Hiring a General Contractor in Prescott?
March 20th, 2008 categories: Real Estate News
Building a home in Prescott? This is a must read!
Over the years I’ve had countless conversations with Prescott homeowners who chose to have their homes built instead of buying a resale. When asked if they would ever build again, most would not. Sadly, most folks I spoke with had a negative experience with their General Contractor and the whole building process, many were still angry. Almost every homeowner I spoke with had the same three complaints in one form or another.
A. Time/Cost overruns.
B. Plans/blueprints not followed correctly. Paperwork a diaster.
C. Calls to contractor not returned-poor communication.
Here’s a few recommendations that should make the road to building your own home a pleasant and rewarding experience.
1. On the Contract, set a schedule with a definite start and completion date allowing for reasonable weather delays. Establish a monetary penalty for every day beyond the completion date that the home is not completely finished and ready to live in.
2. Every change to the existing Contract and or blueprints is going to cost you money. Insist that these changes be in writing with a price quote. You would be astonished at how seemingly small changes can add up to a huge bill you will be expected to pay when your home is finished.
3. Get references and talk to them! How long has this Contractor been in business? How did he/she respond to Warranty repair requests? How quickly did they return phone calls? Was the home finished on time? Cost overruns?
4. Do Not, I repeat Do Not stay in Miami while your home is being built in Arizona.. I know Contractors will cringe at this next statement but here goes…It’s imperative you show up at the jobsite-daily if possible. I cannot stress the importance of this strongly enough. You’ll learn a ton and it seems to help everyone involved stay focused on the task at hand. Keep in close touch with your Contractor, ask for and expect updates.
You can check your Contractor’s status with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors at www.azcontractor.com.
this is great advice from a realtor. here in ashburn va we have cookie cutter homes being built so there is not a lot managment we control on the contractor side. nevertheless, i am glad to have a reference for when i do work with someone building their own home.
Jonathan,
Thanks so much for your comment, and I’m glad you found the article helpful. Having a home built is a big deal and people should know what their getting into!
Thanks again,
Sue Brown