sure the proposed plan will be approved by the city and any other governing bodies.
  • The interior designer will provide the space planning, interior elevations, material selections and when possible interior renderings.
  • Once the Design process is completed FCC will be able to provide a final budget. On most projects this is done in a fixed price Proposal that becomes a construction contract. From time to time, we will choose to proceed with a Cost-Plus contract to facilitate the flexibility required on some custom projects.
  • First step is to choose a contractor. This should be done as soon as possible so they can start providing input during the design process.
  • The design team should be next. The contractor can recommend Architects and Designers based upon the style of the project and the specific needs of the owner.
  • Architects will provide the overall design including floor plans, exterior elevations as well as the full construction documents. They typically include engineering in the plans.
  • Designers will provide the interior elevations for cabinets, tile and showers, and special elevations like fireplace and stair well treatments. They will also work with the owner to make selections on fixtures and finishes.
  • Choosing a builder is one of the most important decisions you can make. The builder will be the only person you will work with from before construction through the warranty period and beyond. We take pride in forging long lasting relationships with our clients that go on long after the project is complete.
  • References are important, so are reviews but you need to do a little more homework. Request to walk through a completed job and a job still under construction that is similar to your project.  Look for cleanliness and organization.  Ask the client how long the project took or is taking and compare it to what the timeframe was said before starting. Most clients will be polite and not bad mouth a contractor even if they were not happy. So, take client recommendations with a grain of salt.
  • The best Reference. Ask the prospective contractor for a list of his recurring subcontractors and how long they have been working with each of them. Once you get this list, make some calls to the subs.  Do not say what contractor you are talking with but ask the following questions. Sub-contractors work with many builders and know the way they work, how they pay and if they are good communicators. They will also know if the builder asks them to cut corners or do anything else less desirable.
    • Ask them to name their top five Contractors they work for, see if your contractor is even mentioned.
    • Ask them to name the top two builders they would use on their own project and see if they mention the builder you are considering.
    • Ask the Subs what they look for in a builder to work for. Positive answers would include: Communication, preparation, leadership, honesty, integrity, respect and let’s not forget personality. You will be partnering with this person for a long time, make sure you feel like you can work with them through some stressful times.
    • Finally, ask them who they would not work with and why.
  • Is this builder used to doing the quality of work I expect? I like to equate this to a car dealership. If you know you are expecting a Mercedes quality car and service, make sure you are not going to a Toyota dealer as you cannot find it there.  In construction terms, a contractor who builds tract homes will not be able to provide the quality you expect, not be able to communicate the way you need. They will be focused on maximizing the dollars in their pocket and cutting corners and expectations to do it.
  • Cost should not be a factor. In short, if you really want a 60” Subzero fridge in your new kitchen, it’s going to cost about the same no matter what contractor you choose. Do not get tricked by a low-cost bid. Ask yourself what the bid was based upon. If it is not a full design with every finish selected and finalized, it’s just a guess. And the low bidder just guessed lower. All builders can work within a reasonable budget to get you what you want. The Contractors with integrity will be upfront about it and charge the correct price upfront while the others will bait and switch you.  You will not realize the actual cost until it’s over and you get surprised bills. I have never heard a bad construction story start any other way then “I went with the cheapest guy”
  • We have never built the same project twice. But most projects fall into a range we try to track. We will discuss that with you when we meet. But in the meantime, I suggest you log onto https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2020/ this is a great resource that help people understand local and national costs for typical projects.
  • Yes, this is a minimum. We look at code as a D-, the lowest passing grade.  Code is written mostly for life saving reasons. Such as fire code, safety on stairs and structural reasons.  We also work with Energy codes to make sure it has a minimum amount of efficiency. Code is not written to ensure longevity, quality, efficiency and certainly not workmanship. A quality builder should always be building above code and constantly looking for better building techniques that enhance the comfort and longevity of the client’s home. Never settle for a D-
  • Due to the size of FCC, we are not a good fit for smaller projects. As such we pull building permits on all our projects.  I will dare say if a builder suggests otherwise to be suspicious. The process is simple and not only is it the law, but it protects the owner from unscrupulous builders.
  • Integrity
  • Quality
  • Over communication
  • Setting expectations
  • Doing what we say we will, period
  • Contractor
    • A professionally licensed and insured person who is responsible to oversee and be responsible for the construction of the project. The buck stops here!
  • Architect
    • A professionally licensed person who is responsible for the overall design of the project. They are responsible for ensuring the project meets all local ordinances and planning guidelines.  They are also responsible for making the design to meet all local building codes.  They provide the final construction drawings to secure a building permit.
  • Engineer
    • The Professionally licensed person who review the building plans and creates the structural calculation and details to make sure the building meets all structural and seismic requirements. In short, they make sure the Architects design does not fall down.
  • Interior Designer
    • A formally educated design professional. Someone who knows the science as well as the art of design.  They are responsible for creating interior elevations and selections.  Virtually all of FCC projects involve a designer. In short, we describe an interiors job as making sure the client’s expectations are defined and documented so the builder can produce the desired end result.
  • Sub-Contractor
    • Also known as a trade contractor. This group includes Plumbers, Electricians, Drywallers, excavators etc. All Sub-Contractors should hold professional licenses and insurance. We value the input and resources our Sub-Contractors provide and have long lasting relationships with each of them. They are an extension of our team and we could not have the success we have without them.
  • Bid
    • When I think of a bid I think of an auction, people yelling out numbers. In construction is has come to mean a price for a project. I believe this is the most misunderstood term. If the “bid” is not based upon final selections and plans, it is just a number being thrown out there. We do not bid.
  • Forecast
    • Our first written budget is a forecast. It is based upon actual footage of material on the plans and while we do not have final selections, we use historical averages for items like tile, carpet and stone etc. This is more accurate than a bid but still not final, so it is presented in a rage to show possible variance.
  • Proposal
    • A written proposal is a very detailed document. It will reference plans, selections as well as material choices. A proper proposal also includes a detail scope of work that aligns with the other design documents. Our proposals will have a final fixed price and will be finalized with a fixed price contract.  
  • Allowance
    • In a few instances we will allow allowances in our proposals. Allowances are for items we do not have either a final selection on or a unknown price. Allowances ae a place holder for price.  We do our best to eliminate allowances as they can cause delays and cost over runs.
  • Cost Plus or Time and Material
    • This type of contracting is best suited for large projects that have a high probability of design changes or complexity of existing conditions. We will offer this option based upon the type of project. While the transparency of Cost Plus can be good, it also transfers all possible risk of cost overages to the client. This type of contracting should not be a replacement for the full pre-construction process. It is always best to build as much on paper as possible before swinging a hammer.