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Building Q: What is a "structured" or advanced wiring? A: The combined growth of personal home computers, consumer electronics, entertainment systems, and home security products - not to mention the dynamic evolution of the technology behind them - has promoted builders to increasingly offer wiring schemes that enable whole-house communications, data and audio-visual sharing, and other features. Typically consisting of Category 5 (or "Cat-5") wiring and coaxial cable, structured or advanced wiring schemes allow homeowners to customize their use of technology to meet their lifestyle needs. |
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How to Select Your Builder Thinking about building a home? One of the most important decisions you will make is hiring the right builder. You and your builder will spend a great deal of time together. Take the time to evaluate the builder that you desire to work with in building your dream home. Below are some helpful tips - - First, you select your builder based on philosophy. If you want a really cheap home, find a really cheap builder. If you want an energy efficient home, find a builder that builds energy efficient homes. If you desire a home with universal design features then find a builder with experience in universal design. Find the builder that can help you meet the criteria you are looking for in a home. What if you don't know what your philosophy is? My recommendation is that you interview three builders. As you go through that process you will start to develop a philosophy. You will get a feel for what it is that you want in your home. You will also get a feel for the person that you are meeting with. Second, you should know that the cost difference between builders should be minimal. Why is that? Because most builders use many of the same subcontractors and suppliers. Those subcontractors and suppliers use many of the same wholesalers and manufacturers. Therefore, as long as you have told the competing builders the same information their cost differences should be minimal. If there is a large cost difference, someone has wrong information. Third, review the builder's website. A website will help you understand the builder, their focus, and so forth. Fourth, ask the builder for references. Call the references. Ask questions. For example, did you enjoy working with the builder? Are you happy with your home? Would you recommend the builder? What did you like about the builder? Did they build the home on time? Did they build your home on budget? Was the builder easy to work with? Was the selections process easy? Did you have any emergencies during the building process? What would you change? When you moved in was the home completed or was there alot of work still left to do? How is the builder's follow up after you have moved in? Fifth, view the builder's work. Visit their home during the parade of homes. Go see a spec home or model home that they have built. If you have to, ask to visit a home occupied by a former customer. During your visit, ask if the quality of "fit and finish" is consistent with what you can expect for your home. Sixth, ask the builder how they manage the building process. By this I mean the following: - Schedule of Construction - you should require one from your builder. It demonstrates that your builder knows how to manage the process. It also allows you to understand the process. Further, when a home is built on schedule it should give you confidence that your home is proceeding as planned. Please note that changes to the schedule are acceptable as long as you understand why. That said, the builder should be able to provide you with an accurate completion date for your home. - On - Site Meetings - during the construction process you should have the opportunity to walk through the home at various stages to (1) provide direction on what you want, and (2) to understand that the home is being built according to your contract. Therefore, you should ask the builder at what points during the construction process will there be on site meetings. We recommend (1) pre construction site plan review, (2) Rough in Walk through - after framing, but before plumbing, heating and electrical start, (3) Pre Drywall - validate all light locations and so forth, (4) Trim Stage review - if you have a great deal of built in cabinets, (5) a final inspection. These meetings are intended to be fun. You get to see first hand the progress of you home. Very cool! Seven, discuss with the builder how they manage the selections process. This can be the area that impacts you the most because it involves your time and decision making. You want this to be handled correctly and with ease. See our post on "Managing your Selections". I cannot tell you in strong enough terms that an interior designer is (1) affordable, and (2) worth every penny. (As an aside, our interior designer goes with our customers to supplier locations and assists with selections. See our post "Build with Confidence".) Additionally, your builder should give you a "Decision Checklist" that lists what decisions have to be made and the date by which they must be made. My advice, make your selections early. See our post on selections and making decisions early. Eight, I believe that you should use a builder that is a member of your local homebuilders association. This by itself doesn't guarantee you have found the right builder, but what it does demonstrate is that you have found a builder that is concerned about (1) supporting the industry that supports him or her, and (2) that hopefully the builder takes advantage of all the wonderful educational opportunities offered by their HBA. A great deal of what I have learned can be traced back to the services (education and networking) offered by our local HBA (ggrhba.com). One more note for what it is worth, HBA's do a great job in supporting the local community through charitable efforts. Give and you shall receive! Nine, ask the builder how they will manage your money. What their deposit is going to be? How/when they will bill the bank? How/when they will bill you for overages? What about change orders? Ask if your contract price is fixed. If not, what construction items are fixed and what items are variable (meaning can change)? Get all of this in writing. I will say it again. Get all of this in writing. Ten, pertains to license, insurance and a warranty. Confirm that your builder is licensed. Your bank will require it. Your bank will require that your builder maintains general liability insurance. What you need to do is review your builder's warranty. Please know that the State of Michigan does not require that a builder provide a warranty. Most do, but it is not required. As part of their warranty the builder should state that they are willing to come back to your home during the warranty period and address any issues. The builders warranty should be in writing. Eleven, is the feel good reason. After you have thought through the above reasons for selecting a builder there is one more very good reason to hire a builder. Because you like the person. You believe in them (again, after going through items 1-10 above). You are going to spend alot of time with your builder. You need to trust them.
Warm
regards, (616)
863-9313 - Phone rgkogel@comcast.net
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