Residential Construction

When purchasing most things, a buyer just selects and pays. When it comes to residential construction, however, the buyer has more responsibility. These responsibilities begin at the beginning of the process and continue right on to the end. When those responsibilities are met, the residential construction can continue on schedule. When they are not, the result can be delays, extra expense and stress. Many owners of new residential construction are involved in the process for the first time. The way to avoid the costly and time-consuming mistakes is to know as much as possible about the residential construction process. “Knowledge of the construction process and your role in it will help you stay involved and informed.

At the beginning of the process, the owner is responsible for securing the mortgage and following through on all financing issues. Decisions about choices of materials should be made early on so that orders can be placed in time to make delivery deadlines. Changes in orders can result in delays that cascade down the line. When the materials don’t arrive on schedule, appointments with contractors and subcontractors aren’t met and new schedules have to be made. Contractors know that the owners are responsible. “The entire schedule falls on their shoulders, as they are responsible for making decisions they will have to live with for years to come.”

Meetings with the site supervisor at critical points in the residential construction process to oversee choices. By attending the pre-construction meeting, the pre-drywall meeting and the pre-closing meeting, the owner can review and confirm decisions and ask any questions in a timely way. Maintaining the validity of the warranty is the responsibility of the owner. The owner must understand the warranty document and adhere to its rules. The owner shouldn’t worry about the enormity of these responsibilities. While the residential construction process seems confusing, the owner responsibilities only mean that the choices and the determinations will be just what the owner wanted.