About
Our process
A transparent path from the first conversation to the inspections at 3, 6 and 12 months after handover.
How we build
Five stages, from first sketch to the inspections after handover.
Stage 01: Design & Planning
- 01
Design & Planning
In our first meeting you'll get a chance to interview us, and we'll get a chance to find out what your vision is. If you haven't decided on a site for your home, we can help you with an inspection and offer advice on suitability. If you have a designer or architect, we engage with them from the beginning of the drawings to ensure building feasibility of the home design. We can also recommend top design & architectural firms that we have successful relationships with.
- 02
Pre-construction
Costar and client will discuss the budget and agree on a cost plus arrangement for transparency. We will also discuss specification options, set a budget, and sign a written contract. Costar uses CoConstruct (of Buildertrend) software for tracking progress and expenses. Final drawings are submitted for permits and approvals, and any issues are resolved before setting building start dates and schedules.
- 03
Construction
During site preparation, we will excavate and pour footings and foundation walls. We will build floor joists, frame and sheath the exterior, and order windows and doors. The client will review details such as flooring, cabinets, electrical, lighting, plumbing, HVAC, media control, and alarms. Costar supervises the crew and subtrades to ensure quality standards are met, and conducts rough-ins for plumbing and heating, as well as city inspections. The client may visit the site regularly. Ask your Costar consultant to confirm in writing the insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage that apply to your project. Regular updates on progress will be provided to the client, who can voice any concerns.
- 04
Handover
Upon completion of the home, the site will be cleaned and any outstanding issues resolved. A joint pre-occupancy inspection will be conducted, and the client will receive an orientation on the home's features and maintenance guidelines for the home warranty that applies to the project. The client will receive the keys and a project binder containing manuals, warranties, and a list of contacts for tradespeople and appliances installed in the home, and Costar will sign off.
- 05
Warranty
The company will conduct inspections at 3, 6, and 12 months to ensure internal and external systems are functioning correctly. Any necessary fixes will be addressed within a few days. We want to help new owners make full use of the home warranty that applies to their home.
Questions
Frequently asked questions about the Costar building process
How many stages does a Costar Construction project have?
A Costar Construction project runs through five stages: design and planning, pre-construction, construction, handover, and warranty. Each stage has its own meetings, documents and inspection points. The first stage starts with a meeting where the client describes the project and Costar reviews the site. The last stage covers inspections at 3, 6 and 12 months after the keys are handed over.
What happens in the design and planning stage of a Costar project?
In the design and planning stage, Costar Construction meets the client to hear the vision for the home and to answer questions about the company. If the client has no site yet, Costar can inspect candidate lots and advise on suitability. If the client already works with a designer or architect, Costar joins at the start of the drawings to check that the design can be built. Costar can also recommend design and architecture firms it has worked with before.
How does Costar Construction set the budget for a project?
Costar Construction sets the budget in the pre-construction stage. The client and Costar discuss the budget and agree on a cost plus arrangement, which means the client pays the actual cost of labour and materials plus an agreed fee, so every cost is visible. They also review specification options, set the budget and sign a written contract before the final drawings are submitted for permits.
Which software does Costar use to track progress and expenses?
Costar Construction uses CoConstruct, a construction management program that is part of Buildertrend, to track progress and expenses on each project. The client can see costs and schedule updates through the same system during the build. Costar starts using the software in the pre-construction stage, after the contract is signed, and keeps it running through construction.
When are permits submitted in the Costar building process?
Costar Construction submits final drawings for permits and approvals during the pre-construction stage, after the budget is set and the contract is signed. Any issue raised by the approving authority is resolved before Costar sets the construction start date and the build schedule. Costar's Kitsilano legal suite and laneway home projects both included the permit application in their scope.
What does the client decide during the construction stage?
During construction, the client reviews and chooses the details that are installed later in the build: flooring, cabinets, electrical layout, lighting, plumbing fixtures, heating and cooling equipment, media controls and alarms. Costar Construction excavates and pours the footings and foundation walls, frames the structure and closes in the exterior, orders windows and doors, supervises the crew and subtrades, and arranges the plumbing and heating inspections before the walls are closed, as well as the city inspections. The client may visit the site regularly and receives progress updates.
What does the client receive at handover from Costar Construction?
At handover, Costar Construction cleans the site, resolves any outstanding items, and holds a joint pre-occupancy inspection with the client. The client receives an orientation on the home's features and maintenance, the keys, and a project binder that holds the manuals, the warranty documents and a list of contacts for the tradespeople and the appliances installed in the home. Costar then signs off on the project.
Does Costar Construction inspect the home after the client moves in?
Yes. Costar Construction returns for inspections at 3, 6 and 12 months after handover to check that the internal and external systems are working as intended. Costar says any fix needed after these inspections is handled within a few days. Ask a Costar consultant to confirm in writing which warranty programme applies to a specific project, because coverage can differ by project type.
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