A Homeowner's Guide to the Custom Home Building Process

A Homeowner’s

Guide to the

Custom Home

Building Process

CHRISTY ANN KICKLIGHTER

Copyright © 2015 Christy Ann Kicklighter.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

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ISBN: 978-1-5043-2800-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-2801-2 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 03/23/2015

CONTENTS

Introduction

Selecting your Contractor

The Cost Estimating Phase

Chapter 1 Bidding & Estimating

Chapter 2 Bid Proposal and Clarifications

Chapter 3 Options and Value Engineering

The Construction Phase

Chapter 4 Contract / Form of Agreement

Chapter 5 Insurance and Bonding

Chapter 6 Lien Law

Chapter 7 Building Permitting

Chapter 8 Payment Applications

Chapter 9 Change Orders

Chapter 10 Project Schedule and Photographs

Chapter 11 Material Selections and Submittals

Chapter 12 Project Meetings

Chapter 13 Quality Control and Punch Lists

Post Construction Phase

Chapter 14 Moving In

Chapter 15 Warranty and Operation & Maintenance Manual

Chapter 16 Home Maintenance

In Closing

Construction Glossary

About the Author

INTRODUCTION

Building your next home should be a pleasure, not a stress-filled cluster of to-do lists, tedious decisions, and I can’t believe that you spent so much money on those granite tops! Think about it - you’ve gotten to place where you can actually build a home, from scratch, just the way you’ve always wanted it - cool right? Yet, so many people get to this point, with all of the positive energy that got them here and get bogged down in fears and worries, and thus the whole experience turns into a nightmare. I have even known couples who have split after building or remodeling home, haven’t you?

But it doesn’t have to be like that. With just a little bit of information, you can dilute your fears and worries and make this an enjoyable experience. Do not go into it thinking that every contractor wants to rip you off. Do not go into it believing that you’re building a money pit. Think of it like buying a new car - you know you have overpaid in the past, you might believe that all car salespeople are crooks, and you have no idea how a car is put together or how to fix one. But that doesn’t make it any less fun to drive that new car home with that fresh new car smell. So arm