A Few FAQ's to clear things up

ARE YOU ABLE TO HANDLE ANY CONSTRUCTION JOB?
  • Yes.  We are a mid-sized general contracting firm serving Central Virginia for over 30 years.  We utilize multiple subcontractors from every trade and have a diverse portfolio of projects we have completed.  However, if after we meet, we feel you might be better served by someone else, we'll point you in the right direction.
DO YOU DESIGN IN-HOUSE?
  • Artisan works with numerous architects and designers in the Charlottesville area.    We also have multiple employees who are skilled at AutoCAD and Google SketchUp.  We do not employee licensed architects, so there is a limit to how much design we are comfortable performing in-house, and primarily use our skills to help our clients visualize options that work within their budget.
DO YOU HAVE A STANDARD PROFIT AND OVERHEAD RATE FOR A PROJECT?
  • Every project is different.  Our overhead and profit (OH&P) varies based on the size, difficulty, and schedule for each job. 
DO YOU BILL FOR PROJECT MANAGER TIME OR IS THAT INCLUDED IN YOUR OVERHEAD?
  • Artisan bills our projects at actual cost of labor for the person(s) on the project.  Project managers are charged to the job for the time that they spend working on that job.  Typically our project managers will work on multiple projects (in different phases of construction) at a time.  Our overhead covers the cost of our finance and senior management support staff plus home office equipment & materials.
EXPLAIN YOUR SUPERVISION STRUCTURE?  DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE DEDICATED TO PROJECTS OR ARE SUPERVISORS ASSIGNED TO MULTIPLE PROJECTS?
  • Management staff decisions are made on a job-by-job basis, but our preference is for a full time, dedicated superintendent on every project.  While they are primarily responsible for directing subcontractors, confirming quality, ensuring safety, etc. they also pick up their tools and work with our carpenters when time allows.  This ensures that our supervisors are not only on site while work is happening, but minimizing costs to you.
WHAT WORK DOES YOUR FIRM DO IN-HOUSE VERSUS SUBCONTRACTED?  
  • In addition to working superintendents, we employ carpenters and laborers as our field staff.   Many of our people have additional talents having worked in drywall, concrete, masonry, ceramic tile, and other trades.  However, we do not self-perform something just because we can.  We know someone who installs drywall all-day every day will produce a better quality product faster than someone that does it occasionally.  We also know that when projects are small and you need it done quickly the cost to get someone there is sometimes more expensive than the work itself.  You can expect our team to self perform part of the work, but exactly what parts will depend on many different factors.  Our ultimate goal is always to provide you with the best quality within budget and on schedule.
APPROXIMATELY HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE A NEW HOME BUILD?
  • All projects vary, but time for completion is really impacted by a client's decision making ability.  We've had clients who are slow to make decisions to the point that the project takes multiple years.  As part of the process, we will discuss a desired completion date and outline Artisan's needs from you to achieve that.
​​​​​​DO YOU TYPICALLY DO COST-PLUS OR FIXED-PRICE CONTRACTS?  DO YOU HAVE A STANDARD CONTRACT OR DO YOU USE AIA CONTRACTS?
  • We use both lump sum and cost plus contracts regularly.  More often than not, our clients are requesting a cost plus with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) to get the best of both worlds.  We utilize a standard American Institute of Architects (AIA) contract to be fair to both parties.
HOW PRECISE IS YOUR ESTIMATING?  WHAT METHODS DO YOU USE TO CONTROL COSTS?  AND HOW IS YOUR INVOICING STRUCTURED?   
  • Artisan estimates with real time quotes from our subcontractors.  The more detailed the information we have, the more accurate the estimate.  When we don't have final selections, we will often provide a price per square foot material allowance as a guide, but the final decision and control of the cost rests with you, the owner.  Invoicing is done monthly for work in place (and occasionally stored materials) against the schedule of values established prior to contract.  This process allows us all to see and understand how we are doing relative to the budget.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE CHANGE ORDERS?
  • All established contract allowances will be reconciled through a change order process.  For example, should you select a product below our allowance, then you will see 100% of this savings as a reduction to the guaranteed maximum price (GMP.)  Additionally, we will track changes to the scope of work if requested by an owner or architect.  When possible we'll price and present the cost impact before proceeding, but we also have the flexibility to work something time and material (T&M) so the schedule doesn't lag.  Frequently these T&M requests don't need to go through the complete change order process because our team has exceeded expectations and costs at the end of the project are below the guaranteed maximum price (GMP.)