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 While you may have the desire to construct our own
residential masterpiece, unless you are an experienced builder,
plumber, electrician, HVAC expert, carpenter and landscaper, you
probably don’t have the skill set to be a home construction
do-it-yourselfer.
Yes, you may be a smart person with plenty of family and friends to
help you with your build, but what the contractor offers above skill
is knowledge.
Regardless of where you build it, your home must comply with
specific codes.
According to Lincoln Building and Zoning Officer Wes Woodhall there
are a minimal number of codes within the city about location that
includes setbacks, zoning allowances, subdivision roads, etc.
In reference to the actual structure, Woodhall says, the city
requires that all homes be built according to International
Residential Code, which is “massive in context. We (the city) are
governed by the 2012 ICC codes, 2014 National Electrical Code, and
the 2014 State of Illinois Plumbing Code.”
So, there are three separate sets of codes in addition to the local
codes.
Your contractor spends time with all of these and should be familiar
with what must be done for a solid construction in your area.
The question is, are you? Do you want to take a chance that you will
try to do it yourself and miss something that is very, very
important?
Even with a contractor, you will still be very involved in your home
build. You are going to be putting a lot of effort into choosing the
floor plan, selecting floor covering, cabinetry, countertops, sinks,
bathroom fixtures, finishes and much more.
To start, make a wish list of what you would want in your perfect
house. A large kitchen might outweigh a formal dining room, gigantic
family room, or a separate media room.
When you become serious about building, bear in mind what you want,
but also be reasonable. Think about the things on your list that are
extravagant because those are the costs that will add up quickly.
Yes, a faucet over the stove for filling the spaghetti pot is super
cool, but how often will you actually use it? That one faucet is
going to require extra hardware and plumbing, which will equate to
extra dollars.
Whatever is on your list is probably attainable, depending on your
budget of course, and the creativity of your contractor.
When you are ready, the first thing you will want to do is set your
budget. How much money can you put into a home? And, be all
inclusive, from your land costs, to furniture, window treatments to
landscaping and all points between.
Also set aside a portion of that budget for unexpected expenses.
Local builder/seller realtor Seth Goodman has built and sold homes
in the Lincoln area on multiple occasions. He suggests that you set
aside 10 to 15 percent of your total budget for the costs associated
with unexpected complications.
In an article written in 'The Week' on February 22, 2015 –
7 steps to building your dream home, the author suggests
that before you do anything else, start an excel spreadsheet and put
down all the costs that will be associated with your build. Set your
price at the top of the sheet and subtract the costs of the build.
The author says that using your spreadsheet, where you can see an
actual cost vary from the estimate on the sheet, instantly seeing
how changes are impacting your bottom line.
Next, you should hire a contractor. This is a very important part of
your building process. Remember the opening paragraph says that a
well built home will retain and even increase in value. Choose a
contractor wisely.
Goodman says his criteria for a contractor includes one who is
“honest, experienced, reasonable, available, and local.” Note that
'cost' is not the first thing on Goodman’s list. Of course, you want
to work with someone who is reasonably priced, but experience and
integrity are two very high ranking needs when you are trusting your
dream and your money to someone else. It is
also nice to note that Goodman says to choose someone local. The
money you spend is going to go back into your community when you use
a local contractor. And, here’s something else to think about. That
contractor is in your community, he or she is going to want your
house to reflect his or her ability. The contractor will want you to
be so happy that you will tell your friends and neighbors.
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On the This old House website the article 'Top
8 Pro Tips on How to Hire a Contractor,' offers several
suggestions on how to choose wisely. Note that one of the key
factors they include is talk to others about the contractor.
General Contractor in the program, Tom Silva, offers this advice,
"Throw out the lowball bid. This contractor is probably cutting
corners, or worse, desperate for work." Technical competence and
comfort should play an equal or greater role in your decision. How
well you and he or she communicate is the single most important
factor in choosing a contractor.
If you are indeed building your dream home, then there is a good
chance that in your mind's eye you already know what it will look
like inside and out. You may have even drawn it out. Share your
vision with your contractor and talk about how to make the dream
come true.
When Goodman built his “dream home” were there many components that
the contractor said just wouldn’t work. He responded, “We made it
work.”
So, talk to your contractor, and if he tells you that something you
want won’t work, don’t get mad, get curious. Ask why your idea is a
bad one. Two of the best answers are because it won’t meet code or
it is a hazard to the health and wellbeing. That given, be a little
flexible, seek a compromise to “make it work .”
If you don’t have a plan then you can easily find one online. There
are dozens of websites that sell you floor plans. Prices vary
according to the size of the home, how complicated the plan is, and
also what is included - floor plan, artists rendering, material
lists, etc..
Suggested keywords for an online search are “new house plans 2020
with pictures.” If you find a plan you like, but it lacks just a
thing or two, tweak it to make it more of what you are looking for.
Goodman says he has done this.
And finally, carve it in stone.
It is true that there is always going to be someone out there who is
doing something new and innovative. New products are introduced, new
finishes and much more. You will drive yourself crazy along with
your contractor if you are continually influenced by the new things
you see after you’ve started your build. Stop looking! Your dream
house is just the way you planned it, and you don’t want to someday
regretfully say, I had a plan, but then I changed it.
And finally, while this home is “your baby,” don’t mother-smother
your contractor or his employees. If you want something done, speak
to your contractor. If an employee complains to you about something
going on at the work place, don’t take it upon yourself to fix his
or her problem. Everyone has bad days, and if an employee is out of
sorts, that is only your problem if it is impacting his or her
quality of work. Again, don’t be the middle person, go to the
contractor if you have a concern.
Building a new home is a big endeavor, and even with the right
contractor, you are still going to be in on the build in ways you
may not even imagine. You get to do the fun part, choosing designs,
colors, finishes, fixtures, and more, while someone else does the
work.
So enjoy it, and you might want to follow the advice of architect
Charles Moore, "If you care enough, you just do it. You bind the
goods and trappings of your life together with your dreams to make a
place that is uniquely your own. The crucial ingredient is concern,
care for the way that a house is built, and the shape it gives to
your life."
Happy building!
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