Every other day to daily. We only live about 5 minutes away and I enjoy seeing the progress. We are paying a lot of money for this house and want to make sure everything is okay. I have caught some issues that were resolved quickly. Hope this makes some sense.

Oh and don't pick a jack leg for a builder:) Our GC welcomes us anytime on our property.

This post was edited by lucy0214 on Wed, Jan 16, 13 at 12:28

Just a note from a builder. (Usually "spec", i.e., build it and they will come.) But even if it is a true custom build on the customer's lot, the absolute worst thing is to have clients wandering around on site chatting with the trades. You have a concern or want a change, speak with the builder.

And please leave your little ones at home, school or wherever. A home under construction is a building site, not a playground!

If it's a build from plans on my lot, I restrict the buyers to a predetermined number of visits period.

Asking a sub to do something is a no no, even if they're willing, even if they offer. Talk to the builder 1st!!

We visit several times a week. We are doing a custom build and our builder said we are welcome any time, any day.

Our builder requested that we stop by frequently and pretty much said that he wants me onsite as much as possible at the beginning of framing since we're making "red-line" changes to the original plan. He said that another lady that he is building for is great and stops by every morning after dropping her kids off at school. They also made changes and I think he just wants to make sure everything goes smoothly.

I also can't imagine being asked to only visit my homesite a certain number of times. That line blows me away. Perhaps there is a legitimate reason for it, but it would sound like a red flag to this checkbook holder.

Although I have not built from the ground up, I would say close to daily once things are moving, but not necessarily when they are onsite, but at the end of the day, and less so during the workday.

Our builder has asked that we only visit the site with him, although he is fine with having a standing appointment so that we can visit the site regularly. The reason he's expressed is safety. My husband will be on the lot regularly (he's going to be cutting and splitting the trees that will be taken down), but we won't enter the house without our builder. It seems like a reasonable compromise to me.

We like to stop by as often as we can but I think this alsp depends on the stage of the construction. When the contractors were just pouring foundation in, we didn't visit as much. We stopped by the site a lot more often during framing just to make sure we can catch any mistake or make any changes in time.

It's definitely exciting to see how things change every time we stop by.

If our builder told me I was only allowed to visit a certain number of times, I'd laugh in his face. That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard.

I stop by usually once a week, but my H is there daily to every other day.

Every builder is different, but ours wanted us there as much as we wanted to be there - which ended up almost every single day of our 9 month build. At least one of us were there, many times both of us. Some of our subs were contractors we have used on our commercial properties for years, some our GCs and a few were new to both of us. He continued to use these new subs after our build.

DH and a helper kept the place clean and did things like clean/stain the cedar beams. DH even helped install the beams in the great room and the copper cupola on our garage.

Our plan was so well thought out, that we did not have many changes during construction. But when there was a needed change, the GC discussed with us before giving out instructions.

Our stonemasons wanted me there as much as possible. Why? Because they wanted to be sure everything was exactly as we wanted.

We are still friends with our GC (don't hear that very often) and are still using many of the subs. If we were to build again, I would want several of them back again, including our framers.

I can see how this type of relationship might not always be best (depends on not only the GC, but the homeowners!), but it was perfect for all of us.

We go daily. But we are 5 min drive away. We usually go when the work day is finished to check everything out- take photos. I would be furious if my builder tried to restrict my time at MY house and MY land! I would never in a million years hire such a person. When we arrive and our CG is still there, he has a smile on his face and is happy to tell us any updates.

Between my wife and I, we visit 3-4 times a day. My kids's bus stop is there, and it's on my to work. We don't always go inside (they are framing at the moment), but I like to walk around when they aren't busy. The GC encourages us to visit, and everyone onsite has been friendly. However I don't give instructions to the subs...if I want something changed, I talk to the GC.

I go daily usually during lunch. If he is there and doesn't look too busy, I chat with him. If he is heavily involved I leave him alone. I am still early in my build.

We are there once daily and sometimes twice. We chat with the tradesmen and go over changes with them directly quite often since our builder is only there once a week or so. We run all changes by him of course. He has no issue with us being there often and we enjoy seeing the progress, have benefitted from keeping an eye in things, and like to take snacks to the workers.

While not a new build per se, we did a a gut reno of about 5800 sq ft and added on another 2000 sq ft, and moved in in 2011.

You should go as often as possible. One, because it is fun. Two, because no one cares about it as much as you do. But do keep in mind a few rules of "etiquette".

If you go during working hours, try not to interrupt work. If you have an issue, observe the chain of command and tell the GC. If for whatever you do talk to the sub instead of the GC, follow up w an email to the GC. It can help to be friendly and courteous to the workers, everyone would rather do work that way. In addition, craftsman like to be complemented, like all of us. Plus a lot of subs you may need/want in the future, after the GC is gone.

Someone I know in the industry locally has a different take on bringing snacks and stuff. He thinks it is a little demeaning. They aren't college kids whitewashing your fence, this is a living. I think this, to the extent it is true, maybe be a NYC Metro area thing .... (fwiw)

PS Our GC once called us and said something along the lines of "it would be better if you didn't come to the site today". I thought that was preposterous (we probably went twice a week and had had no issues). Turns out they had f'ed up something with a fpl install and wanted to figure it out before we saw it. (?) The subs also told us that their contracts with him forbid them to speak to us. I can understand that makes life easier for the GC, but it is absurd. They all ignored that.

I go daily during the week on the way to work or after work. Sometimes during lunch, when I know milestones are happening. ie roof truss going on, backfilling.
If not much is happening, I just do a quick drive by on the weekend.

If our builder told me I was only allowed to visit a certain number of times, I'd laugh in his face.

If you own the land and are paying for the home in stages, it's one thing. But if you've put down a deposit and the house is being built on land owned by the builder, it's a different story.

