How to get your home finished on time
Building a custom home is an exciting project to start if you know what to expect. There are several factors that can contribute to a homebuilding project running smoothly. Building and running on a timely schedule is just one aspect of homebuilding. Figuring out how to get your home finished on time seems to get a headache for many home owners. So what's the secret? Well, unfortunately there are no secrets, but there are things you can do to try and stay on a schedule. Here are a few ideas on how to keep your homebuilding project on a schedule and on budget.
- Set your budget and space it out. Building a home is a long project so it's important to plan your budget out for the entire project. Think about the costs of framing the home, laying drywall, plumbing, windows, etc. Your contractor can help you with estimated prices so you will need to be somewhat flexible with the money. It's better to overestimate the cost so you know you will have enough if something runs you more than you thought it would. Your home will be finished much quicker if you don't have to wait around for money you thought you had, but realize now that you don't.
- Set a schedule and deadline. If you want to stay on schedule you first have to set one. That's the way anything gets finished; with a goal and deadline in mind. Sit down and talk with your contractor about the schedule, write it up and look at it together. If there are alterations that need to be done then both parties will know what's going on. Be realistic in your expectations about when you want the home finished and stick to your guns.
- Communication. Communication can play a big factor in how quickly you finish building your home. Sometimes contractors and homebuilders have different ideas that are not communicated between each other and it cause misunderstandings that cost time and money. It's important to communicate with your subs and contractor your needs and wants and they with you. This will help you stay on schedule. Let them know what time you expect them to begin work, dates you will need them, and possibilities for change. It's hard to follow a schedule with little or no known expectations.
- Implement penalties. Sticking to a schedule requires discipline and hard work. You can include financial penalties in the contracts you draw up so that those who feel like not sticking to the schedule will be penalized. For example, if a sub-contractor is suppose to show up for work at 8:00am in the morning but show up at 8:30am instead then they will be docked a specified amount of money. Before you begin building there is usually a timeframe of when the home will be completed so make sure that you set some kind of penalty on it. If they don't finish when they say they will, then you pay $50 less a day, or whatever you settle on. This keeps them working and sticking to a schedule and will get your home finished faster.
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