Building a new home will either be the fulfillment of a dream or the beginning of a nightmare, depending on how you prepare yourself for the experience. Homeowners save for years, build their credit, and apply for the perfect home loan, putting in all the effort needed to make sure their credit and loan are ready to go. Then, as if reaching the 5-yard line, they drop the ball and fail to finish the planning that they needed to do for successful project completion. It is sad to watch.
However, if you follow a few simple rules, your new home construction project can go forward with very few bumps and a lot of smiles. Our goal at High Quality Contracting is always to see our customers smile when they step into their completed home for the first time.
So, how do you plan for the perfect new home construction project? Here are a few simple rules that we like to live by when advising our customers on planning for their new home construction.
#1 Start with Confidence.
Many contractors will say that ratings and reviews by such organizations as The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau, The National Association of the Remodeling Industry, and Angie’s List, to name a few, really do not mean anything. Well, they are lying.
A home building contractor who is sincere in their business is not only willing to join these organizations but to follow their guidelines to ensure that their customers receive fair and honest pricing and work. The ratings indicate our adherence to organizational standards. The reviews reflect a candid glimpse of our past work. By joining these groups, we are standing up and stating our commitment to honesty, integrity, and quality.
The problems start when you choose to hire a contractor who does not stand by these principles. What does that say about your future endeavors with them? Why are they providing you with a low ball bid? What are they not telling you? Be honest with yourself and think about the possible reasons and then run the other way. Always hire someone who has a solid ethical contracting background to build your new home. This is not a simple set of deck stairs, this is a new home, and you want that experience and history backing up the work they do for you.
#2 Identify & Budget For The Total Project
The second-most-important rule that any new home builder needs to follow is to budget correctly for the project. Budgeting for such important projects includes factoring in a lot of variables. It is always best to sit down and talk seriously about your budget for the project with your contractor. We found that homeowners sometimes forget to consider the following items in their budget:
- Site Preparation- clearing and grade work on the property before the start of the build.
- Landscaping- the cost for grass, hay, trees, etc.
- Building Permits- Municipalities and counties usually require a variety of permits for a new home build. Each license is a separate cost and can run as high as 1% of the total construction cost.
- Utility Access- such utilities as water, sewer, gas, cable all may have a fee to access the lines.
- Driveway Materials- The price for the concrete, pavers, bricks, and stone are all additional costs.
#3 Factoring in Time and Conditions for the Build-
Many homeowners fail to consider how long the lending process can take, which will delay the construction and purchase of materials. Since the 2008 home crisis, lenders are requiring more paperwork and are taking longer to release funds. If you want to start your project in spring, it is best to start your financing in the fall to allow time for all the paperwork.
Another thing to consider is the weather. Depending on the phase of the project, the weather can delay a home build for weeks to months.
Delays in obtaining materials are another example of something that can cause your home to fall behind in the timeline. Although High Quality Contracting Inc. uses only the best companies for their materials, sometimes obtaining a popular material can cause a delay because of supply and demand.
Building a new home is a lot of work, as well as rewarding. High Quality Contracting, Inc. pledges to be with you every step of the way to assure your best possible experience. Working with your High Quality Contracting, Inc new home specialist will help prevent a nightmare and help make your dream home a reality.
