Building a home is exciting if you have the right building contractor working for you. Select your builder carefully, document all your plans, maintain clear lines of communication, and keep patience to get the best result.
Starting a home renovation project or a brand-new construction project can be daunting. While you may have a clear idea of what your dream home should look like, you may not know how to go about it. Drafting the plans, sourcing building material, getting permits, and arranging for labour on your own is a humongous task. Here is the situation where builders can be instrumental.
Everyone, including you and your building contractor, aims to get the best results in their construction project. Constructing a new home is exciting if you get a good contractor to build your dream project. Here, choosing the right builder becomes critical for completing your project. India Nirmaan shares the top tips for working effectively with your building contractor.
Choose the most suitable, not the best
- Don’t select a contractor based on advertising. Solicit advice from people in the real estate or construction industry.
- Compile a shortlist of builders and contractors. Get multiple quotes from different builders to get an idea of the going rate.
- Ask for referrals and get honest opinions about a local contractor’s work.
- The contractor must be willing to provide updates regularly. Select a preferred communication channel and schedule a time that works for both of you.
Check past works
- Having selected a few building contractors, check their past work.
- Request for the names and contact details of their recent clients. It is always worth checking whether the clients are happy with the finished job.
- When reviewing the past work, check for the quality of work and finishing. It should be flawless.
Good communication is a must.
- Once the construction process has started, regular progress updates from the construction site are necessary. Good communication is the key to building an amicable relationship with the contractor.
- Communicate with a dedicated contact and organise regular site visits with a construction supervisor. Here is the opportunity for you to hear progress reports and find out what work is scheduled over the coming days. Put forward your queries and voice any concerns you have.
Care about documentation
- Be sure everything you want for your house, the materials, processes, and specifications, are documented on the contract plan. Clear documents clarify expectations, protect all parties involved in the building process, and ensure the client is satisfied with the end product.
- When customising a home, you will make several changes to your original plan. Many disputes arise at the time of payment when there are modifications or additions to the original plans. Make sure the changes and materials you selected are itemised and documented to estimate the expenditure.
Keep patience
- No matter how well planned a construction plan is, many things can cause delays, damage, or issues. Problems may arise on the site but keeping patience is the best way. Remain calm and be flexible.
- Discuss the situation respectfully with the contractor and focus on finding solutions.
- Quality work takes time. Set a comfortable project timeline that lists specific benchmarks and deadlines that need to be completed.
Building a new home is exciting but finding a building contractor can be challenging. Homeowners have a lot of expectations from the contractors they hire. Select someone who understands your dreams and vision and ensures the plan requests are met on time and within budget. Establish a trusting relationship with your contractor through communication and have everything on paper to avoid any issues.
