How to Avoid Problems!

Step 1: Get Blueprints You Can Understand

Whether you are building a home, buying an existing home, or planning to remodel a home, it is a good idea to have a blueprint that not only shows the floor plan, but also how the furnishings you own or expect to own will fit into the plan.

Because it is difficult for most people to visualize finished rooms, a 3D plan will help avoid the types of problems we have seen so often in our 50 years in the industry. Dining rooms that are too small for your furniture or the furniture you would like to own in the future, master bedrooms that are shaped so that you cannot use the king-size bed you own or have always wanted – these are just a few of the problems we have seen.

When properly dimensioned, you should be able to compare the rooms with the spaces you are already familiar with. Architects and Interior Designers can provide this service for a small fee. If you obtain such a plan before the start of a building or remodeling project, you will avoid untold problems. Be sure to check kitchen and bath plans and make sure you understand them completely. You may wish to consider the possibility that a family member may become infirm and live in your home in the future. Barrier-free design elements may be well worth considering and can usually be incorporated into your plans for construction or remodeling.

Try to avoid making hurried or emotional decisions, as you will have to live with your choices for many years.

Step 2: Consider Specifications & Allowances

Many houses are built or remodeled without the owner being aware of the exact materials specified for the project. If two or more builders quote prices based on the same plan, it is important to know whether they are also quoting the same materials, or you will have one quote on "apples" and the other on "oranges."

Many builders do not allow sufficient money for items such as cabinetry, floor coverings, plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures, etc. As a result, owners are often forced to come up with extra money just to get something barely above rock bottom quality. Avoid surprises! Take your plans to two or three vendors handling these items and find what it would cost to have the quality and style you are prepared to live with before approving a list of "allowances." A "bargain" home may not be such a bargain when you pay for all the extras. Remember, it is your money. You can choose suppliers as well as subcontractors. A Board Certified Interior Designer can assist you to obtain the information, if you wish.

Many people building expensive "custom" homes are supplied with cabinetry that one finds in inexpensive "production" homes. It's like having a very expensive dress and wearing it with very inexpensive accessories. Some Interior Designers - such as Aretz Interiors - have sources for fine, handmade cabinetry for kitchens, bathrooms, media walls, etc., for relatively little more than "production" or "semi-custom" ones. It pays to investigate the little difference in cost and the benefit of hand-rubbed and detailed cabinetry for your home (see our article on cabinetry).

Step 3: Ensure Quality

In the case of an existing home, we strongly recommend that a professional home inspection be performed. The cost of this service is normally between $225 and $275. The home inspection service will give you an accurate report and are liable for any misrepresentation of fact. The seller's disclosure statement gives you some rights, and you can also buy warranty insurance (approximately $395) that covers you for a year. This type of warranty is usually purchased through your real estate agent. If the inspector advises of a problem with the roof, for example, the warranty will not cover that item. Only items approved by the inspector are warranteed.

In the case of building or remodeling, the other major concern should be the contractor you employ. Unfortunately, through the many years that we have been in this industry, we have seen builders come and go. Sometimes a builder goes out of business while building a home or remodeling a home, leaving the homeowner with bills, liens, etc. Some builders ignore telephone calls, especially if there is a problem with the construction. Extreme care should be taken in the selection of a contractor.

It is a good idea to ask for referrals and to call some of the references supplied by the contractor. A great question to ask is, "Would you hire them again?" We suggest that three people be called and, if possible, visited. You are making a major investment and you want to be cautious. If you choose not to invest the time, we suggest you hire an architect or Interior Designer to handle these details for you. If you are not absolutely sure of the stability and performance of a given builder, there is a solution. However, it is seldom used in residential construction. It's called a Performance Bond. For as little as 1% of the cost of the project, the bonding company will:

1) guarantee that the bonded project will be completed as per the contract,

2) guarantee that all labor and materials be paid even if the contractor defaults (this often results in lower prices and expedited deliveries),

3) free the owner from the risk of financial loss arising from liens filed by unpaid laborers, subcontractors and suppliers,

4) smooth the transition from construction to permanent financing by eliminating liens,

5) reduce the possibility of a contractor diverting funds from the project, and

6) provide an intermediary (the bonding company) to whom the owner can air complaints and grievances, if necessary.

Step 4: Understand Remodeling Realities

If you are considering remodeling or adding to your home, it is important to remember that it will often cost more and take longer than you anticipated. While a contractor may give you a quote on the project, once the project gets underway, any problems with the existing construction that are not apparent may add to the cost of the job as well as the time needed to complete it. Check with referred remodeling clients to learn about their experiences concerning extra charges made for any unanticipated problems, timeliness of the project, tidiness of the work area, etc. You may choose to have an architect or Board Certified Interior Designer handle the project for you, if you wish.