| Planning and Design |
First, choose a plan or design that
most fits the needs of your lifestyle. If you do not have one, we can
help you design one from ideas you have, a plan,
sketch or home that you have seen. This will be used to make the initial
construction estimate with your specifications. Do not
buy plans or have them drawn until you have settled on a builder. |
| Get Pricing for the
House |
With your design in hand, we can
give you a price for the house according to specifications you choose. The land
costs and utilities will need to be added to this. Be
sure that you get a written estimate with a fairly detailed list of
scope of work, type of materials, features, specifications and total cost are
included so that you can accurately compare it to any other pricing you may
get. Remember, the lowest price may not necessarily be the best - quality,
workmanship and materials will reflect in the price. |
| Land |
If you already own your land -
great. You may have equity that you can use as your down payment or to reduce
the payment amount on your mortgage. If you do not already own your land -
don't buy yet. Purchasing the land first at this point may limit your financing
options. If there is a particular lot that you want to have, enter into an
earnest money contract to hold it until you can secure the permanent financing
with the house. Your banker or mortgage institution can guide you. |
| Financing |
You should be pre-qualified so that
you can know what you can afford to buy. You can contact your local bank, a
mortgage broker or we can assist you in locating the financing for your new
home. |
| Choosing a
Contractor |
Make sure your contractor is
registered with the state (TRCC),
fully insured with General Liability and a member of a local chapter of the
NAHB. Check to see if they are members of any other organizations such as their
local chamber of commerce or the Better
Business Bureau. |
| References |
Individual references from a former
customer could be a cousin or a friend; references from banks and suppliers are
better. Contractors who do not pay their bills on time will most likely be a
poor manager of your project. If they are unwilling or unable to supply you
with these references, it may be an early warning sign of things to come. |
| Subcontractors |
All reputable contractors use only
licensed and insured electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors. Many of the
other trades do not require licenses but should be insured. If not, the builder
should carry the insurance for them. |
| Major Warning Signs |
1. Contractor is willing to do the
job at an unusually low price.
2. Requires substantial down payment before
work begins.
3. Refused to provide written estimate or contract.
4.
Refuses to provide references.
5. Uses high pressure sales tactics.
6.
Doesn't seem knowledgeable about basic construction.
7. Begins talking about
"additional costs" over and above the contract price before the work begins.
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