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Start with
setting a budget for your project. Then take about 15% off of that
and try to work with that. Your budget will always go up, and almost
never down. |
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Start
interviewing contractors that can offer you both the design and the
construction services. If you hire a separate designer and
contractor, they might not communicate well together and the
response time when there are problems might not be good. |
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Upon finding the
top 2 or 3 contractors that you might want to work with, do a full
background check on them. Then get them to offer you a free
'DETAILED ESTIMATE' in writing along with a sketch of what they
propose to offer. (sketch may be vague) |
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Ask to see plans
that his designer has done for other jobs like yours. Ask for the
name and phone number to verify with the owner of those plans that
they were happy and that the job was managed in a professional manor
and time frame. |
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Be sure to check
with your local building department to be sure that they will allow
you to build what you are designing. Setbacks and other requirements
vary greatly. |
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When signing the
contract, be sure that at least the following are included: start
date, competition date, detailed pricing, progress payment schedule,
notice of cancellation, license number, insurance policy number and
carrier, a complete detailed list of material types to be supplied,
hourly rate for additional work added, references to check on and
full contact info on the contractor. |
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When you feel
that your contractor can offer you everything you want for your
budget, then sign the 'DETAILED CONTRACT' with him and start the
plans. Be sure to have an 'escape clause' in there if the price
should escalate more than a certain percent. |
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Submit plans, get
approval, pull permits and start your room addition or home
remodeling project. Get a 'critical path' from your contractor at
the beginning of the project. |
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Try and do as
much communication with your contractor and designer as possible by
email. This is a great way to keep a hard copy and a paper trail of
the project. |
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Follow up with
all phone calls with an email to recap what was discussed and agreed
upon. This is very important. |
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Don't pay any
progress payment before they are due, and execute lien releases.
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For more
information,
CLICK
HERE NOW for our free 'How to Hire a Contractor' PDF booklet.
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