Planning Your Project

Things To Know, Learn and Do before you begin your project

How can you ensure that your home construction project goes smoothly? How can you ensure you'll be thrilled with the results? Here are questions to ask and things to think about before you begin.

 

Choosing a Contractor

Check licenses, references and samples of work from both the architect and contractor that you are working with. When checking references, be sure to ask about how accurately the contractor met his/her projected completion dates. You can never ask too many questions

Communication and Scheduling
  • Agree with the contractor before work begins about schedules and communication. For example: Will your contractor provide you with an updated schedule every week, How will changes be handled once the project starts, and how often will you be able to meet with your project manager?
  • Meet with the people who will be actually doing and supervising the work. Remodeling can be emotional, so you want to be sure that you are comfortable with the people who will be helping you make decisions.
  • Ask about guarantees and warranties, follow up and post construction services. If you notice something amiss once the workers are gone, you want to make sure that the problem, no matter how large or small, can and will be addressed.

 

Working within your Budget and Contract
  • Will your contractor work with you and your architect throughout the design process to ensure that you stay within your budget? Making changes after materials have been put in place will be much more expensive than making changes during the design phase.
  • Solicit bids from at least two contractors;don't automatically choose the lowest one. Compare what services/materials you are getting and at what prices? Are they included in your contract or is there a list of allowances? Are the contractors offering you the same thing?
  • Does the contractor use a widely accepted contract format? There are plenty of contractors out there that are 1 page to100 pages, however, a contract written by an independent organization, such as the AIA (American Institute of Architects) can be a fair tool in protecting the interests of both you and the contractor.
  • Get everything (change orders, timelines etc.) in writing and be sure that you have copies, signed by you and the contractor. This will help to avoid misunderstandings