Friday, June 24

On Friday, June 24, I took another whole day to dedicate to the content of the binder.  During this time I also talked with various vendors to get the final pieces and to be sure that we were both on the same page when it came to the content and also the order forms.  The only other content I believe we were missing was the trim and also the newly added appliances.  The master binder will be complete early next week and the plan is to get some of the binders out at the end of the week.  The only other material that needs to be complete are the edits to the order forms which correlate with the content of the binder.  Overall I feel that the week was successful.  I was also thanked for all the hard work I have been doing in order to complete this binder in an orderly manner.  My day ended by printing out plans to be placed in a job folder and taken to the model for visitors to flip through, to grasp an idea of our works and the new residence that are planned for the area.

Thursday, June 23

On Thursday, June 23, I took the entire day to work on content for the binder.  We are finally getting somewhere with it and will be able to compose the client binders very soon.  I have been working a lot with Illustrator, and while I am getting to know the basics I still feel some of the other Creative Suite programs are less complicated to use.  The material I have been creating are informational brochures that include selections in which the clients have to choose from.  Many of them include beauty shots of the materials and products to help the client grasp its appearance and final outcomes.  My day ended with printing out material in preparation for our grand opening of the model to the public.

Wednesday, June 22

On Wednesday, June 22, I began my day updating paperwork from spec sheets to construction schedules and also current job schedules.  I then made revisions to an opening letter that will be placed into the customer selections binder.  We then had an office meeting to discuss the beginning of the new projects in Blackwell Park where our model just opened.  Also the office binder was presented to the team to see if edits had to be made and to see if we were all on the same page.  We then had our vendor from Westfield Lighting come in and he presented to us our online lighting store that the customers will have access to, to develop a lighting wish list and later an order form for all the lighting within their home.  By this time half of the day was over and I began reviewing all the necessary edits.  I contacted those vendors that needed to edit some of their information and I began working on other pieces to insert in.  The day seem to go by quickly.

Tuesday, June 21

On Tuesday, June 21, I printed out numerous informational emails in regards to a clients thoughts on the start up of their home and what they are looking for.  I then updated various specification sheets and also job schedules.  I then met with the interior designer to discuss the format of the order forms we had received for the selections binder to see if any sort of edits needed to be made.  The rest of my day was spent working on binder content for we are in desperate need of completing very soon for we have jobs that are beginning.  My day ended by constructing a template office selections binder so that it could be a hard copy of the customer binders to come.

Week 6 at Heartwood Custom Homes

Monday, June 20

On Monday, June 20, I got into the office and printed out various paperwork from emails I had received in regards to some updates on some of our jobs.  I then began really organizing the customer selections binder and writing down the missing pieces.  After, I met with the interior designer, Wendy Langston, to review the binder, and to get feedback for she is the one who will be presenting the binder and using it in order to get the proper components ordered for each individual client.  When we were complete I took it upon myself to start working on some of the missing pieces these including cabinetry, paint, and brick selections.  The day ended by me contacting those vendors we were still missing work from.

Friday, June 17

On Friday, June 17, I took the time in the morning to meet with my boss to discuss various paperwork, for all week we both have been in and out of the office.  We were just establishing where we stood that way we were on the same page going into next week, where it should be less hectic.  After I did this, I spent the rest of my day at the model assisting the designer in making the final touches to the space before its big reveal to the public.  We had some minor shopping to finish up in order to successfully achieve the look we were going for.  The rest of the day was spent going room by room and arranging and completing all necessary tasks so that the overall looks for each were complete.  Today also all wall pieces were hung which was very time consuming.  As the day came to an end I feel that the house really came together and I felt I was very helpful to the designer.  I truly enjoyed her asking my opinions on things making me feel very included in the design.  This week overall I think was the best week I have had since my internship started.  I was given the challenge to manage my time accordingly between office work and helping out at the model.  I was also given the opportunity to express my feeling when it came to creating a polished room.  Also it is a great feeling to know that I was apart of the design and that the public will be able to view what we have done and with their positive feedback we will get a sense of gratitude and accomplishment.

Pictures will be posted shortly so that you can see the final reveal of the space.

Thursday, June 16

On Thursday, June 16, I started out in the office completing various paperwork.  I also began printing out all of the completed components for the customer selections binder, to get a feel for what we were still missing.  After this the rest of my day was spent assisting the designer in establishing necessary accessories we still needed and addressing what was working and not working for the space.  We also began deciding where artwork and mirrors were going to be placed for Friday was the day in which we had to make sure everything was complete.  I also took the time to steam all of our fabrics from draperies to bedding so that it was more presentable for Saturday when we will be having our private party reveal.

