Hello, an introduction

16 years ago

Hello Everyone. I would just like to introduce my self.... My name is John, mid 30's and My wife and I are looking to move into our first house in the next year or 2. I have an engineering degree, work for a large utility company, but I am looking to move away from the 'Big City Life'. Housing prices in the Metro NY area are out of control. A modest 2000sf ranch is 500K+. So we are looking to move a little further away, perhaps North East PA. I would be able to transfer offices and keep a reasonable commute.

I stumbled onto this site looking for sample contracts between GCs and owners for building a custom house, and I have to say I am now a little leery about having a GC build our house (If we do decide to build instead of buying existing). Either way is full of traps and horror stories. Buying new existing homes, and having issues come up a year or 2 later. having a GC build a home for you, and having all sorts of shoddy work, cheating, etc.... Now I know the horror stories get the most publicity, but where there is smoke, there is fire.... And I see a lot of smoke. :( I know from experience that most houses in my parents neighborhood have some sort of issue that could have been easily resolved at time of construction, instead of having to deal with it 30 years later. And from dealing with contractors at my previous job as an inspector / designer for a Town Engineer, that a lot of contractors need to be constantly watched. YES there are also a good number that do excellent work, they know it, you know it, and they charge accordingly. I don't really see that type of contractor in my budget, unfortunately. So I am kind of stuck in the middle. I would have no problem being the GC for the build, except I already have a full time job. Would I look into hiring a Owner rep. / Inspector? Maybe if it was reasonably priced. What I need is some advice on how to get the job done right. With, or with out, hiring a GC. if we do build we are going to try to do as much as we can, and as much as the town and banks will allow us to do. If the banks require a GC, then I guess I will have to due a great deal of research into his previous builds.

Anyway, I am starting to ramble. This was supposed to be an introduction and has turned into a lengthy post. I will be doing a lot of reading here over the many upcoming months, maybe We'll make some new friends as well.

Rusty105 (John)

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Comments (6)

sierraeast
16 years ago
Your first step regardless of which avenue you take regarding a g.c, owner/builder, or hiring a site supervisor is to absorb as much of your spare time researching and educating concerning the build process. Everything from the permitting, legalities, contracts, up to at least the basics of the various trades and what to look for involved with a build.It also helps to get familiar with processes of how suppliers operate if you will be dealing with them, but even at that, if they are builders suppiers, get to know their m.o anyhow.There are many variables with foresight being a hindsight often times, but by getting familiar with the in's and out's as much as possible can lessen delays/problems on the build.Their are many websites to educate such as building sciences, ask the builder,john bridge tile forum,drywall, electrical, plumbing, hvac,etc,etc to get you tuned into the basics which will help you know what you are looking at on your build.Now's the time to start, not when ground is being broke!You'll get a lot of great advise from many,many people on this and other forums in the garden web as well.Wecome and best of luck!
rusty105
Original Author
16 years ago
Believe me, I have been reading a lot lately, however I thought the crook GC problems of the 70s - 80s was gone. Maybe not. I will give everyone the benefit of the doubt, until I see or hear otherwise. I do have a pretty good grasp of what looks right, but looking right is not always correct. I do have a small benefit of a new development of semi-custom homes going in down the road from where I currently live. The pre sales office is open and I was thinking of asking to see some of the work before I decide to buy. In reality I would never be able to afford the homes, but I will at least be able to see some of the different stages.

The area we have been thinking about moving to has adopted the International Code Council 'codes' as there building code. Is there an online source for these codes, or will I have to buy the whole book set?

Rusty
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jessica07
16 years ago
Uh oh! Don't move to NE PA. We have enough New Yorkers moving in! I'm just kidding. Although this area is getting flooded with NY and NJ people. It was just a matter of time, I suppose. Just sad to see the farm fields turn into large housing devleopments. :( I'll make you a deal...you can move into our new house and I'll move to say...Montana! :)
rusty105
Original Author
16 years ago
Wait, hold on. I have heard the rants of residents native to the area, and I have no plans on building in a cramped subdivision with a wacko HOA or the like. I don't live in Metro NY, just work there. I am not anything like the stories you have heard about people from NY. When I moved to my hometown with my parents in the mid 70s. Our little town was peaceful, and quiet. Nothing like it is today :( Housing is going for more then 10X my yearly salary. I don't want to clear cut anything, give me 10 acres and 9.5 will probably stay un cleared. Just looking for some place quiet, but not in the middle of nowhere. A few quiet neighbors and I am good. :) NE PA is a nice place. I only hope the towns have measures in effect to limit the housing density. Unfortunately it is a reality that population is growing. People are living longer, Medical care is prolonging life, which I think is great, but we all have to live somewhere. It just happens to be NE PA for us (my DW is from PA, about an hour or so south of where we are looking). Hopefully we can all be friends. :)

Rusty
Country_living
16 years ago
Rusty,

Come on upstate. We've got plenty of room and (shhhhh) affordable land. Plus...the area is really starting to grow so I'm sure you'll find employment.

Dresch
(Capital Region)
rusty105
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah, upstate is nice, I lived just outside of Oswego for about 3 years. My DW is from PA, so she would like to move a little closer to familiy and friends. NE PA is about middle ground, and still within reach for some commutes. But I will probably transfer to the office closer to there, if/when a position opens up. The move is still some time off though.

Rusty

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