General Contracting

Our GC Process

Collaboration with Alternate General Contractors:

If a general contractor has referred a customer to MCR Design-Build for preconstruction services, we will not offer our general construction services to that customer unless written consent has been given by same general contractor. While we enjoy working closely with our customers throughout the entire build process, and would be glad to offer consultation throughout the construction of any project we designed, we also greatly enjoy working with other GCs on their jobs, and would never undermine that privilege. It is our pleasure to assist fellow builder's preconstruction processes with our design services. 

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Overview:

We subscribe whole-heartedly to the design-build process. For more information on how we define that, see our "Why Design-Build?" page. As a general rule, we will only perform as GC on a project that we have designed, or have been in very close contact with the preconstruction process. We prefer to open the conversation on the ground level and help guide the project from point A to point Z. If you are in the beginning stages of establishing your vison for your project, this is where we'd recommend you to our "Full Design Packages" or "Draftsman Services" subpages. ​​

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Moving on to general contracting more specifically, our role as your GC is to: ​

• Submit Permit Documentation

• Instigate Material Procurement

• Maintain Project Schedule​​

  • Coordinate Subcontractors​

  • Manage Draw Schedule

  • Schedule Inspections

• Ensure Jobsite Safety and Cleanliness

• Provide General Labor

• Foster Communication

  • Bi-Weekly Customer Updates​

  • Photo Documentation

  • Milestone Meetings

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Pricing:

For these services, we utilize a Fixed Fee payment structure. So, in the preconstruction stage of a project, we will compile subcontractor bids, material quotes, permit fees, and any other project costs on a line item quote for the customer to review. We aim for as much detail as possible in our quotes. Once the total cost of the project is determined, our fixed GC fee of 12% of the total value is figured into the contract. This fee covers our risk, overhead, and profit for the job. At this point, we'll have a sit down meeting to comb through the contract to answer any questions and/or concerns that might come up. We'll rinse and repeat that process until full clarity is achieved by all parties (Designer, GC, Subcontractors, Suppliers, End-Customer(s)) for the entirety of the project. 

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Change Orders:

The term "change order" certainly comes with a negative connotation, but our hope is to turn that around. Change orders are a perfectly common occurrence, especially in larger jobs. We work hard to plan in as much detail as we can muster in the beginning stages of a project, but as it's often said; "Man plans and God laughs". We feel that the fear surrounding change orders is usually in the mystery of when they might pop up. So, by naming the circumstances that allow a change order below, we hope to alleviate the bulk of those fears:​

• An explicitly requested change in scope by the customer, including a change in:

  • Design​

  • Material

  • Schedule (such as expediting, delaying, or reordering)

• Unforeseen Existing/Site Conditions

  • Hidden conditions discovered during construction that impede progress or require additional work (such as rotten framing, mold, asbestos, obstacles, etc.)​

  • Soil or foundation issues

• Code Updates (Not a common issue, but it happens)

• Material & Supply Issues

  • Substitution of materials may be required in the event that a product is discontinued​

  • Material price slippage only when material pricing exceeds contract allowance. This will be outlined in the contract and usually only applies to volatile materials. 

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**This list is not exhaustive, but attempts to capture the spirit in which change orders are to be rendered**

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