Keep Records
- Things not clearly and specifically noted, written, described, or shown will be interpreted, by both sides; there must be a meeting of minds where interpretations are fully understood and resolved. When this does not happen, expect dispute, confrontation, pique, anger, frustration, and perhaps even litigation.
- Be redundant; leave nothing to chance. Follow up verbal discussions and instructions with written verification. Keep records, receipts, record of phone call, all correspondence, samples you approve, sales slips, model/type/style numbers, and the like.
- Don't allow yourself to be reduced to buying any aspect of "a pig in a poke."
- The more time and effort spent up-front in programming, planning, designing, and understanding, as well as in establishing specifics of the project, the better the chance for a smoother construction period and a satisfactory result.
Be Businesslike
- Be pragmatic, and absolutely businesslike in all of your dealings with the builders. They are working FOR you; you are not seeking them as new friends.
- If a friend or relative performs part of the work, treat them in exactly the same manner -- have a contract, demand adherence to your schedule, etc.
- Don't let a gift or a good price disrupt the project overall.
Questions to Ask
Before you hire a builder for your new house, be sure that you can answer each of these important questions.- What is a good design for our needs?
- What is a building code? Does it effect us? How does it work? What doesn't it do?
- Who is responsible, overall, for my building project?
- What are good sizes and proportions for rooms? What style do I want?
- What am I really getting from the builder?
- What problems do I have in my current house that I don't want to repeat?
- Where can I find answers and help? How do I make my desires known?
- What does that line on the drawing mean?
- What is a dispute; a lien?
- What are specifications? Does the builder write and provide them?
- What if my builder does something in a way I don't like? Is the house going to be complete; will something be left out?
- When will the house be finished?
- What is a contract? How do I play a part in it? What does it say?
- What is "an extra"?
- Is that a good material, I've never heard of it?
- Can I change things?
- Who picks the color of the paint, wall coverings, etc.?
- Is landscaping included? Sod? Seed? mud and rocks? Slopes? Are landscape features guaranteed?
- What if I disagree with the builder? Can I stop the work?
- Am I allowed on the job site? Can I inspect the work as it goes up? Can I bring someone with me?
- I really want this ________________in the house -- how do I get exactly that?
- I can buy the light fixtures from my brother-- but who will hang them? What do I do?
- Should I close on the mortgage and pay the builder in full? I have several items that I don't like - must I still close?
- Why do we have to make all these trips to pick things out?
