When building a new home, chances are that you will hire a general contractor to head up the project for you. Some GCs will handle all the work with their own employees, others will subcontract – but the purpose of hiring a new home contractor is so that the total responsibility for the project lies with them. Materials, deadlines, schedules and permitting – everything falls under their purview.
While you will often hear tips from the consumer side of the equation, the team at Lindahl Construction would like to pull back the curtain a little bit and give you some tips for taking on this major project. We hope this list will help to ease your mind and move forward with confidence in building your new Sarasota home.
Finding the Right New Home Contractor
When choosing a general contractor to build your new home, you’ll need a balance of research and following your gut.
We’ve spoken in the past about checking your contractor’s references, ensuring that licensing and insurance is up to date, and asking to see past work. Doing a little legwork and confirming that the organization has a good reputation in the community. This is the research part of choosing a great contractor.
Trusting your gut is a bit more subjective, but no less important. You need to “click” with your general contractor on some level. After all, this is a major project which is likely to be a bit emotional as well, and you’ll want to make sure that you are on the same page on several fronts.
For instance, you’ll want to confirm that your new home contractor shares your communication style. If you are someone who expects an answer to a question within several hours, and the contractor doesn’t respond to you as quickly as you would like – you could get frustrated over the course of the project. Or maybe you prefer phone calls and speaking to someone directly, and they may prefer to communicate updates over text messages. Although these details may seem insignificant at first, when you are in the thick of the project and feeling disconnected, it could cause stress. (even more so if you are not living locally).
Even more than how your new home contractor communicates is the level of communication they offer. Are you someone who prefers a lot of handholding and daily updates, or do you trust the contractor to handle everything? Here’s an expert tip – discuss your mode and frequency of communication with the contactor before signing the contract. As long as everyone sets proper expectations, you should be fine.
Many people ask for references, but never actually make those phone calls. Be sure to take advantage of other’s past experience with the contractor. Ask about the pros and cons not only of working with that specific contractor, but also the process as a whole. Be sure to confirm that the GC stayed on deadline and within budget, and inquire about how flexible the contractor was when problems arose (after all, unexpected things arise in every project! The key is how they are handled.)
Building a new home requires a significant investment, so it is important to set expectations for every part of the project which involves money:
* What is the total budget of the project as outlined?
* What areas may reveal some surprises?
* How will you handle unexpected expenses?
* When are payments due, and what triggers the next payment?
* What happens if the project gets delayed?
Overall, it is important to feel comfortable with your new home contractor, but still put all of your agreements in writing. If you have any questions regarding the new home building process, the team at Lindahl Construction welcomes your call.