Friday, May 27

On Friday May 27, we designated this day to clean the office out, which was much needed in preparation for the design center we will be hosting for our newest project.  We took the time to go through many of the old literature and also samples and decided what needed to stay and what needed to go.  We now have a new refreshed and organized space to work in.  It is now less cluttered and much easier to find things.  After this was complete I took the time to finish checking in the remaining accessories, and then was sent to clean up at the model.  The model is just about finished and so we find it necessary to keep clean to make things easier as we finalize it before opening to the public.  My week has ended and I feel that I am finally getting the hang of things.  I feel like I can be more independent when it comes to work and I don't find myself having to ask as many questions for I understand things better now.  Some of my opinions and ideas have even been taken into consideration, and I think that they see that I want to help in any way that I can.  I get along great with everyone and I am looking forward to the rest of my experience here.

Thursday, May 26

On Thursday, May 26, I started my day in the office by working on a customer selection sheet for the binders we are creating.  I then made some phone calls in regards to some printing we intend to do and also contacted the vendor on that door I have mentioned previously in regards to getting some components for it.  I then took it upon myself to fix the problem we were having with the printer/ copier.  After I took the time to update various spec sheets.  Lastly, my day ended with checking in accessories intended to be used in our furnished model.

Wednesday, May 25

On Wednesday, May 25, i did a bit of house keeping by responding to various vendors who had contacted me back.  I then updated the schedule for the model in preparation for our office meeting.  We then had our office meeting.  Here we discussed the Blackwell Parks model features, reviewed the schedule and where we stood for opening day, the private party that we plan to host for the opening of the model, the public opening, farmers market details, in which we sponsor, and also the customer selection binders.  After the meeting I then took time to update various client specs and checklists. The day continued to fly by and I installed Illustrator to then begin working on more customer selection sheets.  My day ended by going to the model and cleaning up the floors by removing the dust and also marking spots on the wall for drywall repair.

Tuesday, May 24

On Tuesday, May 24, I started the day off by organizing paint samples and ordering ones that were missing.  After this task, I took the time to compose an email to send out to all of the vendors working with us on the newest development Blackwell Park.  This being the small development in which our model will be opening.  This email consisted of a coverletter informing all the vendors as to what we needed from them and when we would like to have everything in order to proceed in creating the customer selections binder.  Also included was a vendor sheet which simply organizes all the information, and a sample order form to give them an idea of our thoughts on how the binders are going to work between us, customer, and vendor.  I then took time to printout plans, specs, and selections checklists for a client meeting later in the day.  The take one brochures were then completed and printed to be distributed out to the various home sites.  Then after, I scanned in various documents for different projects.  After that task was complete, I took the time to create a sink selections page for our customer binders.  My day ended by developing tabs to organize the client binders.

Week 3 at Heartwood Custom Homes

Monday, May 23

On Monday, May 23, my morning started off emailing various vendors, thus trying to gather instructions for a door installation, and also in regards to finalizing some hardware.  I then updated specs based on the paint walk through conducted on Friday.  After this task was complete I worked on take one brochures to promote the home being constructed, and the business.  Each of these will be placed out at the home site for individuals to grab.  I then updated a projects punchlist for the deadline is quickly approaching and we have final components that need to be completed.  After, I took time to order cabinetry hardware for one of our current projects.  The day ended by going out to the new model job site and cleaning and hauling trash out to the dumpster, preparing it for its opening day in just a couple weeks.

