First meeting with builder(s)
queeni1951
7 years ago
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7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoqueeni1951
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Meeting Builder What about out requirements?
Comments (11)Our GC had a wonderful exercise for us. His assignment even before we met was to have DH & me write out our top 20 items/ideas for the house (in order of importance). We did this seperarately w/o knowing each other's top 20. We then brought this list to GC on our first meeting. This enabled him to get the big picture. We also took these lists to the architect. Along with this list, was a photo of what we desired & a layout we thought we liked. As the process has developed, all of our smaller, nitpicky items have come out. GC has appreciated the thought process that I've put into it all. He said it has made everything move smoothly. In the end, I will have less daily choices to make. Although I did SO much research prior to all of our meetings, I have welcomed GC's ideas & knowledge, as well. Afterall, we are hiring him for his skills, knowledge, & expertise. He has been doing this 30+ years & I have only just recently begun this process. I definitely would not go into this seeming like a total know-it-all or you will make GC's life quite unpleasant. Also, in all honesty, about 90% of our desires for our home, GC had already planned for, so I would really be looking for the best GC you can find....See MoreMeeting w/ builders for new addition - Any tips for newbie?
Comments (10)Motherof3, if you'd like an excel spreadsheet for budgeting I'd be happy to share mine with you. I'm doing basically what you're talking about so it's probably pretty accurate to your job. If you're comfy with 400K than you're probably ok with budget issues. I'm pushing $250 now, for a pretty high end job (over half of that is the kitchen). $400 seems high if you're not adding on to the house...but heck, in every community it's different. IF we'd have gone design/build we were talking numbers like $350k so given who you're talking to, that could be right. When we started pushing the budget upwards over $150 we decided we should look to our options. First, was the value there (we paid $600 to have an "as proposed" appraisal done). It did justify the expense as reasonable for resale. (I wanted to see a minimum of 67% return on money spent). Then we looked at other homes on lakes (we're in a townhome on a lake and didn't want to give the "lake" away). We couldn't find anything for less than $950 and it needed about $250 put into it :) We love the home, love the location, and the investment wasn't unreasonable given the value of the improved property, so we went for it. Going the GC route allowed for me to upgrade to a pretty high end level on our remodel. It meant more work for me, searching for everything from light fixtures to sinks, but I enjoyed the hunt (still doing it today actually) and think the final project will be better because of the time spent making it different from the norm (in a good way) :) The negatives of that are you don't have warranty for 100% of the job and fixtures, but I do have warranty on the work by the GC and the items I've purchased on an individual basis. I guess more work for me when they break maybe? But I'm ok with that. Even a good design/build wouldn't go to the efforts I've gone to in finding the right art deco lighting, etc...ok they might, but the budget would have pushed half a million if they had done it. Starting with that budget sheet in hand was a valuable tool for me. I'd before thought "oh $40,000 will do it...then $90..." and then I put it all on paper...and reality sunk in :)...See More10 Tests for You And Your Contractor’s First Meeting
Comments (90)FYI...this thread is linked in the "Other Items of Interest" topic in the "New to Kitchens? Read Me First!" thread. So, there shouldn't be a need to bump this thread up to the top and knock someone else's request for help today off the first page....See MoreAbout to meet with builder for the 4th time
Comments (33)Missed the thread until today. Similar to @Tim Cleary, my contract dates to the mid 90s and is similar to one drafted by my father's attorney in the 60s who signed it a few years later when building his own after being reminded he drafted it. In CA we must also reference and add a few pages due to the license board. It sounds like a good discussion for my local custom builder's group. When I was a member of a Builder 20 group it was rare and we all exchanged contract forms for tips. I've run into the AIA question a few times. A signing last week for a commercial contractor who initially asked about the AIA forms but whose opinion was they were not as applicable to residential. We made a few changes to mine and got it done. Hopefully I will not have to review it again during the course of construction as is my goal. Its time again for me to review my documents and will get the AIA forms for review. Ultimately it might be an easier comfort level for clients and licensed architects if I use it, so it will be considered, but like other builders here have said, there are some risks. When our local market becomes more architect driver, it may become more common....See MoreVirgil Carter Fine Art
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoCharles Ross Homes
7 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
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