Pre-Construction Planning at Meg & Co

At Meg & Co., we know that starting a home construction or remodeling project can feel overwhelming. We believe that home builds can not move to the next phase until the prior phase is complete. Our building process begins with establishing the flow and function of your home – the floor plan! During this timeframe we’ll partner with either an architect or drafter to create the layout and exterior elevation of your new home. Once that is complete we are ready for our pre-construction phase.

What Is Pre-Construction Planning?

At Meg & Co, the pre-construction phase begins as soon as the Professional Services Agreement (PSA) is signed and continues until the groundbreaking. This phase is crucial as it sets the foundation for a smooth and successful building process. Here’s a detailed look at the key activities that take place during pre-construction.

Floor Plan Development

First, we focus on the backend work on floor plan development, working closely with either a drafter or an architect, depending on the project’s specifics. Our team holds multiple meetings with the client to refine their vision, ensuring the final plans align with their preferences while staying within their budget.

To better understand our clients, we send them an “About You” questionnaire through Google Forms. This helps our team learn more about their family, lifestyle, and preferences, which later inspires us to create personalized gift ideas.

Connect to Buildertrend

During this phase, we connect you to your Buildertrend account, which serves as a central hub for communication and project tracking. It helps us simplify the process and keep you informed at every step.

Buildertrend helps us manage timelines, budgets, and updates in real time, so you always know what’s happening behind the scenes. Need to review plans, approve selections, or ask questions? Everything stays organized and transparent in one place. By using Buildertrend, we ensure your project runs smoothly, allowing us to focus on what matters most—bringing your dream home to life efficiently and clearly.

Financing & Permits

On the financial side, our team works diligently to prepare the project by estimating costs, facilitating loan financing with the chosen bank, and managing other financial aspects to ensure readiness for construction.

Additionally, we handle all building permits and address any jurisdiction-specific requirements. These steps are critical to avoid delays and ensure the project starts smoothly.

Design Process

We send the client a detailed design questionnaire to kick off the design process. This helps us gauge their preferences for various design elements, providing our design team with a strong starting point to create a home that reflects the client’s unique vision. Following this, clients spend time with our interior design team to discuss their needs, desires, and overall vision for their new home. We curate and select all interior and exterior elements while keeping the budget in mind. Our goal is to help clients feel confident and excited about every decision they make during this phase.

Pull Plan Meeting

As the groundbreaking date approaches, we hold a pull plan meeting, which includes our entire team as well as all trade partners. Attendance is mandatory for everyone involved in the project. This meeting fosters collaboration, encourages problem-solving, and addresses any potential issues early in the process.

Project Plan

To keep everyone aligned, copies of the project plans, including detailed design and elevations, are shared for review and notes. Meanwhile, our project managers are working on finalizing a base schedule for the project to ensure a seamless transition into the construction phase.

At Meg & Co, our pre-construction process is designed to ensure thorough preparation, clear communication, and a focus on the client’s vision, setting the stage for a successful and stress-free building experience.

Benefits of Pre-Construction Planning

At Meg & Co, a strong pre-construction planning is key to keeping projects on track and everyone on the same page. We help maintain budgets and avoid unexpected expenses by providing accurate cost estimates upfront. This planning boosts productivity throughout construction, keeping projects on schedule and running smoothly. It also improves quality control, ensuring a higher standard of work.

Pre-construction planning helps reduce waste and minimizes costly rework, saving both time and money. Identifying risks early supports on-site safety, creating a secure environment for everyone involved. We also focus on preventing environmental damage, protecting the surrounding ecosystem as we build. Lastly, we prioritize minimizing disruption to neighboring properties, fostering positive relationships within the community and ensuring a seamless construction process.