THE DOCK DESIGN PROCESS
The Interview
This is a two-way qualification whereby we gather some basic information about your desired dock, including variables like, address, desired location of where your dock will go on the lot, preliminary budget considerations and why you see our services as a potential fit. If we both agree that our services will have value to you, we will go to the next step which is the discovery step. In order to move to the next step, we will collect a nonrefundable fee of $500. For this fee, you will be provided a comprehensive dock build kit, which assists you and us with the discovery process as well as provides you useful reference points about Duke Energy Shoreline Management Guidelines and the process from start to finish on how things happen when you are building a dock on Duke regulated shorelines. We will also provide you proforma contracts for our services so you are ready to move to the next steps should you choose.
The Discovery
During this step, our designer will go over some assumptions as derived from the current dock situation on your lot or if there is no dock, we will review the necessary location for the dock in relation to your current home or other. Prior to the discovery we feel it is essential that you complete the fill in questionnaire provided during the interview process in advance of this discovery meeting with our designer. Our designer will cover every question on this document and make sure each question is answered and fully documented. Some answers may not be available during the initial design process, but rest assured, each will be answered in some detail before your initial dock design is “unveiled.” Also, during this initial discovery, you may be shown inspiration docks to get the creative juices flowing or to emphasize a design element you would like integrated to your dock design. The designer will go over your considerations for the dock location on your lot. You will receive a follow up summary from our designer for what was discussed and any design considerations yet to be decided on.
Because the location of your dock on your lot has a significant impact on your dock design, at the end of this meeting or in a follow up shortly thereafter, you will be asked to locate your dock on your property. We will require that we receive a written confirmation of where you would like the dock located. Considering different lot dimensions and the regulations for where a dock can be located, we may need to defer you to a civil engineer that we work with to confirm different measurements on a survey. This will be discussed in detail at this meeting to confirm if several measurements are necessary from a survey. If the civil engineer is necessary, you will wait until you receive this document and can provide it to our designer before moving to the next step.
Finalizing the location of your dock
Only you as the owner can determine where your dock is to be located on your property. Duke will approve this once your permit application is processed. Prior to starting any dock design work, we will work with you to choose a location for your dock. At the point when you have been able to do this step, you will have the ability to contract our firm for your dock design.
Signing on the bottom line
We will provide you a proposal for our design services, which will outline all of the steps, deliverables, regularly scheduled meetings and when you can expect to have your initial “unveiling” of your new dock design. So you can see, there is great value in that $500 fee we charge up front and it provides for you to decide if it is even feasible before you outlay the design fee. Following signed paperwork and receipt of the retainer, we move to the conceptual design phase.
Conceptual Design
We will have another meeting to confirm and bring forward any assumptions since the contract is signed. The designer will have done some preliminary work on the design, but only to test some assumptions against the site plan as well the survey if applicable.
Initial Design “Unveiling”
By the time you are ready to see the initial design with all your wants, desires and must haves, you and the designer will have put the time in to get it right, or very close. We get that things do change and because the tools and process we use; we can quickly make changes and show you the 3D effect of what changed. That is why you are hiring us versus someone that does not have this process!
We are committed that your dock is perfect for all your considerations. Following this initial design unveiling, we will work back and forth with you to dial in the final tweaks. Should the initial design have not hit the mark due to changes you want that were not in the assumptions we documented, we will discuss next steps and what will be required, but we will keep moving forward with getting it correct. See terms for these circumstances in our contract language.
Final Design
You will be invoiced for the balance of the contract prior to receiving your final design in “print” and one without a watermark. Once that is paid, your Dock Portfolio Package will be delivered via electronic PDF. This package will allow you to review the design in great detail and if necessary request any last minute changes prior to soliciting a builder.
For reference only
Not part of Rendering Services service offerings, your next step may be going to a builder with your dock design, but it also could have you going directly to Duke or a permitting service instead of a builder. The permits through Duke are with you the owner, not the builder, but most builders provide the permitting process for a fee. Because the builder is required to pull permits with the county, which require working drawings, they will coordinate you getting the necessary county permits and working drawings for your dock. If you do choose to take your Dock Portfolio Package to a builder or multiple builders, please realize that these design documents will clearly state the protection of the intellectual property of the drawings to you as owner and our firm as designer. More on this in our terms and conditions.
At any step in this process if you are unclear of the next steps or what should be accomplished with each step, please ask! It is part of our value to make this process smooth for you for the parts we are contributing to… and beyond.