Subdivision builders are sometimes plagued by such visitors who even want to work on "their" home. That doesn't go over big with Workman's Compensation if they fall off the roof.

Frankly, even when you own the land and the materials becoming a house, there are many times it's better to stay out of everybody's hair rather than wandering around peering over shoulders and directing changes ad hoc.

Maybe it's my cramped perspective. So many of the builds I see at GW seem to be leisurely country affairs spread over acres. I build infill--30 foot wide lots and up. At some times, there can be 15-20 workers on sites, concrete trucks backing down narrow paths, a crane overhead, carpenters with nailguns in one area of the structure, plumbers with torches in another, the gas company trenching. The last person I want to have strolling around is the "owner", invariably without a hard hat and safety shoes.

I go every single day. I want to see the progress and correct anything ASAP if it's not what I want. So far, it's not been a problem and our home is turning out great. We only live 3 miles from our new home, and that makes it convenient. If we live 20 miles away (we almost bought land 20 miles away), I would likely go 2-3 times a week.

Our GC is a friend and neighbor as well, so that may help.

Our custom build is on the builders land - we would go once a week but the builder 'asked' if we can let them know when we are going/organize it via them so they can be onsite with us. Some of it was to prevent us causing confusions with the trades and the other for liability issues.

We started our build in the summer and DH is a teacher so he went almost every day during the summer. His dad drove by on his way home from work and would check it out frequently as well (he's built 4 houses of his own, doing a majority of the work). And I stopped by as often as I could, at least every weekend and usually on Tuesday, my day off. We lived 30 minutes from our build. We were married that June 18th and broke ground the beginning of July. The lot was already purchased and we had our plans and builder ready to go.
It's your house (and esp if it's also your land) so you have every right to be there as often as possible. I stayed out of the way of any subs working and, other than smiling and saying hello, only spoke to them when they struck up the convo.
FWIW, we are semi rural in an established neighborhood on almost one acre. Our house was never as Worthy describes his builds so it was a very different environment and atmosphere.

I usually go to the house every 3 days or so...depends on what is going on. Since my contractor does no subbing, except for cement and carpet laying, I do not have to deal with any subs. Since he has permitted me to go any get so many things myself...cabinets, granite, faucets, door knobs, light fixtures, all flooring, etc., I call him every couple days to see if he needs anything. He usually gets everything himself, but since my DH was in construction, he said I am very capable of taking care of these things.

My Amish crew is a dream to work with....and we are building out of our trust for each other..no contract involved!

The thing about the whole "it's your house you should be able to be there as much as you want" idea is that the builder is liable for injuries that occur during construction.

I think it makes a lot of sense for people who have construction experience to be welcome on site whenever, because they're going to know how to behave on a building site, but, while I *think* I could be sufficiently careful in our building site, it's possible that I could blunder into damaging myself or something else and it's not worth risking it just to satisfy my own curiosity about what precisely is going on there that day.

We can keep an eye on things without inspecting the site several times a week, and if our keeping out from under foot makes the subs' job easier and gets the house built sooner, that's better for me.

We own our land and are doing a custom build. We go by every day but also ran that by our GC as a courtesy. He laughed and said "It's your house, of course". A lot of times I go by after everyone has left so I can walk through it myself and see what has been done or catch any issues. I definitely find this easier to do when no one is there. We also set up a once a week meeting where we know everyone necessary will be there with my husband and me. During that time we can discuss more of the down the line stuff, i.e., they can give us a heads up on what we need to pick out, etc. or tell us about any snafus. I will note that I probably talk to my GC on the phone every other day as well.

I *do not* bring my kids when people are working and while they love seeing things in progress, I either have them wait in the car or bring someone with me as a second set of eyes.

Lastly, I usually bring a box of Dunkin Donuts coffee when I go in the morning; sometimes muffins too. And I always make sure there is water on site. We have a greenhouse on our property so I leave them there and let our GC tell the other guys so I don't interrupt their work.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

We go once a week to go over updates with Builder & Construction Manager.

& once over the weekend unaccompanied to review things ourselves & take pictures.

While I do agree with most points above, at the end of the day, both builder & client must be reasonable.

Our situation was a little different as we did a tear down and left the detached garage standing and the barn cats behind. We were only 10 miles from the job site and visited daily during the summer in order to feed/water the cats and 2x/day when school started since I had to drive past when I transported the kids to/from class. Normally the subs were just getting started when I came by in the morning so I simply fed the cats and left (doughnuts on Fridays) but the job site was usually all clear after pickup so we were able to take our time and check out the day's progress. Worked out perfectly!

Our GC encouraged us to vist as often as we wanted (as he said, 'it's your house!' and to help keep an eye out for any errors or changes we wanted to make along the way. We developed a good rapport with all the trades/subs, several of whom had some great suggestions for tweaks and changes neither the GC or I had thought of. I've run into several subs around town since we started building and always stop for a quick chat.

We were only about 6 miles away so I stopped by daily to take pics of progress. Our GC didn't have a problem with it at all and it allowed me to catch a few errors which would have easily been covered up by drywall! Framing stages were kinda dangerous to me so I didn't bring my little along til framing was done. It can(will) be stressful but enjoy the journey and take lots of pics! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Our home sell/build blog

Daily if not more than that....we lived about 10 min away and the "builder" was a project manager who was often not on site so we did a lot of GC'ing ourselves and worked directly with a lot of the trades...we had friends who we insisted on doing the work for us in the trades they were in, and the project mgr completely washed his hands of the solar system....he also essentially disappeared once the big stuff was done and only little stuff was left, so we ended up getting a lot of the finished stuff done on our own.

It wasn't the greatest experience, but we managed to get it done....

I drive by almost daily and stop in about twice a week.