Building a house is neither an easy task nor a cheap one. There are many decisions to be made, and one of these involves asking the right questions. You contractor or builder could be your best friend or your worst enemy in such a situation. Hence, we’ve compiled some pertinent questions that would keep them on their toes and give you some peace of mind.
1. About The Work Process
Building a home takes a long time, and tends to get messy. Hence, you need to have an idea of just how like the whole project would take. Both homeowners and builders need to have some sort of set goal in mind for each day. If the builder is working on the kitchen one day, for instance, you may have to make some other arrangements for food.
Deciding upon a tentative or set schedule with your contractor is extremely important. This way, you could even be absent for a few days and still expect the construction to be on schedule. Plus, you also need to know when the workers would arrive or leave, so that you know when to be around.
2. What You Can Do
There are some ways in which a homeowner can help out their builder/contractor. This could result in the job getting completed sooner and more efficiently. For instance, you may ask whether you need to clear out a certain area a day or so before work is started. You may also ask whether you have to be around to sign anything or select a certain tile, paint, or something else for the completion of the project.
3. The Noise And Chemical Level
Construction is usually a noisy task, so you may want to ask just when the noise is supposed to start and how long will have to go on. Many times, the initial stages of construction or renovation are the noisiest. After that, the painting and finishing jobs usually do not pose much of a problem.
As a homeowner, you need to know these facts in order to pacify your neighbors, if nothing else. You may also have an elderly or sick family member in the house. They would have to be relocated if the noise gets to be too much. The same goes for when workers are using chemicals for fumigation, polishing, or varnishing. If you or anyone else has any allergies to such fumes, you need to take some precautions. If a student is unable to work in the house during construction, they may have to opt for a cheap dissertation.
4. The Qualifications
You are well within your rights to ask for a contracting license or certificate. At the same time, you may also ask about the qualifications of the workers being brought into your house. You can ask whether they are subcontractors; and if so, what their qualifications and experience are.
Asking about these qualifications and licenses is not just limited to making sure they do a good job. In case of an accident, the status of subcontractors and workers need to be covered by your insurance as well as their own. Otherwise, there may be serious liabilities to pay. This is certainly the last thing you want when you’re already working on a lifetime project.
5. How To Resolve Problems
Disagreements are only to be expected in such long-term projects. Hence, you need to have a third party or mediator in case of an argument between yourself and the contractors. Otherwise, it’s your word against their, and the stalemate could result in a lot of wasted time and resources.
Wrap-Up…
Many contractors and builders would actually appreciate you asking some intelligent questions before they start their work. Such a huge project is usually a two-way process. If you ask the right questions, they would know that you wouldn’t expect any miracles from them, but would work alongside them to get the house of your dreams.