As most of you probably can assume, having a custom-built home is not an easy task, but with the right team assembled, it can go far easier than trying to run the project on your own. While many new custom-built homeowners dream of running their projects, unless they have significant construction experience, that is not something that we would recommend. So, we have compiled a quick checklist to help you assemble the right construction management team for your specific project.
Picking the Team
There are many considerations when assembling your team, but chemistry is arguably the most important (more on this later). Most of the people you will be interviewing for the process will have very similar experiences, so you will need to pick the people you can have an open conversation with about the project and those who will be honest with you while at the same time trying to keep the integrity of your plans as intact as possible. Keep that in mind as you work through this checklist of qualifiers.
Experience
Your home is not the place to work with a new contractor, so experience will play a significant role. Immediately remove inexperienced builders from your list, as you should start with a base of contractors with excellent reputations and proven builds on their resumes. As we have noted in other posts, there will be challenges during the build, so you want your initial list to be filled with builders who can deal with issues and have a game plan ready to go when they arise.
Respecting Your Budget
In our budgeting posts, we always recommend an emergency fund that can be tapped into during the build, but this should be the exception, not the rule. You want contractors and builders with a history of delivering their projects on time and budget. This is an area where a residential construction project manager will come in handy, as they will have a plan in place for days when weather impacts the builds, or there are some supply chain or staffing challenges.
Find That Chemistry
Once you have your final list together, it is about finding the people you can work with, day in and day out, which could include some heated sessions when things are not going as planned. You have to know that you can trust the people on the job and that they respect your guidelines and the direction from your construction project manager. How do they handle conflict on the job site? What is their plan when bad weather hits? How do they deal with supply chain shortages?
During the initial interview process, people always put their best face on, like how people act when they first start dating a new person. It is not until the third or fourth date that the guard begins to be let down, so have multiple meetings with people, preferably in a relaxed environment, such as a dinner or lunch, to ensure this is a good fit for you.
Better Build Now would love to be a part of your new custom-built home. We offer services such as residential construction project managers and construction consultants to protect your build. If you would like to learn more about our company, click here. If you want to discuss your project in person, call us at 888-402-4180.