Building a new home is so exciting. From picking your dream location to helping design the plans, your home will be unique to you and your family. Navigating the home building process can at first seem overwhelming. There is so much to do and think about! Having a good relationship with your contractor is critical in reducing the stress associated with building a new home. JMK Contractor is a new construction contractor in Miami. We have a lot of experience building new homes in the Miami area. In order to put future homeowners at ease, there are six topics to discuss before starting construction.
Talk To Your New Construction Contractor in Miami About Budget
First and foremost, share the overall goal budget with your contractor. It is important that they know how much you are planning to spend on your build. This gives the contractor an idea about how big the house can be and what types of materials and finishes can be used. The contractor will help you with cost estimates. Many future homeowners have no idea about construction costs. For example, did you know that lumber prices have skyrocketed over the past year? According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the increase in lumber prices has caused new construction costs of single-family homes to increase by an average of $24,000! Knowing the costs of the materials and labor needed to build your home is key when planning a budget.
Contractor Insurance
Future homeowners should also ask to see proof of a contractor’s insurance policies. The contractor’s insurance should cover if anything goes wrong during the construction process or if any of their workers are injured on your property. If a contractor is uninsured, then these costs will fall on the homeowner. It is essential to know that should these issues arise, the responsibility is on the insured contractor and not you.
Contract Structure
The next item to discuss is the contract structure. Work with your contractor to be sure you understand everything included in your contract with them. BuildingAdvisor.com mentions it’s important to know what you are getting into as far as “scope of work, changes, and payments.” For example, if there is an unforeseen cost along the way, do you agree to allow the contractor to make the appropriate change, or do they need to run it by you first? The contract should also include stipulations about materials and labor warranties. This is important in case something goes wrong after construction is complete. If there is a warranty, the contractor will come back out, free of charge, to make the repair or address the issue.
Site Feasibility
Once you feel comfortable with your budget and contract structure, it’s time to do a site feasibility study. This usually happens within a 30- to 60-day window after the lot is purchased. Your contractor can recommend what type of inspection and testing should be done to make sure the lot is feasible to build on. A soil engineer typically comes out to analyze the soil. Also, if a septic system or well is needed, someone will come out to inspect the land and issue a permit. Other areas, like the floodplain and topography, should be looked into as well. Typically, all of these inspections are included as contingencies in the contract. This means that, in the worst-case scenario, you can always back out of the purchase if something unfavorable is found during the site feasibility study.
Schedule
Another item to discuss with the contractor is the building schedule. Your contractor should be able to lay out a rough outline of a schedule, including when the project will be started and when it will be finished. Be aware that, on average, it can take anywhere from 6 months to a year to build a new home.
How Will Your New Construction Contractor in Miami Handle Site Supervision?
Last but not least, it’s important to know how the contractor management process works onsite. Typically there will be a foreperson or a site superintendent who will be onsite daily to check in with the subcontractors working on your home. Asking questions about site supervision can give future homeowners an idea about the day-to-day management of their project. Ask questions about what the supervisor would do if a material or labor issue were to come up. Also, find out how often you will get the chance to communicate with and ask questions to the site supervisor. Solid lines of communication are always important in the new construction process.
Working With A New Construction Contractor in Miami
Building a new home is a huge process. You and your family are getting the custom home of your dreams. You get to pick everything from the location to the floor plans to all the interior finishes. While the process can seem overwhelming, keep in mind that you always have your contractor to lean on. Before beginning construction, there are some essential items that should be discussed between the contractor and the future homeowners. Start by hearing what your contractor has to say about construction cost estimates. Based on this, you can start to form a budget. Next, discuss the construction contract, contractor insurance policies, site supervision policies, as well as a schedule for construction. Your contractor will also be able to help you through the site feasibility study period to make sure the land you bought is suitable for construction.
If you are looking for an experienced, highly-qualified new construction contractor in Miami, look no further. JMK Contractor is here to help with any new construction project. We love helping our clients build and design the home of their dreams. For more information about our services and the new construction process in general, contact us today.