The
Savvy Homebuyer
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 and
paying promptly for work performed. 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 establishing 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.
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
c. 2007 all
rights reserved
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