While getting three bids might seem to be
the best way to secure a low price, it usually does not work. Three main
reasons are:
* Unless your plans and specifications are 100%
complete, builders must guess in order to complete the bid. This will
leave you comparing apples to oranges. It will be impossible to determine
which one is really the lowest. What often happens is that people select
the least expensive builder only to find out that they do not like what
the builder chose for them. By the time they have changed the
specification, the house cost more than they expected.
* The people who really lose out, however, are the
ones who don’t find out about the use of substandard quality labor and
materials until after the have moved into their new home. While they
worked hard to get the best price, they now discover that the house is not
what they expected and the utility and maintenance costs are higher than
other comparable homes. It is important to remember that the initial
purchase price is only part of the true cost of owning a home.
* The fact is, if plans and specifications are
properly drawn & executed, three competent and reputable builders will
provide similar bids. I recommend that you research the best builders and
find the one that you feel you can connect with. Partner with them to
determine what your budget is, select a site, design your home, secure
financing, build and service your home. Building a home requires a major
investment of both money and time. When comparing builders, finding a
reputable builder you trust is much more important than relying on the
lowest bid.
The following are the top ten qualities
that you should consider when you evaluate the potential builders of your
new home:
Strong Reputation: Check references not only of recent
customers, but also of people who have lived in their homes for a number
of years. Poor quality may not be apparent immediately.
Experienced: This is a major investment for you. Make
certain that the builder has the experience and qualifications necessary
to build your home the way that you want it. You don’t want someone
learning on the job.
Trustworthy: You want someone who you can trust. You will
be relying on the builder to make hundreds of important decisions, and you
need to be confident that he will treat you fairly. If you have the
feeling that you are going to have to check everything he does, I would
recommend that you find another builder.
Financial Strength: The last thing that you want is to be
dragged into a fight between a builder and his creditors. Before you give
a builder any money, check with their bank.
Understanding and Caring: Building a custom home is a dream
come true. You’ve probably spent years thinking about it. Now you want
to work with someone who will take the time to help make your dream become
a pleasant reality rather than a nightmare. You probably will change your
mind during the process and the really good builders will try to work with
you, while controlling costs.
Encourages You To Inspect Homes Under Construction: When a
builder is really proud of his work, he will want you to see it under
construction. Look at the quality of the framing, the insulation, the
plumbing, the windows, and the craftsmanship and attitude of the
subcontractors. This means much more than a glossy brochure.
Efficient Building Process In Place: Time is money. While
the building process is complicated and involves hundreds of people and
components, and efficient computerized scheduling system will help the
process move quickly and save you money. Be suspicious of a builder who
says he keeps everything in his head or on a clipboard.
Detailed Specifications: The best builders go out of their
way to make certain that you both agree on exactly what will be in the
home. They would rather lose a potential customer at the beginning of the
process than have a surprised or disappointed customer later. If you don’t
know exactly what you are getting, ask for it in writing.
Long Term Relationships With Quality Subcontractors: Most
builders subcontract out much of the actual building process. The best
builders have strong long-term relationships with their subcontractors.
That is the only way to maintain a high level of quality and service.
Builders who constantly switch subcontractors in search of the lowest
price, often end up with lesser quality and longer building times.
Instead of being partners in building a quality home, the subcontractors
see themselves more as mercenaries, and they lack the pride that is
necessary to build a great home.
Good Communicator: Part of building a home without having
any unpleasant surprises is having a builder that has strong communication
skills. They must be willing and able to constructively discuss any
issues tat may surface while building your home.
You like your neighborhood. You have a reasonable commute. Your kids are in good schools.
Your friends live nearby. Your house would be great "if only"… When the "if only's" start it
may be time to think about remodeling. Fixing the problems or shortfalls with the house is
what remodeling is all about. You might want to think about a new home, but that's not for
everyone. The lots are typically smaller, and you don't have the mature landscaping that your
lot has. Also, the cost to reproduce what you have may be prohibitive. When you add the cost
of moving, the real estate fees, points on a new mortgage, pulling up roots and starting all
over again, it may not be for you. The neighborhood and the home you're in may not be worth
changing if you can find a way to tailor it to your personal lifestyle. As professional
remodelers, we may be able to help you decide if remodeling makes sense for you.
First, remodeling almost always increases the value of your home. Nobody wants to buy a
home that hasn't been kept up or has an outdated kitchen or bath or isn't energy efficient.
The payback value of your improvements should be secondary to your personal preference and the
feeling you will gain from living in a house that meets your personal lifestyle and needs. Just
eliminating family turf wars and traffic jams over the family room or bath rooms makes your home
more pleasant and enjoyable. That return on "value" may be difficult to determine.