Friday, May 20

On Friday, May 20, I got to go in the morning out to a job site to meet with the client and do a paint walk through as well as determining stair components.  It was nice to be able to interact and provide feedback to the client.  I then returned back to the office but was sent out to run some errands.  I delivered some furnace air filters to the model home being constructed and I returned back out to the job site from the morning to drop off some paperwork in regards to the stair baluster pattern and some samples of decking.  When I returned to the office I updated documents.  I then placed some phone calls to get instructions on how to install a particular door being used at one of the sites.  After that I was put in charge of printing a number of brochures that would be handed out at our local farmers market at our booth on each Saturday.  This was a very time consuming process, but I feel that they are very excited to see what business we will receive from the event.  Overall the day seemed to fly by and another week has been completed. After being here for two weeks I feel like I am finally grasping how things are done around here.  Yes days tend to be very hectic and things can sometimes be unorganized but some how my boss and his unorganized mess is organized to him and therefore he knows where everything tends to be at.  I feel that everyone finds that I am very helpful and that they can count on me for I like to get things done and try keeping to deadlines, and being on time. I really have enjoyed the experience thus far and can only imagine it will just keep getting better.

Thursday, May 19

On Thursday, May 19, I began my day by printing off some necessary documents for a trim walk through with a client.  I also had to email our granite vendor some floor plan documents so she is able to construct an estimate for one of our projects.  Then a bit later in the day I was taught how to do some plumbing expense charts, which allows the company to keep track of each job and the amount of money spent with each individual project.  I also sat down with the interior designer here, Wendy Langston, to establish a format for our customer binders for the new development Blackwell Park.  We are trying to manage the customers in providing them with an easy transition of start to finish.  This eliminating the middle man, that being the vendors.  With the binders the customers will be able to view products here in the office and then see pamphlets and make selections from these components and then we simply will get the information to the vendors, to make things simple.  I also sat in on a conference call regarding our door and window company so they had a better understanding of our intentions with what we wanted to provide in the binders.  I ended the day with constructing a brochure to one of our projects.

Wednesday, May 18

On Wednesday, May 18, I continued my work on preparing plans and such for the client brochures.  It seems these have taken me along time but I have encountered numerous problems with AutoCad and also CorelDraw throughout this whole process.  The problems have been primarily with CorelDraw because it has a habit of freezing and delaying because the documents being placed within, the floor plans, are large, therefore slowing it way down.  I have also struggled a bit with the layers of AutoCad and I am not sure if it is because the version I am using is older or if it is because I just haven't used AutoCad in awhile.  So becoming familiar again, seems I just need time.  Another task I worked on was updating our vendor checklist for our new neighborhood, updating all of their current information, so the client binder's process could begin.  I then took another look over the hardware specs that were worked on the day before and updated it with the information that was sent back from the vendor with proper dimensions.  I also prepared documents such as a project schedule, specs, and plan, and also some samples for a client meeting that was to be held at 4:30 p.m.  I filled paperwork, and also followed up on phone calls with vendors in regards to having accurate information in our documents.  The day ended by updating the estimation spread sheet I had been working on the day before simply by revising some of the numbers.

Tuesday, May 17

Tuesday, May 17, was just another day in the office. Today I did a paint spec and also took a plan and color coded with highlighters where each color of paint was to be put on the walls throughout the home.  This document was then sent to the homeowners as a preliminary paint spec packet that they could approve or make changes to.  I also worked on an estimation spread sheet that broke down all the various components of a project to get a better idea of cost.  Throughout the day I scanned and filed paperwork for document references. I also constructed a hardware document to then send to our vendor so that we were on the same page as for the details and also the number of each needed for the project.  My day ended by constructing some more of the brochures I have been working on.  Overall I feel like I am really developing my Excel skills and I think I am finally getting a good understanding of how the CorelDraw program works.  Also, the vendors have been nothing but nice and I have been receiving emails with welcomes and looking forward to meeting with yous.  I feel these are some great ways of networking and I look forward to keeping up with them throughout this experience.

