WHO AND/OR WHAT IS HARMONY GREEN HOMES, INC. ?
HGHI has been in business 19 years.
HARMONY GREEN HOMES, INC. is a registered, Wisconsin corporation which designs, sells, constructs, performs site studies and design, and general contracts modular structures of all types. It also has a totally independent financial affliation with SANBORN FINANCIAL which arranges financing for many of it's clients and projects.
HGHI can perform complete "turn key" construction; or, it may sell only the structure involved to qualified buyers or contractors. HGHI via its' MASTERS LA and P subsidiary also offers professional land planning and landscape architectural services.
Qualifications: James R. Sanborn is a registered landscape architect (Wisconsin lic. # 78). HGHI is a member of the Madison Area Builders Association (MABA); the Mid - Wisconsin Homes Builders Association (MWHB); the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA); The National Association of Homes Builders (NAHB); and, the National Commercial Builders Council (NCBC). HGHI is also a Wisconsin Department of Commerce certified contractor (# 866490) and a U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) approved builder (ID#0351). HGHI also participates in full Energy Star building certification and is certifiable as a practioner of Green Building. The company carries full time general contracting, liability, workmans compensation and unemployment insurance.
HOW DOES HGHI SERVE YOU ?
HGHI subcontracts its modular structures exclusively with Dickinson Homes, Inc. of Kingsford Michigan (www.dickinsonhomes.com). All structures are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce via it's normal approval processes. Homes are always designed and built (and guaranteed as well) to meet the Wisconsin Unified Dwelling Code or UDC. Dickinson Homes also transports and rough sets all structures. All local work is subcontracted to local companies for work such as; excavation and foundations, decks and garages; plumbing and electrical connections under the joists; heating and air conditioning and general interior completion and finish work such as final drywall, installing some doors; some trim; and flooring. This keeps much of the work in the local community and allows HGHI to respond to local conditions and regulations directly. Again, all of this work must meet the UDC as a bare minimum standard. A lot of local suppliers and subcontractors are used because, in the event of some future small problems, the installer will be right there to fix it. This approach is in effect the same as hiring a local builder except that in comparison HGHI saves substantial amounts of time and money while offering greatly enhanced quality throughout the entire process from inception to completion.
WHY DICKINSON HOMES, INC. EXCLUSIVELY ?
There are five major reasons why HGHI contracts exclusively with Dickinson Homes, Inc.. You cannot get these qualities and services from a local builder; or, if available at all, only with addtitional cost and/or additional time; and certainly they won't be guaranteed.
First, Dickinson Homes, INC. (DHI herein after) will custom build whatever structure or home is desired by the client. There is no additional charge for this at any time. Secondly, DHI is the only modular building company in the region that includes a limited 15 year structural warranty to the original owners on all structures it builds. In addition, there are about another 15 warranties for products furnished to DHI and HGHI by suppliers for things like shingles, cabinets, all doors, windows, and more. Some of these are lifetime in duration. Third, DHI has complete in -house registered professional engineering and architectural design teams to prepare all final drawings, write final specifications and to oversee all aspects of in - factory construction and on - site delivery and rough set. All structures are also inspected by the BSF Corporation of Madison, Wisconsin a totally independent, internationally known third party who must certify that all aspects of the Wisconsin UDC, as well as all aspects of the HUD, BOCA, CODA and other commercial or industrial codes have been met BEFORE a unit is even released for shipping. Both HGHI and Dickinson Homes, Inc. are Energy Star certified and compliant as well as certifiable as to Green Building standards. Fourth, DHI also has specific employees assigned only to seeing that the customers are satisfied and to assist with all warranty claims. There is yet another large customer service section specializing in helping clients discover and implement exactly what they want. This unit includes a complete sales center with lots of the most popular options on display as well as a 7 building Village Complex and Design center for client use. Fifth and lastly, all DHI structures are delivered with complete Handbooks describing all aspects of the parts, systems and methods used in building the structure. This includes pictures, diagrams, discussions, options and most importantly specific descriptions of anything that is left to be done on the structure after it is delivered - all backed up by the ability to call or e - mail DHI engineering on questions.
THE DESIGN PROCESSES (briefly):
All Design work by HGHI, MASTERS LA and P and Dickinson Homes, Inc. is 100 % customized for each individual client. The catalouges and brochures available offer ideas and thoughts and give a sense of each type of basic design. However, all the plans and pictures are merely starting points for discussion. Each client is treated individually. Your wishes are our command.
