Unawareness, lack of time, physical challenges, etc are a few of the reasons why many people find it difficult to build their house. Here are a few dos and don’ts that might help you out:
The dos:
- Don’t pick the first builder you find. Find a minimum of three and then examine the projects they are currently working on. One look at the materials and the quality being used can tell you a lot. If you see bad insulation, cheap fixtures, etc you should reject this candidate right there. Another thing you should do is to pay attention. If you see that the sub-contractors are not happy, take it for granted that the builder is delaying the work.
- Find out about the builder so that you get an idea about his reputation. Check with the Chamber of Commerce, the BBB, the state government, etc. Check to see if there are any public complaints against the builder. If yes, see if they were solved or not. The local builders’ association will have this information.
- Ask the builder to give you a list of his clients. Talk to the client for whom the builder is working at the moment and ask them about their experience. You don’t need to be shy of doing all this. This is the best way to find out the truth about the builder.
- Meet the builder in person and talk about the cost. This might seem easy but it is not really. Unless you know how exactly you want your house to be built, getting a quote can be difficult. Thus, deciding what you want beforehand and going with your plan is a good idea. Remember that builders usually earn a lot through add-ons. To avoid that, sticking to the initial plan is important. Plan well thus.
Here are a few ideas:
- How large you want your living room to be.
- How many bedrooms you require
- How many storeys.
- The type of flooring.
- Alarm system
- Size of the garage
- Central vacuum, to name a few.
If you don’t prepare a list and rely on the builders completely, you will be ripped off very easily. The added stuff will burn a hole in your bank account.
The don’ts:
- Don’t let your wants overpower you. Your needs are essential. Wants can wait.
- Don’t ever go ahead and apply for a construction loan before a contract has been signed. Ask the contractor to give you a date of completion beforehand. If he doesn’t, he will drag it as far as possible and you will end up paying a lot in interest as well as to the builder. Get the date in writing thus while signing the contract.
It is important to be very strict with the builder. Penalties will make him work on time. Money talks really loud and he will take you seriously if you put your foot down. If you don’t, you will be paying too much.
bembuilders.co.uk are experienced builders in Sussex england. Please stop by our website to view our complete range of building services in the United Kingdom.
