FAQ's
Our office is located in Balsam Lake, WI, and we serve the surrounding communities. For select projects and clients, we routinely travel up to two hours from our office going into Eastern Minnesota and further into Western Wisconsin. For locations beyond this radius, we evaluate projects on a case-by-case basis to ensure we can deliver the highest quality service and attention to detail.
What areas does NCS service?
We specialize in design-build custom homes, with a particular focus on waterfront properties. Our expertise also extends to major and minor remodels of these properties, as well as the construction of accessory structures such as bunkhouses, boathouses, pole sheds, and garages.
What types of projects do you specialize in?
Our design process is centered around collaboration ensuring your vision comes to life. We begin with an in-depth discovery phase to understand your needs, preferences, and lifestyle. From there, we create initial design concepts, refine them through your feedback, and finalize detailed plans. This step-by-step process creates a seamless transition from ideas to reality.
What is your design process like?
Yes, you are welcome to bring your own architect, interior designer, or design team, as well as any existing plans to the project. We encourage homeowners to utilize all available resources to help bring their vision to life. Our team will work collectively with your design professionals until the project aligns with your goals, timeline, budget and our construction standards.
Can you bring your own Architect, Design Team, or Plans?
Our estimation process is transparent and open book, ensuring you have full visibility into where every dollar is allocated. We typically go through several rounds of estimating to fine-tune budgets and allowances, ensuring accuracy before construction begins. This approach allows us to align expectations and create a smooth process throughout the project.
What is your estimating process like?
We use a combination of in-house carpenters and trusted professional subcontractors to bring your project to life. Once we have an approved contract or concept in place, our typical ramp-up time is 60-90 days for new construction projects and as little as 30 days for remodels or accessory structures. This timeline ensures we’re ready to begin work efficiently and on schedule. We can also be actively defining design and budget during the ramp up phase.
How soon can you start a project?
While we don’t offer in-house financing, we work closely with a trusted network of reputable lenders we’ve partnered with on previous projects. We also have the necessary contracts, reporting, and communication systems in place to ensure smooth coordination with your personal lender, making the financing process as seamless as possible for you.
Do you offer financing or work with lenders?
The timeline for our projects can vary significantly depending on the size and complexity of the build, as well as other factors such as weather and material availability. However, here are our typical timeframes for various types of projects:
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Large or Custom Homes: 10-16 months
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Small to Medium Homes: 6-10 months
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Major & Minor Remodels: 3-6 months
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Accessory structures: 1-6 months
These timelines provide a general idea, and we will always work closely with you to establish a more precise schedule tailored to your specific project.
What is your typical timeframe for completing projects?
We maintain a strong commitment to quality throughout the entire construction process. Our approach includes site supervisor visits, project manager site inspections, and up to six quality audits performed by our dedicated quality control team at key stages of the project. Additionally, we work exclusively with top-tier vendors and subcontractors and use only the highest quality materials to ensure that every detail of your project meets our rigorous standards. By doing so we feel comfortable giving a lifetime warranty on craftsmanship.
How do you ensure quality throughout the build?
How do you communicate during the build?
We prioritize transparent and efficient communication throughout the project using BuilderTrend, an industry-leading web-based project management platform. This allows our clients to have real-time access to project schedules, logs, photos, financials, and more. Additionally, we establish recurring meetings with homeowners to ensure they are updated on major milestones, key developments, and any upcoming needs or decisions, keeping everyone on the same page every step of the way.
Can I make changes to my design after construction has started?
Yes, changes to the design can be made after construction begins. However, any modifications will require a formal change order to document the scope of work alteration. Change orders may result in price adjustments—either an increase or, in some cases, a decrease. You will have full control over approving or denying any design or scope of work change.
