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It may have always been your dream to build a house, but it takes many people to make it a reality. It's no small feat to make a home with both beauty and brawn, and as they say, many hands make light work. Let's take a look at who will lend you a helping hand and exactly what they will do. The builder will have a core team of people who will do daily work on your home. Your sales representative is part of this core group. The sales representative is the liaison between the home buyer and the builder and should give you updates and information about the progress of your home. In addition to keeping you in the know, the sales representative will convey all of your comments to the builder and the team. With your sales representative, communication is key, so make sure that you feel comfortable asking them questions and that you trust their responses.
The builder's core team should be a group of people you'll see often. Along with the sales representative, the core team includes the site supervisor, design consultant, subcontractors and warranty representative. Your satisfaction should be high on their list. Here's a run-through of these core team members:- Site Supervisor -- Also called the "superintendent," the site supervisor manages the construction and oversees subcontractors, which includes making sure things are staying on schedule and meeting quality and safety standards. The site supervisor and sales representative should talk much and often throughout the building process.
- Design Consultant -- Design consultants can help to add flair and style to your home, but they can also consult with home buyers on the pros and cons of selecting certain types of interior and exterior design selections. You (and your neighbors) will appreciate a designer's guidance to help your house look its best.
- Subcontractors -- Also called "trades," subcontractors specialize in certain areas of a home. They include carpenters, roofers, electricians, HVAC installers, plumbers, painters and others. They're hired by the builder and managed by their crew foreman.
- Warranty Representative -- The warranty representative enters the process after you close on your new home. If issues or problems arise with the home after closing, contact the warranty representative, who will counsel you as to the best course of action.
You should have an understanding of the activities of the builder's core team but should remember that the sales representative is your contact point for these team members. Don't relay an issue directly to a subcontractor or other team member because, with so many team members, the message could become lost in the shuffle. In addition to the builder's core team, other professionals will get involved at certain stages of the project, usually at the beginning or the end. This extended team can be made up of the following: - Land Planners -- The land planner is an expert on topography and soil composition and analyzes the site to be sure it's structurally sound. The land planner could also survey the area and subdivide it into multiple lots.
- Engineers -- The engineers might be architects, structural engineers or mechanical engineers. They draw plans, size components for the home and may review components of the home for energy efficiency. They also consider the structural implications of regional and climate conditions.
- Purchasing Agents -- Usually a member of the builder's staff, the purchasing agent works toward securing materials and services for the home, which includes assembling bid packages and sending them subcontractors, reviewing proposals and negotiating with suppliers and workers.
- Building Inspectors -- Employed by the local municipality or state, the inspector reviews the work on a construction site periodically to ensure it meets building code.
- Closing Agents -- Part of the builder's staff, the closing agent prepares all paperwork for closing, schedules the closing with the homebuyer, mortgage broker, attorney and title company and attends the closing to represent the builder.
Between the builder's core team and extended team, the house can really begin take shape. There's just one important team member left. You! The home buyer needs to make structural and design selections, provide timely deposits, finalize the mortgage and attend construction meetings with the site supervisor. Often the home buyer will have a small team of experts for help, which includes the mortgage broker, home appraiser, realtor and a third-party inspector. For some solid advice, read up on smart home buyers by reading
Your Role in the Construction Process from our Home IQ online package. The material in this article comes from online training courses created by BuildIQ. Interested in learning more about their courses? Go to www.buildiq.com -- ©BuildIQ, Inc.
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