Week 2 at Heartwood Custom Homes

Monday, May 16

On Monday, May 16, my day began by updating the weekly packet schedule.  After that was complete I moved on to the work that had been discussed during the meeting on Friday.  From the meeting, we discussed develpoing a punch list for a project that will soon come to an end and also updating another clients specs and project schedule.  So this paperwork was constructed and completed.  I then printed off appliance specs for the model home going up in their latest neighborhood.  These specs were then taken to the home where I met my boss and we measured the spaces in which they would be placed as well as set out hardware in proper locations for it to be installed.  After this task was complete I worked more on AutoCad hatching plans, and then developing client brochures as mentioned in prior posts. My day came to an end by running out and picking up some wooden doors and delivering them to there proper home site.  Overall entering my second week into the internship experience I feel that I am really grasping the company's means of organization, when it comes to their documents.  I also am grasping a better understanding of how important staying on schedule is.  Spec sheets are becoming very familiar and I now have well rounded knowledge of all that must be included in order to keep everyone on the same page.  I also feel that I am blending well with my coworkers for we can have conversations, and it doesn't feel uncomfortable or awkward.  In fact today was my birthday, and one of my coworkers was so sweet that when she returned from her lunch break she brought back a cupcake to me.  The little gestures go along way and I am feeling very accepted.

Wallcovering Photos from Thursday, May 12

I wanted to include some of the things I have been working on while at my internship, from the first week. These here are photographs taken by my boss and me of the wallcovering I had mentioned from Thursday, May 12.  You will see various pictures of the sample, as well as pictures of it once it has been put on the wall.  It is easy to compare the two and see the flawed areas once the wallcovering was applied to the wall.  We are still keeping in touch with the manufacturer to resolve the problem.

Friday, May 13

On Friday, May 13, I got into the office and again updated various Excel documents in regards to the jobs schedules and spec sheets.  I was then introduced to a program they used known as CorelDraw.  This program is very similar to InDesign or Illustrator.  I used this program to begin creating brochures that will be placed outside each construction home site. I also used AutoCad again, to continue hatching plans.  The day ended with a meeting to develop an outlined schedule for one of the jobs in progress, and also a punch list for a remodeling job wrapping up and becoming finalized.

Thursday, May 12

On Thursday, May 12, I got into the office and started the day of by updating all Excel documents in regards to schedules and spec sheets.  I also got to go into the field and visit a remodel project.  Here I photographed some wallcovering that was put up in the powder bath that was flawed and the client was unhappy.  Though directions were followed there was some sort of error and so we have been keeping in contact with the vendor in order to make things right.  I also took some time to hatch drawings in AutoCad.  I then printed out all updated floor plans and electrical plans for each of the ongoing projects for we have at least eight going at this time.  The day ended with a brief discussion on the client binders for the newest development so that we could get this idea up and running.

Wednesday, May 11

On Wednesday, May 11, I did a lot of updating in Excel on various spread sheets for clients.  This ranged from making changes to each project schedule as well as updating their latest spec sheets.  I also assisted in establishing a good trim, chair rail, and stair components for a client before a meeting later that existed.  On this day I also familiarized myself with the company's website, as well as the new development website and the blog.  This is a task I will be working on throughout this experience, I will add latest jobs and also keep information updated for visiting prospects.  I also reviewed various vendors that I woud be working with when developing the individual customer client binders.  Overall the day was just another learning day.

Week 1 at Heartwood Custom Homes

Tuesday, May 10

On Tuesday, May 10, I began my internship at Heartwood Custom Homes located in Carmel, Indiana.  It is ranked as one of the Top 25 Largest- Indianapolis-Area Custom Home Builders.  My experince began in the morning with a simple introduction to the staff.  After I was able to meet the team, I was then given a tour of the office building.  After the basics were taken care of my day of work began. It started with simlpe tasks of filing client binders to organize the paperwork involved with each project, and also composing informational folders for existing neighborhoods for people of interest to take.  I then was given the task to navigate their system for they keeps files very organized.  After that was complete I developed a new email address to include me within the company.  Then as the day progressed I did small jobs just to get into the swing of things.  One task was updating the latest weekly schedule, in which they develop each week to keep up on progress with each project taking place.  I also filled out various other excel documents to keep files updated.  Overall the day went well and they transitioned me in smoothly, so that I would not be overwhelmed.