Develop your Building Team:
Earlier is Better
Historically and traditionally, people have been
conditioned to follow a certain, linear path to building a new home.
That is, hire an architect or designer to create the plans, select a
builder and then maybe bring in a stylist or interior designer to
apply the finishing touches.
But the reality is that this step-by-step approach
to getting a new house is not only outdated, but can be risky in terms
of cost and quality. A better approach is to form your project team
from the outset. Doing so fosters a cooperative rather than combative
or competitive working environment that produces more satisfying
results. It's also a dynamic that's more likely to ensure you'll get
what you want in a new home at the price you can afford.
By bringing your design and building professionals
together as soon as possible, they can dedicate their efforts to
meeting your needs and looking out for your budget.
Selecting a professional builder at the outset of
your new-home project allows that person or company to work with an
architect or designer to deliver plans and specifications that are
realistic and can actually be built. It also increases the likelihood
that the project will come in on time and on budget.
Too often, the old approach left builders having to
argue changes to the plans and specifications that sometimes
compromised a home's aesthetic value, if only to make it affordable.
Downsizing is difficult. No one wants to be disappointed or feel like
they had to sacrifice something -- especially a favorite feature or
product -- because it was discovered to be too pricey.
This is much less likely to happen when architect
and builder are working together early in the process. By combining
their expertise they can help ensure that what's drawn can be built
without sacrificing design quality and staying within budget. This
collaboration can result in a far better housing value.
Here are some additional reasons to hire a builder
from the beginning:
Materials ordering. Some products
and materials require long lead times -- perhaps months -- between
order and delivery. A professional builder can identify these
situations and be able to place an order so that product delivery will
not delay the construction schedule.
Code compliance. More so than
design professionals, builders know the applicable building codes as
interpreted by the local authority and inspectors. They can help
insure that plans will be approved for a permit the first time they
are submitted. When plans are kicked back for changes, a home start
can be delayed, or worse, a job may be stopped midway to address a
code issue.
A professional builder also will know when and how
to submit for a building permit and schedule necessary inspections
during construction to establish and maintain a tight building
schedule from the beginning.
Buildablity. You can draw
anything, but even something as seemingly simple as a window or door
needs to be installed properly. If allowed to be part of your new
home's planning process, professional builders and their
subcontractors can quickly and easily identify potential installation
issues before they become costly problems on the job site.
A collaborative effort from the outset allows ideas
and information to flow among your design professional, builder,
stylist, and you before anyone commits a significant amount of time
and money to your new house. Sharing ideas and alternatives to achieve
the best result is a far better approach than discovering a better
idea too late, or not at all.
Warm
Regards,
 
Todd and Don Pohlig
Pohlig Builders
274 Lancaster Ave., Suite 100
Malvern, PA 19355
(P) 610.647.4700
(F) 610.647.6885
www.pohligbuilders.com
info@pohligbuilders.com
c.
2011 All rights reserved.
|
