Life is full of decisions – if you plan to build a custom home, your decision-making skills will need to improve dramatically. One of the most important decisions will be: who will build my future quality home?
The first step is to have an idea about the scope of the project. For example, you will need to know the size of your proposed custom home, how many bedrooms, how many bathrooms, etc. If you have a copy of the floor plans, it will be easier for the custom home builder to make an accurate offer. Note: These guidelines also apply to home remodeling jobs.
The process of selecting a general contractor to build your custom home will require several meetings to exchange information:
At this point you are probably wanderingWhere can I find good licensed general contractors? There are several reliable sources:
- Start with the network. You can find anything on the internet, as long as you use the right keywords. In this case, you might want to try the following keywords in your favorite search engine: “licensed general contractor” + “state where you live”.
- Better Business Office. Your local Better Business Bureau will provide you with a list of home builders that meet your criteria.
- Your local home builders association can provide members to meet your needs.
- Visit construction sites and try to get the names of the builders.
First date:
Before the first meeting, you will need to contact the home builder and ask them to bring proof of your documentation:
- Current General Contractors License.
- Current Civil Liability Insurance.
- Current workers’ compensation insurance, if the builder has its own employees.
- Homebuilder must be a member of the local homebuilders association or a member of the Better Business Bureau
- Make sure the general contractor has a permanent address and not a PO Box.
- Review the images in your portfolio.
- Ask your potential builder if they will get all the necessary permits. If he asks you to do it as a home owner, he’s not the home builder you want. You could have a problem with your license.
- Ask your builder for references from his past jobs.
If your potential candidate breezes through their interview, it’s time to brush up on your project.
- You, the homeowner, must be able to visualize every room and corner of the house in order to explain your special needs to the home builder.
- If you have floor plans available, please provide a copy of the floor plan. It will be easier for the general contractor to provide a more accurate estimate for your project.
- Request a detailed offer for your project with separate material and labor components. In this way, you will be able to compare different offers.
- Ask about the written guarantee
Offers:
Before selecting your contractor, you will need at least 3 proposals. All verbal agreements and promises must be put in writing to protect all parties involved in your project.
Contract:
In addition to the project start and end dates, the contract should have a detailed description of all the work to be performed. You must also include the total cost of the project and a payment schedule to the General Contractor.
Some additional items to include are:
- Daily cleaning around the work site and final cleaning.
- A binding arbitration clause in case of disagreement.
One last word. Before you sign any contract, make sure you understand all the components. It’s your house. You have the right to ask questions and explain. Do not do your price decision only; reliability, quality of work, and on-time performance are also important.
Remember that the Contractor you select will end up knowing you better than your doctor. You and your family will see the contactor during the project every day. The relationship between the homebuilder and the client is crucial to the success of the project.