There are guide lines that most remodelers can share with you that can show you what your type
of remodeling can add to the value of your home, but don't let that be the determining factor.
The value that a remodeling project can add to your home is a local phenomenon, subject to local
preference. A lot will depend on your neighborhood, and the cost, age, and style of your home.
The answer is yes. The improvement should fit both the neighborhood and the house. It needs
to blend into the house, not be too ostentations, or stand out from your neighbors. The
improvement should be appropriate for the house. Remodeling a bath in a year-old house may not
make any sense, but closing in a car port in a neighborhood where everyone has a garage is
almost a necessity. A professional remodeler can advise you on what makes sense.
Take a few minutes to look around the whole house. What do you like about it, and why?
What's wrong with it and what would you change if you could? Ask other family members. You
may be surprised to find that they have different concerns and ideas. Make a list and start
writing things down - things to add or take away. Decide which ones are the most important
and try to rank them. Start collecting ideas out of magazines or newspapers. Go out and visit
an open house, especially for new homes. Don't try to device every detail, just a general idea.
You remodeler can normally come up with the most cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing
design. Also, he can give you ideas and suggestions as well as information about products such
as their costs and delivery times.
Try to determine a budget. One of the fist questions a remodeler will ask you is "what is
your budget". While you may be hesitant to share that information, your budget is the
remodeler's best indicator of the best way he can help you create a project that will be
within your budget. For budgeting purposes, remember that projects that involve adding rooms
are usually more expensive than the ones that involve reconfiguring the space you already
have.
Your friends, neighbors and acquaintances are a good resource. Try to find a homeowner
who has had a project done similar to yours. Most will be glad to tall you about someone
who did a good job for them. Don't be concerned if they tell you about a little problem
they had. Not many projects can be done without some little problems. Instead, find out how
the contractor handled the problems and whether or not they would hire them again.
Check with your local professional organizations. The National Association of Homebuilders
local chapter, The Remodeler's Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau
if you have one.
Next, judge how he handles your inquiries. Is there someone to answer the phone when you call?
Do they return your call promptly? Do they keep their appointments and arrive on time (or call
in plenty of time to explain and reschedule?) Are they polite and considerate of not only you,
but your home and its furnishings? Do they carry workers compensation and insurance that covers
them in case of personal of property damage? Are they willing to provide you with a list of past
customers whom you can call to check on their work?
Will they furnish you with detailed drawings and specifications and a list of materials for your
project? (They should be able to show you examples from previous jobs) Will they be able to tell
you before the job starts when it will start and approximately when it will be done? Will any
deposits you make be placed in an escrow account, as required by law, until such time as the
money has been expended on your behalf? Is their contract in writing and does it contain a
procedure to resolve disputes between the owner and the contractor? All of these are part of a
good remodeling partnership!
That depends on the size of the job, but in most residential projects the answer is no.
First, it may be difficult to find an architect who has the experience or is willing to take
the time to work on smaller residential projects. Also, many architects like to be involved
all of the way through the project, which can make it very expensive. Most remodeling
contractors are capable of providing sketches to help you through the project. However,
regardless of the size of the project, make sure you have an idea of what the finished project
will look like, but more importantly, a detailed set of specifications or list of materials
and an outline of the work that is to be done on the job. On slightly bigger projects like a
kitchen, bath, or an addition you can benefit from the use of a design professional.
Using a design-builder or a remodeler with design capabilities is one way to simplify a complex
project. You hire one company and they handle everything, plus they are normally in touch with
current costs, and they can assist with keeping the design close to your budget. A design-build
contractor may require an up-front payment for these services, but this expense is normally part
of the final cost and not in addition to the project cost. Make your design decision based on
samples of some of their previous remodeling work.
Many people think that running the project themselves is a way to cut remodeling costs.
But few homeowners realize the complexity of the contractor's job. They need to know the
complexity of today's techniques as well as those used years ago. The job has to be planned
tep-by-step, sources of supply need to be assessed, delivery schedules, minimum delivery
amounts, picking subcontractors, knowing who is reliable or not, who will stand by their work,
working with the building department, scheduling the proper inspection, allowing for the
unanticipated, weather delays, paying for all materials, being sure the subcontractors pay for
theirs to protect you against future liens, and providing all of the warranty service. Also,
it's important to realize that projects that are professionally designed and constructed almost
always bring greater return on the value than those done by a do-it-yourselfer.
When you hire a professional contractor, you are paying for them to use their professional
abilities to do all of this for you and save you the time and aggravation.
Thank you for your interest.
We hope that you have found these comments to be helpful. We wish you
much success as you start the exciting process of building your dream
home. If you have any other questions, please contact us by email at
The
McGowan Corporation.
