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What Can Your Builder Control?
Homebuilding is a highly specialized and
complex process. And like builders
themselves, no two clients are exactly the
same. Some homeowners are very interested in
the homebuilding process, while others are
more content to follow the lead of the
builder and be available only when needed.
Most clients fall somewhere in between.
Regardless of their approach or comfort
level with new home construction, clients
play a vital role in its success.
The ideal homeowner is a partner, making
appropriate and timely decisions to help
ensure the home is completed on schedule. In
addition, pro-active homeowners become
educated about the home building process so
that they understand and respect its
nuances.
A critical part of that education is knowing
what is and is not in a builder's control
and having realistic expectations for how
issues will be managed, questions answered,
and problems solved.
One of the most obvious issues is the
weather. Rain, freezing temperatures, and
other severe climate conditions are out of
any earthly being's control. When the
weather results in delays in the delivery of
materials or their installation, however, it
can have a ripple effect on the entire
construction schedule. While professional
builders cannot control the weather, they
can prepare for it by communicating
regularly with subcontractors and materials
suppliers to gauge their availability once
the weather clears and keeping homeowners
informed about changes to the schedule.
Likewise, outside circumstances -- such as a
natural disaster in another part of the
country, or even global trade trends -- may
cause the cost and availability of
construction materials and labor to become
volatile or unreliable. With proper controls
in place, however, a professional builder
should be able to mitigate or adjust for
delays and cost overruns by providing
adequate lead time for materials delivery
and making sure each trade partner finishes
his phase of the work before the next one
begins.
To avoid other common delays, smart and
successful builders are aware of how long it
takes to get approval from the local
building department to begin construction
and the amount of time an inspector needs to
schedule a job site visit to check over the
progress to date.
But even under the best of circumstances,
barring any problems caused by weather or
other outside forces, there's always a risk
in relying on other people to help complete
any job, whether it's the construction of a
house, providing input on a financial
report, or creating an advertising campaign.
Increasingly, the housing industry
exemplifies this shared responsibility among
a complex network of players, as builders
rely on subcontractors and materials
suppliers to deliver pieces of the puzzle on
time, within budget, and according to
specifications and standards.
In fact, a builder's role is often akin to a
manager as much as it is a craftsman.
Builders must manage complex scheduling and
supervision of various trade partners. It's
a job that requires no less skill than
building a wall or installing a heating
system.
As a homeowner, consider what you can
reasonably expect your builder to control.
Communicate with your builder to be sure he
knows and agrees with those expectations.
This will help ensure a coordinated effort
toward achieving overall success and
satisfaction with the finished home.
Warm Regards,
Zac Koenig, AMB, CGP
Koenig
Homebuilders
2655 Dillard Rd
Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 787-1000 phone
(828) 526-8433 fax
E-mail:
info@koenighomebuilders.com
Website:
www.koenighomebuilders.com
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.
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