Keep the design elements (brackets, corbels, barrel vaults, etc.)!
I’ve had twenty years experience working with both builders and homeowners. More often than not, things progress smoothly; but when that occasional bump in the road occurs, expectations and promises may be clouded, and agitation or anger may arise. Here are some suggestions to lessen any possible disappointment and improve builder-homeowner communication.
Don’t allow the contractor to remove the design elements at the last minute. If it’s in your contract, you should receive it. If they bid off the plans you’ve given them, make certain that includes all the architectural elements like corbels, aesthetic brackets, beams, trim details, barrel vaults above the entry, etc.. Make certain the aesthetics are not removed at the end of the project to save the builder some money or increase his/her profit. If he/she bids it and its listed in the contract you should receive it.
Verify what’s included, all the way down to the toilet, shower door, towel bars, fixtures, and hardware. Get a breakdown of the allowances or this will become a weighty topic when it comes time to make your selections. Will it be a basic toilet or an energy-efficient, mid-priced model? If you don’t get a list of what’s included, then request a list of what’s NOT included, such as electrical upgrades.
Request price breakdowns, especially if the bid amount appears out in left field. Get an agreement from the builder or contractor that you won’t be charged for cost overruns, without prior signing of an additional work authorization (AWA’s). A contractor may underbid the job to get the contract; but during final walk-through, you may be given a bill for the cost overruns they incurred or left out of the initial bid.
Expect what was listed. If it’s Hardie siding, make certain that you’re not given the cheaper vinyl. If you desired honed granite, a spiral staircase or that copper sink you fell in love with at the showroom, make certain it’s in the contract!
Kitchen remodel w/ spiral staircase and copper sink upgrades.
Ask for timetable/schedule of the construction project. You’ll be able to plan around the delays and obstacles, especially, during holidays and around family birthdays and gatherings. If the contractor promised your new deck would be done by the end of June and you have family coming in for the Fourth of July, you better adjust your plans accordingly. Get a printout—a calendar of what will happen and when—of you project’s timetable.
Inquire about practical solutions and cost-to-savings ratios, such as home weatherization and energy conservation upgrades. Your builder should have the statistics and estimates, especially when an up-charge comes into play.
And in the end, demand lien waivers from all the sub-contractors that worked on your project. Remember: Most contractors want your future business and referrals, so they shouldn’t hesitate to keep you informed on costs, allowances, and schedules.
Verify the aesthetic upgrades (trim style, siding grade, posts, etc.) promised are put into the finished project.
