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The decision has been made. You want to start a new project by building or remodeling something. Now what?How much is it going to cost? Will you need a permit? Where do you get the best materials for the job? How do you make sure the work is being done right so you don’t have leaks or fires in the future? Are you getting the best products and not just the most expensive? Who do you trust?
There are many things to contemplate and multiple hurdles to jump when considering a construction project. It all starts with research. It doesn’t matter if you are building an 8,500 square foot medical center or a two hundred square foot bathroom remodel, the more research that is done in the beginning, the more likely the project will turn out exactly how you envisioned in the end. Research can tell you what you can expect (to a degree), what materials and tools you will need, trades that may need to be involved, and some rough costs. But where do you go from here? Who do you trust?
Most people like to jump right into picking out the tile and deciding on the floor color, but even with these fun decisions, which one is the best product for you? You can choose each aspect of your project based on what you want, but making sure you know what you should be wanting, well, that’s slightly more difficult.
Unfortunately for consumers it is very difficult to find an unbiased opinion in construction. You will find trade professionals who are more than willing to give you their best advice based on their specific trade and experience, but, this means you must consider your source. For example, if your on a car lot that only sells BMW’s you will rarely find a person there who recommends you buy a Volkswagen. Regardless of their personal beliefs, if Volkswagen is in fact better a purchase for your needs they cannot benefit from that advice and would be hard pressed to give it. The problem is that you want what is best for you and not what is best that this individual can offer. So what is the best way to find out ‘what you should be wanting’? The three options to finding out ‘what you should be wanting’ is by, learning as we go, a general contractor, or a construction advocate/ manager.
The ‘learning as you go’ technique can be a very enlightening way to go (a technique I tend to use often). You can learn more about the construction industry then you ever thought possible and it allows you to get your hands dirty. But this technique has its down sides. Having to redo things, go back to the hardware store to buy more material, and the project taking much longer then you originally thought. This can end with you feeling very frustrated, possibly an incomplete project or even worse still; a project that you believe has been done to your expectations and has not.
The next option is to hire a general contractor. They usually handle everything including obtaining permits, arranging the work to be done, picking up materials and paying everyone. They generally provide an estimate at the beginning of the job and then have subsequent change orders. Estimates are simply a guess as to what your project might cost and gives no real end to what your investment might be. The problem is they often charge large mark ups and aren’t always looking out for your best interests. Additionally most who claim to be general contractors do not have any way of proving their factual working knowledge of the construction industry. Time is money to them and the quicker they are off the job the more money they make.
The final option is to hire a construction advocate/ manager (also called Set Cost Consulting). Their only job is to know the ins and outs of the construction business. They give you a third party unbiased insight into what decisions need to be made and when. They can provide expert testimony in regards to all aspects of the construction/ remodeling project. For a small fee you can pay consultants to give you an actual cost evaluation the will detail out the exact cost for labor and materials to complete your project. They are responsible for checking the quality and standard of install on all products to ensure warranty’s are not voided and building codes are not violated. They work in the best interest of the project. The only problem (some may consider it a benefit) is that you will be responsible for paying all trades and suppliers.
So the question remains, who do you trust? Yourself, to be diligent, precise, able and willing to learn every aspect of construction, trades, products, applications, codes, order of events as well as all applicable laws in order to protect your assets? You can pick a contractor that you picked out of several who showed interest in your project without any actual knowledge of their credibility or credentials other than their own claims. Or finally a construction advocate that can work with you holding your hand or pointing the way in getting your project completed in a way that makes you feel good about your investment of both your time and money. No matter who you choose to give your trust to in the end ethics and talent rarely come free.
Jeph Burnett-
“I’m never too busy to work hard for you or your referrals!”
Call for your initial no cost consultation. 281-221-6066
