Jim and Linda were the kind of people who refuse to give up. Sometimes persistence is a good thing, but there are times when pushing too hard is unwise. This couple, for instance, were unwilling to listen to sound professional advice. They forced their opinions and ideas on everyone that had anything to do with their remodel project, including builders - and it was like forcing a round peg into a square hole. It just didn’t work. Even when they realized they had designed a project way outside of their budget, they would not give up.
They began to shop in earnest for a builder who would build their project for the price they thought it should be. Would Jim and Linda find a competent and skilled builder to complete their project?
Maybe, but the builder they seemed to want - the one that was the answer to all their problems - would either be a builder that was desperate for work or did not know how to estimate a project the scale of theirs.
Finding a competent builder can be challenging, but when you know what to look for, you’ll get an accurate estimate and time frame for your project. Many builders will not provide a final price for a project in the concept phase, because there are too many variables until a permit has been issued. So, it makes sense that it would be very difficult for someone other than a builder to try and calculate the cost of a project while it is in the design phase.
After a dozen of exhausting interviews with many builders, Jim and Linda got their homebuilding costs down to a price that was only 5 or 10 percent less than the initial estimate - still well over their budget. They were willing to do anything to get their project completed.
At this point, Jim and Linda had some choices to make. Instead of cutting their losses or scaling back the scope of their project, they made a “deal” with a builder to build only part of the project. They continued to pour more and more money into a project that they could not afford to finish. After two years their project was a disaster. Contractors and material suppliers had filed liens against the property and they were headed for foreclosure.
G
et good advice from a competent builder and listen. Interview several first to determine the right one for you and your project. A competent builder will explain the homebuilding process and all the steps along the way. They can guide you through the entire process and costs, so you feel confident and secure in your decisions. They should have an excellent reputation and be up-to-date on building codes, land, and procedures. Check out the company’s references and precious projects completed.
