Real Estate Background:
Tom earned a Real Estate Associates License in 1991 and his Brokers License 1993. His wife, Charlotte, joined him in 1992 while he was at John Hausam Realtors. They were a consistent Top Producing Team for the Tulsa Area for over 11 years .In 2002, Tom and Charlotte formed Hardgrave Realtors, a true “mom and pop”
operation. Their business focus has been on new construction and home remodeling
for the Tulsa, Sand Springs and Lake Keystone areas.
Tom’s Early Construction Background
In 1971 Tom took a job as cabinetmaker trainee at Jay Rambo Cabinets. After one year of working in all phases of the cabinet shop, he started working in sales and design, eventually becoming Vice President and General Manager.
In the fall of 1989 Tom and Charlotte opened a new cabinet company, targeting kitchen dealers from coast to coast.
In 1991, Tom sold the business and started his Real Estate and Building careers.
Hardgrave Builders is what’s called a “Design-Build” company. Since 1991, they have built over a one hundred homes, many of them custom, no two exactly alike, and all but a few were designed “In House”. The company builds between 4 and 7 homes a year. They are small many builders in
this area that offer “Cookie Cutter“ homes with options A, B or C with Exterior 1,2 or 3. Our company, designs each home to accomidate the home
owner's life style, taste and budget.
Each home is designed and built for the owners Lifestyle, Taste and Budget.
Because of the small number of homes he builds, Tom is able to spend more time supervising
and ensuring the highest quality of each and every home.
Since 1971, Tom has been involved in the building or sale of Tulsa area homes.
We like to visit with prospective homebuyers to find out what they want in a home, what their expectations are and whether or not they are up to being part of the building team. We don’t build a home for our customers but build a home with our customers.
Methods of building a custom home.
THE FIXED PRICE:
The owner approves the design, specification and price. Buyer presents proof of ability to pay for home when finished. A contract is signed and when all paper work is completed we start the home. .
Amy changes that are made in design or specs, after construction has begun require a change order and any additional cost is paid at that time.
The benefit of this method is that the buyer knows how much his going to cost when it is finished.
This method can either be buyer or builder financed.
THE FLAT FEE:
The owners approve the design, specifications and the estimated cost. Buyer will present proof of ability to make all payment in a timely manner.
This method can be either builder or buyer financed.
Builder will present buyers with an accounting of all monies spent and the original invoices on or before the 10th of each month, showing all expenses for the previous month including the builder’s fee. Buyers will reimburse builder for all expenses within 48 hours.
The builder is paid a fee for his services. The fee is paid in stages, according to the “Construction Progress Estimator” which breaks down the construction process into 29 stages, totaling 100%.
Because this is not fixed price contract there could be overruns which are the buyer's responsibility. And on the other hand there could be savings on certain estimated items and this would be to the benefit of the buyers. In essence this is an open-ended contract, and the final price will not be know until the house is finished.
The flat fee can vary from 10% up to 20% depending on the price of the home. The larger the house the lower the fee..
We don’t have stock plans, each home is designed for the customer..