Building a home is an exciting venture. Since you plan to live there, you definitely want to be involved in the home building process. However, unless you build homes for a living, you want to leave it up to the professionals during the building process. If you want the best quality work, you need to not overstep yourself. There are several do’s and don’ts to consider that will help you oversee the work without getting in the way.
Communication is one of the most important aspects of any project. If you want your dream house to become a reality, you need to share your plans with the builders. Be as specific as you possibly can. Just remember, quality communication goes both ways. Your builders will have years of experience and a wealth of ideas that you probably haven’t considered. Ask them for advice. By showing respect for their expertise, they will respect you more as a client. You may find out that your builders are aware of potential concerns with your ideas that you had not foreseen. Maintain your communication throughout the build, this will help you know what’s going on.
While it may be tempting to show up unannounced, don’t. Construction sites can be dangerous for those who are not familiar with the project. A wrong step could send you falling through an unfinished floor. Construction sites have a lot of equipment and waste materials which can be tripping hazards. While there are ways that home builders can minimize waste, such as dump hoppers, you should avoid walking through a cluttered construction site. If you want to visit your home construction site, make sure you talk with the builders first so they can ensure safety.
It can be tempting to keep adding additions to your building plans that will make your dream home more and more extravagant. Keep in mind that your dream home won’t be your dream home if it’s left unfinished. Before drawing up any plans, determine your budget, and stick to it. As tempting as things may get, don’t allow yourself to jeopardize your financial situation for the sake of a few more amenities. Building projects will often end up costing more than the original estimation. So, make sure that you leave a little bit of a cushion in your budget to make sure all your bases are covered.
Before the building begins, it is perfectly fine to make some changes to your home’s design. Once the ground is broken, just try not to make any changes unless it is absolutely necessary. Changes before construction will only make small changes to the construction estimation. If those same changes are made during construction, they can dramatically increase the cost of your home.
For example, if you wish to extend the walls on one side of your home, this may require that the foundation of your home be broken and laid down again. Or it could require that the supports be removed and installed in new locations. This rework is both costly and time-consuming, not to mention a little frustrating for your workers. If you do wish to make changes, it is a good idea to ask your architect and builders if they have any concerns before implementing it. You may find that the cost is not worth the benefit.
One of the easiest ways to gain your builders respect is by asking questions. By asking questions you are showing that you are humble enough to recognize your lack of knowledge and that you respect your builder’s expertise. Just make sure that you ask the right kind of questions. Accusatory questions that indicate dissatisfaction will not help things get done. Rather, ask questions that are intended to increase your knowledge of the building process.
For example, you may wish to know why the only thing that has been accomplished is laying the foundation. A bad question to ask would be, “Why haven’t you started putting up the framework yet?” A better question would be, “Could you tell me what needs to be done to properly lay a foundation?” It’s important to ask questions in a way that can explain why certain delays may be happening without making the builders defensive or generate bad feelings.
One of the most frustrating things with building a home can be the time that it takes to finish the job. Chances are that you sold your old home to pay for this new one. In the meantime, you are probably living in a rental, so naturally you want your new home to be completed as soon as possible.
You need to be patient and allow your builders to work at their set pace. Rushing your builders will not help in any way. A quality construction company will refuse to be rushed. They know that concrete will need time to cure before continuing their work and that constructing during bad weather can cause future problems.
Being grateful can seem like an odd piece of advice. Showing your gratitude for your builder’s hard work and quality craftsmanship will help improve your relationship with them. The more that your builders like you, the better job they are going to do. If you take them for granted, you’ll miss out on inspiring them to do their best.
There are some things that matter, and some things that don’t. For example, when you visit your construction site, you may see cement pillars that have a rough and ugly finish. You might think that this is the result of shoddy workmanship. In reality, it’s the sign of efficient work. It takes a lot of time and effort to give these cement pillars a nice finish, and since they are going to be unseen, their finish doesn’t matter. So, before you start complaining about poor craftsmanship, ask a few clarifying questions. If you do, you’ll save yourself from looking ignorant.
All good things come with time. Even with delays, it shouldn’t take more than 3-6 months for your home to be completed. During this time, do your best to work seamlessly with your construction company. This will help ensure that your home becomes the dream home you always wanted.
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