Summer Series #3-Walking Through the Steps of a New Build Home-Selecting a Builder and Signing a Contract

Now that we have covered the first two steps of the design process in our previous summer series articles which includes the basics of budgeting, determining overall house size, and understanding actual design needs vs wants, and the selection and permit process, the final step to be discussed in our summer series is the process of selecting a builder and signing a contract!

Got the Plans and Approvals, Now What?

After doing the hard work of receiving proper approvals and certifications from the town/borough that you will be working in, as well as having sealed and approved copies of your house plans, it is now time to start the search for the right builder if you haven’t done so already. At this time, you may have already been consulting with architects and designers to help ensure that your vision is feasible and can logically be built, but it’s even more vital to work with a builder that specializes in design build. A design-build firm will have architects and designers on their team to help you achieve your dream within your budget. A design-build firm such as Baine Contracting can provide their own professional opinion as an expert in the field to help you understand if the project is attainable for your overall budget and long-term goals, as well as assisting with permitting and approvals as was discussed in the pervious article. Some design build contractors will walk you through the steps of municipal zoning approvals and permits, but the most important thing is finding a builder that is a reputable professional that is efficient at their job and has a similar communication style.

Some important things to make sure you check before selecting a builder:

– Are they bonded and insured? Including coverage for Worker’s Compensation, General
Liability, and completed operations?
– Do they have the required licensing on both the Federal and State levels?
– Have proper business registration for the state you are completing work in?
– Check out their website and various resources online to make sure they have reputable
work and have been continuously completing projects
– Check out reviewing services such as Google, Guild Quality, or Houzz. All of which we
ourselves utilize
– Are they members of the Better Business Bureau?
– Don’t be afraid to ask for references and/or to visit their job sites

It’s always better to be safe and complete thorough research on your builder, since we all have heard horror stories of new construction and remodeling projects that have gone rogue. But, if you do diligent research and make sure that they have the proper paperwork and superb reviews online, you should be in good hands. For example, our company is properly insured and registered with the State of New Jersey, we are a member of the Better Business Bureau, and our website and social media are up to date with various projects that we have completed over the years. We also utilize 3 rd party reviewing services for future clients to hear personally from homeowners we have previously worked with, which also allows us to constantly improve our overall efficiency and professionalism as a company. If you are looking into other building firms and notice some of the things mentioned above are missing, like being properly insured or having various low reviews, those would definitely be some possible red flags to consider.

Got a Builder? Things to Remember when Reviewing a Contract

Reviewing any contract is a daunting task of going through the paperwork with a fine tooth and comb to make sure that everything is precisely how you want it and what you want clearly stated within. As with any contract, going through all the legal jargon can be difficult, but if you pick the right builder, they should be able to walk you through the contract and answer or clarify any questions you may have about the details listed within. For instance, the start of our contracts always list out numerically all of the important legal details pertaining to your project such as location, what we agree to complete, and information protecting the client and ourselves as a firm. The second part of our contract is called the “Scope of Work”, this section of the contract will explicitly explain everything we are completing on your house. These factors range from having a list of electrical work that goes room by room including the type of outlets and specific lighting fixtures and where they will be installed, to the tiniest details of what hardware you want installed on your cabinetry and vanities. For this reason, the selection process that was discussed in the previous article is one of the most important steps in a new design-build home because once those are locked in, they can be listed out in your contract. And in our case, if you choose to work with us as a design-build firm, we will even add your selections as attachments called “exhibits” to your contract and review them with you to verify everything is correct.

No matter what builder you select, the most important part is that you select one that makes the building process as stress-free as possible and even enjoyable and exciting when you’re going through the selection process for finishes and design ideas. A great contractor should be able to complete your project efficiently, timely, and the overall experience should be superb. Every project may have its own hiccups or surprises, but if you pick the right contractor, you’ll feel reassured that everything will turn out great in the end. We hope that this summer series of walking you through a new home build project may offer you some comfort or guidance if you are in the process of considering a project. If you are thinking about building a new home or completing a remodeling project, consider including Baine Contracting, Inc. as one of your contractor choices to think about, we love to help people bring their dreams to life!

Written by Shannon Johnstone, Baine Contracting Inc.