PROCESS
For most locations in southern and midcoast Maine, GO Logic can deliver one of our predesigned, prefabricated houses as a move-in-ready, turn-key package. For other locations in the Northeast, we will provide a panelized building shell and partner with a local general contractor to construct the building’s foundation and finishes. To ensure that planning and construction proceed smoothly and predictably, every GO Home project follows this carefully designed sequence:
1. GO Home Selection
The first step is to pick out your new home! The GO Home cuts through the complexity of building a new home by giving you choices of fully developed house plans that reflect our skilled designers’ best work. Our entire range of homes meet the rigorous standards of Passive House and are built in our new facility in Belfast, Maine. Each of these GO Homes gives you the option to add various amenities like a 2-car garage or wrap-around deck. After narrowing down your choices, you can then further customize the home with options like cedar shingles, hardwood flooring, or shaker-style doors.
2. Securing Land
An ideal location is flat and dry with a southern exposure. This allows us to install the most cost-effective super-insulated, slab foundation system, though we can customize the foundation to fit the location. Building a passive house is about utilizing passive solar heat gain in the winter, so a build site with some southern exposure is a big plus. Gathering as much information about your site will help us more through the design phase quickly. Site surveys with boundaries and topographical data and utility locations are required before we can begin design in earnest and are the responsibility of the client. GO Logic will provide support in finding a surveyor as needed.
If your land is less than 45 mins from Belfast or Portland, Maine, GO Logic may provide turnkey general contracting services. Outside of that radius, GO Logic will provide the panelized, passive house shell and help you hire a local general contractor (GC) who will prepare the site, and complete the shell. We have an ever-growing network of qualified general contractors in New England to ensure that your home is built to our quality, health and efficiency specifications.
3. Starting the Process with GO Logic
Please take a moment to complete this survey, and we will be in touch with our team to invite you into our community of clients, starting with an introductory group call. Every week, we host small group sessions with clients like you to discuss our services, our process, and our production calendar, and answer any questions you may have at that time. Following that call, we will have one-on-one meetings to discuss the details of your specific land, build site, and overall project.
4. Consulting Phase and Deposit
This next step is paying a non-refundable, $5,000 deposit and entering a Consulting Agreement. You’ll work with the GO Logic team to create a design brief, scope out your project, and build a preliminary budget. At this stage, we will meet with you to discuss which GO Home you would like to build, examine your site and its specific considerations, consider the size and scope of additional outbuildings, porches, and decks, and address any additional questions you may have at that time. If your site is within one hour of Belfast, Maine, we can conduct a site visit either during this phase or later in the Design Phase. The deliverables in the consulting phase are a Design Brief, Preliminary Project Budget, and Design Proposal and Contract.
5. Design Phase
Once you have executed the Contract & Proposal for the Design Phase, we will initiate that work. The Proposal builds upon the Design Brief established during the Consulting Phase and serves as the basis for the design contract. Once signed, we can begin design in earnest! Even though our GO Home is prefabricated, each one still requires customization to the site, foundation systems, energy systems and your unique taste. The Design Phase includes schematic design for any additional structures added to the GO Home, site planning and permitting/code research, design development which includes energy modelling, structural engineering, and construction documentation, as well as estimating to provide you with a contract value for the construction of your GO Home.
6. Construction Phase
Now that we’ve got all the necessary approvals and funding in place, construction begins! Though the above may read like a lengthy process, it can only take a few months to get to this phase. And going forward, our GO Home process is even more streamlined. We order the triple-pane, tilt/turn German glazing package shortly after we receive your construction contract which allows us to put your project on the production schedule for panelization production and delivery. During the time we are waiting for your German windows and doors to arrive, the general contractor will begin sitework and build the foundation. When the windows and doors arrive, we can build your shell package with our carpenters delivering and assembling them on your foundation within a few short weeks.
7. Completion & Move in!
On a typical project—your home will be complete, performance-tested, and ready for move-in within a year.