Wednesday, June 15

On Wednesday, June 15, I again started my day in the office.  I started it off by emailing over our completed entry form and picture for the Parade of Homes.  I then completed the laminate selections sheet and printed it off to be placed in our binder.  After that I contacted the fireplace vendor for we discussed the details of the brochure we were wanting to be placed into the customer selections binder.  The rest of my was spent over at the model helping the designer begin getting organized and placing items in which were purchased the day before in places in which we thought they belonged.

Tuesday, June 14

On Tuesday, June 14, my morning started off in the office contacting vendors to getting finalized components of the selections binder complete.  I then composed a selections page for laminate counters to be placed into the selections binder.  After that I was sent out to take pictures of the exterior of model in which will be opening this weekend, but were necessary to be sent in with our Parade of Homes entry form.  After I met with our interior designer there at the house, for the interior still needed to be staged for our grand opening.  The furniture was then delivered and we got a feel for where we felt pieces fit best.  We then took the rest of the day to go out shopping and in search for necessary accessories, and furniture to begin constructing a finalized space.

Week 5 at Heartwood Custom Homes

Monday, June 13

On Monday, June 13, I returned from my vacation feeling refreshed for a new work week.  The first thing I completed was catching up on my emails.  I then worked on creating a powder bath vanity selections sheet.  For our deadline had been bumped on the binder leaving a bit more time to get everything complete before introducing it to the clients.  I then was sent out to retrieve a pool permit in regards to one of the jobs we are currently on.  Later in the day I took time to update various job schedules.  I then printed out specs, plans and a specs checklist for a meeting that would be happening this evening.  My day ended by filling out paperwork for our entry in the Parade of Homes.

Friday, June 3

Friday, June 3, my family vacation began and I will be out of the office until the 12.  I do still plan however to keep in touch with the vendors that do contact me.

Thursday, June 2

On Thursday, June 2, I began my day catching up with work emails.  I then organized every vendor that needed to be contacted based on our meeting from yesterday.  I took the time to contact each with the specifics in which were still necessary from their end.  I then continued revising documents, marketing material, in which I created for the binders.  I also placed phone calls in order to get an irrigation permit set.  Later in the day I had to go retrieve the permit for the contractor to begin digging for the system at the model.  I was also given an assignment to find a mirror for the remodel job, for the one they are really wanting could not get here in time, and they are having a party this weekend.  So I ventured out and located a mirror that will satisfy their taste and need for the time being.  This was nice for I was given a budget and it was good to have a bit of a challenge, considering most of our class assignments never really tend to have a certain amount allotted to spend.
Today, I realized all the hard work that goes into running your own business.  It seems as though it is non stop 24/7, and you can never catch a break, but you can't let the stress defeat you, for there is a lot of people typically counting on you.  It is great to see that there are always flaws and no one job is ever PERFECT.  It is nice to be apart of the behind the scenes instead of just seeing the final outcomes.

Wednesday, June 1

On Wednesday, June 1, I started my day off by going to our soon to be model, to sweep floors before the carpet was to be put down.  After, I headed to the office to have our weekly meeting.  Prior to the meeting I created a small packet of the information we had from vendors to compose our selections binder.  During the meeting we reviewed what we had from each of our vendors and discussed in detail what we were still needing and looking for.  After the meeting I updated various documents from spec sheets to schedules.  Towards the end of the day, I began revising some of the marketing materials to be placed within the binder, that we had discussed.  Today seemed to go by fast, and I think it is because we are in so called "fire drill" mode as my boss calls it.  He is super stressed for we are trying to make major deadlines, and he I think feels very overwhelmed for he just wants things to work out perfectly.  So I lent a hand where ever I could, to help out.

Tuesday, May 31

On Tuesday, May 31, I got into the office and immediately began emailing vendors to see where we stood in regards to getting samples and information for our client selection binders.  I then reviewed cabinetry and  closet documents with my boss to verify they were correct, to hand over to the trim guys.  Later I took time to update various spec sheets.  In the afternoon I worked on organizing and assembling a remodel binder due to the project being just about complete.  Overall the day seemed to fly by.

Week 4 at Heartwood Custom Homes

Monday, May 30

On Monday, May 30, I was given a free day, for our office was closed for the holiday.