Initial design work may be quite simple and consist of a site visit, review of some possibilities from the catalog; review of options, upgrades, additional amenities available; and, maybe a few lose sketches or floor plans to put thinking on paper. At that time HGHI will also try to identify needs to be addressed in the future such as zoning, site access, septic systems, site grading and the like. Usually, there is no charge for these services.
| Further refinement of design for site, interior and exterior, floor plans, specifications, and whatever else may be needed is done only with a written, project specific, agreement for services. This requires an initial retainer fee. For retainerl fees paid, all remaining design work required to bring the project to fruition will be completed by Harmony Green Homes, Inc., Master LA and P, and Dickinson Homes, Inc. All design and specifications will be prepared and reviewed with the client and subsequently reviewed and revised as often as necessary at no additional charge. All work prepared is considered to be "instruments of service" and is owned solely by HGHI to use exclusively with you. At the end of the design process, if the structure or home is purchased from HGHI, all or a substantial portion of the retainer fee will be refunded or credited against the final price of the structure or home.
THE SALES PHASE:
After the design and specification as well as other details are resolved and approved by the client, a final agreement or contract is drawn up and signed with Harmony Green Homes, Inc. for the construction of the structure as well as for all site work and services. All prices for the structure are guaranteed for 120 days from the time of signing - more than enough time for delivery. Before the sale is completed, all plans, elevations, details, and specifications are reviewed by the owners and every sheet is specifically signed by them to indicate their approval. At the time the final sales agreement for the structure is signed, a 20 % downpayment is required. The remaining 80 % must be paid at the time the structure is delevered and rough set. In addition to the downpayment, another essential and required document is a letter from a financial institution to HGHI and DHI stating that the funds to complete the sale are on hand and irrevocably committed to paying the remaining 80 % at delivery. This may seem to some to be unusual or to reflect a lack of trust. Neither is true but rather the experienced reality is that deaths, divorce, and other client changes occaisionally do happen even in the few months of construction and preparation. Neither HGHI nor DHI can stop or change plans once production is started. There is no way to make "other" arrangements for sale since each structure is customized for one client. The structure sale always includes the 15 year limited structural warranty from Dickinson Homes, Inc. to the original owners. Upon final payment, the required unconditional lien release is given to the owner.
Site Design: Some basic site design is always required for every structure. The owners may have this done by others but, HGHI must approve all site design specifically. If MASTERS LA and P are contracted for site work design, owners (with the help of HGHI of course)are required to provide necessary surveying and specific lot layouts. Where municipal sewer and water are not available, the owners must also provide soils data and an wastewater disposal paln approved by the State of Wisconsin. On some, but not all, sites topography including elevations, trees, existing buildings, utility lines, access and other information is required. The costs for getting annd providing the required information is totally the owners. All information belongs to the owner, but is used by Harmony Green Homes, INC.
Note: in all design agreements, all usual expenses are billed separately as incurred. These include, but are not limited to prints and printing, mail, telephone, mileage and perhaps meals. A separate "expense" charge may also be made for time in attendance at required public meetings benefitting the owners.
Taxes, Permits and Public Fees: All Wisconsin sales and use taxes are included in the sale price of all structures and these are subsequently paid to the State by Dickinson Homes, Inc..
All local building permits, utility service, access, and other local fees are paid directly by the owner with assistance from HGHI. These fees are not included in design or sales fees.
MOBILIZATION: The delivery and rough set (including jack posts) of the structure is performed by Dickinson Homes, Inc. These services are all included in the sale price. HGHI will subcontract a suitable hydraulic crane for use in setting the structure, at cost, to be paid directly by the owners to the operators or HGHI as the case may be.
GENERAL CONTRACTING: While general contracting is a service provided by Harmony Green Homes, Inc., it is a separate exercise distinctly different from design, sales and even mobilization. All general contracting requires a separate agreement with accompanying different performance criteria and understandings between the owner and HGHI.This document always involves more discussion and negotiation than the design and sales agreements.
"General contracting" deals with all matters of the project other than design, structure construction in the factory, and mobilization. There are three aspects; specifications and hiring subcontractors; coordinating and overseeing construction on behalf of the owner; and paying for materialsand labor furnished to the project by the subcontractors on time. There is a very large and important element of coordinating and directing the ballet of building including the structure and all subcontractors. A very important aspect of general contracting is insurance including not only liability, but also workman's compensation and unemployment compensation including for all of the subcontractors. And a final element is working with clients and subcontractors to obtain the desired results. General contracting deals with everything on - site from fencing and porta potties to excavating and basements; garages and decks; interior finishing such as flooring, painting, hanging fixtures and more.
Agreements for general contracting include a set percentage fee plus expenses agreements. There are no established and published general contracting fees or percentages because each job is significantly different from it's predecessors. Again, the agreement must be signed before any work begins. Periodic payments are often made based either on a construction loans "draws" stipulations or upon completion of sections of work. HGHI insists that all subcontractors are to be paid within 30 days of completing their work - no exce[tions. No fees or payments may be withheld at any time for any reason.
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