Building a new home
is challenging and requires careful planning to avoid delays and extra expenses. Using a checklist will help to ensure that the work flows as smoothly as possible. What you put on your checklist will vary with the project and how involved you are personally in the process. If you’ve hired a builder, your checklist will be considerably shorter than if you are acting as your own general contractor, for instance. For the purposes of this article, we will assume that you are working with a builder and that you have already chosen a building site and a home plan for your interior design.
YOUR CHECKLIST MAY LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
1. Meet with builder to discuss options.
2. Return build-sheet to builder. Go over options.
3. Release initial payment. At this point work will begin and the basement can be dug and poured.
4. Meet with designer re: kitchen and bath layouts and interior paint.
5. Meet with builder re: changes to floor plan and ceilings.
5. Meet with designer re: flooring and trim.
7. Meet with builder re: first walkthrough. Most of the framing will be complete at this point, and rough-ins for plumbing, electrical and heating will have begun.
8. Meet with designer re: exterior finishes.
9. Release first progress payment.
10. Meet with designer re: countertops, electrical and plumbing fixtures.
11. Meet with landscape designer re: driveway and sidewalk layout.
12. Second walkthrough. Most of the flooring is in at this point and the finishing should be taking place.
13. Quick walkthrough and meeting with builder to ensure issues have been addressed.
14. Release second progress payment.
15. Meet with landscape designer re: patio, fencing, and plantings.
16. Meet with designer to finalize appliances and window treatments.
17. Final walkthrough, home should now be complete, including landscaping.
18. Release final progress payment.
19. Possession date. You can now move into your new home.
The important thing is that you have a checklist and there should be rough dates as to when progress payments are due, and under what circumstances. Having a checklist will not only help you to remember what still needs to be done, but will help both you and the builder know where things stand.
