What Can Your Builder Control?
Homebuilding is a highly specialized and complex process.
And like builders themselves, no two clients are exactly the same.
Some
homeowners are very interested in the homebuilding process, while
others are more content to follow the lead of the builder and be
available only when needed. Most clients fall somewhere in between.
Regardless of their approach or comfort level with new home
construction, clients play a vital role in its
success. The ideal homeowner leads by
example; making appropriate and timely decisions to help ensure the
home is completed on schedule. In addition, pro-active homeowners
become educated about the home building process so that they
understand
and respect its nuances. A critical part of that
education is knowing what is and is not in a builder's control and
having realistic expectations for how issues will be managed,
questions
answered, and problems solved. One of the most obvious
issues is the weather. Rain, freezing temperatures, and other severe
climate conditions are out of any earthly being's control. When the
weather results in delays in the delivery of materials or their
installation, however, it can have a ripple effect on the entire
construction schedule. While professional builders cannot control
the
weather, they can prepare for it by communicating regularly with
subcontractors and materials suppliers to gauge their availability
once
the weather clears and keeping homeowners informed about changes to
the
schedule. Likewise, outside circumstances --
such as a natural disaster in another part of the country, or even
global trade trends -- may cause the cost and availability of
construction materials and labor to become volatile or unreliable.
With
proper controls in place, however, a professional builder should be
able to mitigate or adjust for delays and cost overruns by providing
adequate lead time for materials delivery and making sure each trade
partner finishes his phase of the work before the next one
begins. To avoid other common delays, smart and
successful builders are aware of how long it takes to get approval
from
the local building department to begin construction and the amount
of
time an inspector needs to schedule a job site visit to check over
the
progress to date. But even under the best of
circumstances, barring any problems caused by weather or other
outside
forces, there's always a risk in relying on other people to help
complete any job, whether it's the construction of a house,
providing
input on a financial report, or creating an advertising campaign.
Increasingly, the housing industry exemplifies this shared
responsibility among a complex network of players, as builders rely
on
subcontractors and materials suppliers to deliver pieces of the
puzzle
on time, within budget, and according to specifications and
standards. In fact, a builder's role is often
akin to a manager as much as it is a craftsman. Builders must manage
complex scheduling and supervision of various trade partners. It's a
job that requires no less skill than building a wall or installing a
heating system. As a homeowner, consider what you
can reasonably expect your builder to control. Communicate with your
builder to be sure he knows and agrees with those expectations. This
will help ensure a coordinated effort toward achieving overall
success
and satisfaction with the finished home.
 Sunwood Development
Corp
273 North Colony Street, Suite 2
Wallingford, CT 06492
203.269.0325 - Phone
203.265.3676 - Fax
Amy@SunwoodDevelopment.com
www.sunwooddevelopment.com
c.
2009 All rights reserved.
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