There are many potential hazards with new construction; there are hundreds of nightmare stories of new homes gone horribly wrong. However, there are some steps you can take to ensure you don’t suffer the same fate.
Visit the construction site regularly
There are many perplexing unknowns when it comes to new construction. Perhaps your wood has been left outside due to bad weather and is beginning to show signs of rot, or a miscommunication with a subcontractor has your new home facing the wrong way!
The best way to ease your nerves and make sure these problems don’t happen is to visit the construction site very often to keep an eye on the progress. Don’t leave it until the final tour before you see all that has been going on there.
Try to visit the construction site for a walk at least three times.
The first time should be after the house has been staked and inspected, as it gives you an opportunity to make sure it is situated correctly.
Once the frame is complete and the mechanical installation has begun. This is the ideal time to address any issues such as ventilation or electrical wiring.
The last time to visit is for the final tour; At this stage, you will review the checklist. Try to visit as often as possible to address problems as soon as they arise and have a better chance of getting them corrected quickly.
Builders and contractors are human, so mistakes can happen. There is nothing wrong with bringing any building issues or problems you have to their attention. Please note that some things may appear to be problems, but may simply be an incomplete build. Bring any issues to your builder’s attention and they should let you know if it’s not done yet or if there’s anything that needs to be fixed.
Watch your to-do list
You will take a final tour of your newly built home with your builder before closing on your property. They will give you the opportunity to point out any problems, blemishes or defects that need to be corrected before you can move in. You can check for anything from scratches in the wall to misadjusted light switches and get your builder’s attention.
Be sure to thoroughly review the property and compile a checklist beforehand to take with you, some construction companies even offer software designed to help you create your checklist.
Be sure to talk about any problems. Your builder won’t be able to fix problems you don’t know about.
If you’ve gone through your checklist and your builder has fixed any issues, you can feel confident and happy to close on your new home.
Know your warranty
Most states require a construction warranty with new homes, and builders provide warranty for one to several years.
Claiming your warranty is the easiest way to correct any underlying problems in your home, caused by construction errors, poor workmanship, or just plain bad luck.
Some problems take time to appear, so it’s worth having a professional inspection of your property near the end of the warranty. They can point out any issues, such as slow leaks or mold, that can be resolved before the warranty expires. Think of it as the final run.
Try to be flexible with your time frame.
You may be eager to move into your new home, but construction takes time and can easily take longer than estimated to complete.
Many potential pitfalls can delay construction, a freak hail storm or heavy rain during the summer months can cause timelines to shift over the course of completing a project.
There aren’t many builders that will agree to tight deadlines with late completion penalties. It is best to agree on timelines for construction benchmarks such as framing or roof completion.
You may have to pay a higher price for a quick build, but you will have a deadline to complete it. However, it is advisable to have a flexible deadline on the project if possible. By allowing your builders a flexible time frame to work on construction, you can ensure that your property suffers from fewer mistakes in the long run.