A Message from Baldwin Homes

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Building
Success 101

What's a "change order"?

Answer: A change order is a request to alter, exchange, or substitute a product or design feature that has already been approved, delivered, or installed. When you request a change, your builder will likely have a process in place to confirm the request and make sure it is done to your satisfaction. As construction progresses, the more costly a change order is likely to be in terms of actual dollars and time spent making the alteration, so take the time up-front to make informed decisions and try to stick to them during the building process.

Homebuilding today is a far cry from a century ago, or even just prior to the post-World War II housing boom.

Today's building market is much more sophisticated and complex in terms of construction materials and methods. The builder must coordinate trade partners and suppliers, and successfully maneuver through a variety of building codes and environmental regulations. With all of this 'behind the scenes' activity, we want to be sure that the homeowner does not feel disconnected from the actual construction process. The savvy homebuyer plays an important role in the building of their home.

Defining and understanding your role is very important, even if you're not the one swinging a hammer, sweating the pipes, or trafficking tradesmen. After all, you are the one we are committed to satisfy. It is important for you to gain a solid understanding of the building process and provide an example of professionalism to the rest of the team.

Consider the following leadership training tips to help define your role and contribute to the successful completion of your home.

• Educate yourself. Even though you won't be building the house or acting as the general contractor or builder, read all you can about the home building process to gain an understanding and respect for the pace, phases, and components that go into your home's construction. Knowing the lingo helps when you talk with your builder, and a little knowledge will give you confidence as your home moves through progressive stages of completion.
  
• Stick to deadlines. Builders set deadlines for certain decisions so that materials and labor will show up on time, enabling him to complete your house as scheduled. Your responsibility is to stay current with the agreed upon timelines for decisions you'll have to make. Your timely selections are critical factors in helping the builder deliver your home on schedule and within budget. In addition to helping maintain the pace of construction (which ultimately impacts your moving plans), it sets a good example for your builder, his suppliers and trade partners to follow suit and return the gesture.
  
• Understand change orders. Make sure that you understand the procedure for any changes you make after the agreed upon deadlines. Change orders always cost money and often impact the schedule, as it may take time to remove one product, wait for the delivery of its replacement, and install it. While builders will do their best to accommodate a change (especially a cosmetic one), respect the impact it has on costs and the construction schedule and own up to your responsibility for requesting a change.
  
• Ask questions. There's no such thing as a dumb question; the worst thing you can do is to keep a concern, issue, or idea to yourself. Asking questions can put you on the same page as your builder and set a tone for quality communication between the parties. You may want to keep a list and present your questions during a scheduled meeting or on-site conversation with your builder. Don't shy away from an occasional phone call during business hours if you need an answer more quickly.

We pride ourselves on being expert builders and professional business people. We understand and respect the importance of our relationship. Meet us halfway, and your level of satisfaction will grow ten-fold.

Warmest Regards,

Michael Baldwin

Baldwin Homes, Inc.
277 K Peninsula Farm Rd.
Arnold, MD 21012

Office: 410-544-2200
Fax: 410-544-0980
Email: info@baldwinhomes.net
Website: www.baldwinhomes.net

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