Building Process
When a customer first comes to Williams Homes, normally they have already purchased their land. The initial step in the planning phase is to establish a ballpark figure of their budget. Bo then likes to go to the site to visualize how the house will sit on the property. His designer, Cass Phillips, typically joins in on this meeting bringing everyone together on the same page. After that meeting, the customer usually works exclusively with Cass until the initial set of drawings is completed. Usually about a week and a half is dedicated to these preliminary plans and then the customer will sit down with Bo again. At this point they go over the plans and answer the “why” questions. At the conclusion of the meeting, he works to get together an initial bid and then the fine-tuning can begin.
Over the next few weeks, Bo will give his homebuyer a hard number to take to the bank. Once the interim financing is completed, they can begin to build. The first step in building is to meet with the foundation crew. They spray-paint the footprint of the house to ensure that it will sit exactly as the family wants. During this process, the preservation of trees and natural landscaping also play a determining factor in the placement of the house.
As the building progresses, other aspects of the home such as flooring, lighting and cabinetry, the family is given allowances that are included in the price of the home. If they decide to exceed their budget, they only pay the difference for the upgrade. Bo realizes dollars are always a big driver for the customer, what bells and whistles are important to them depends on their budget. If they come in under budget on some allowances, that money can be applied to other aspects of the house.
Most of Bo’s customers have their primary residence out of town or state, Bo stays in constant contact with the customer through phone and email. During the construction phase of their new home, he will email pictures of the progress. These pictures help the customer visualize the construction process until they are able to visit the site in person.