While you may have worked with a contractor on home improvement projects or renovations in the past, working with someone on an entire new construction of a home is a whole different story. With so much more to deal with and so much more at stake, it’s important that you’re able to find the right contractor for you and that you’re able to work with him or her in the more productive manner.
To help you with this second part, here are three tips for working with a contractor to build your new home.
Prioritize Good Communication
As you and the contractor you’ve chosen to build your new home are preparing to get things underway, one of the first things you should hammer out together is how you plan to communicate with one another. By figuring this out before work starts, you’ll be able to avoid any miscommunications along the way and ensure that you’re being kept abreast of the work as you see necessary.
When figuring out your communication guidelines, Oliver Marks, a contributor to House Logic, recommends that you try to set up certain precedents. These could include things like speaking with the foreman every morning before work starts at your home, getting approval to call or text the contractor whenever you have a need for something, or setting up daily phone calls with the foreman so you can get updated on what work has been done that day.
Get Everything In Writing
Another thing you should take care of before any work gets done on your project is to get everything in writing with your contractor. This will ensure that both you and your contractor know exactly what’s expected of you and what you’ll each be on the hook for at the end of the project.
According to Teresa Mears and Devon Thorsby, contributors to U.S. News and World Report, you should also get any changes to your original plan and agreement in writing as well. In all of these plans, make sure every detail is spelled out and accounted for so that there’s nothing in question from either side.
Set Up A Payment Schedule
Part of the agreement that you and your contractor need to figure out is how you’ll handle payment for the project.
According to Zillow.com, it’s best to set your payments on a schedule throughout the construction process. Keep in mind, however, that you should hold back about 10 percent of the final cost until everything is completed to your satisfaction to ensure that you’re not left in the lurch with anything regarding your new home construction.
If you’re about to start working with a contractor on your new home construction project, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you get everything straight with this business relationship.
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