Real Estate Web

Advice For Home Builders

Source: Rebecca Jones
© 2001 Landmark Communications Inc.

Joseph A. DiJulio and Betsy
DiJulio in front of their home.
(Jim Walker / The Virginian-Pilot)

Betsy and Joe DiJulio's new home was built in less than six months.

They juggled full-time jobs yet stayed in daily contact with their builder and his representatives throughout the process. But unlike any, the DiJulios readily call their home-building process an enjoyable experience. To assist other would-be home builders, they have an assortment of suggestions, tips and recommendations.

They offer this advice:

Set a budget. Then, expect to exceed your initial estimate, because costs add up quickly. However, if you have a list of every choice and its related expense like the DiJulios did, you can review it as often as necessary and cut back in some areas in order to allow for spending in others.

Joseph A. DiJulio and Betsy DiJulio in hallway of their home.
(Jim Walker / The Virginian-Pilot)

The whole process is about teamwork. The builder, contractor and subcontractors aren't looking for a friendship with you, however everybody needs to get along and respect one another. Create an atmosphere of mutual respect from the beginning, and even though it's ultimately going to be your house, don't view yourself as having a higher rank than any other member of the team. Stay in touch with your builder. Contacting him and his subcontractors daily is the best way to ensure that the outcome is what you wanted. Betsy visited the construction site daily and also used frequent e-mail communications to ask questions and keep an ongoing dialogue with their builder.

Keep good records. Sometimes the wrong materials are delivered by accident, and if you can show in your records where something different was called for, then it's easier to correct the situation. E-mail communications also help provide a record of decision-making.

When you're asked to make a decision, do it as quickly as possible. You may think a particular choice doesn't affect the overall flow of work, but everything in building a house affects something else. If you're leisurely in responding, then not only does the work slow down, but you also aggravate any number of people on the project.

Living room.
(Jim Walker / The Virginian-Pilot)

Do your homework and stay current with it, so you can respond when the builder asks for an answer. It smoothes the way for the completion day.

Food is a universal token of appreciation. For months, Betsy dropped off home-baked goods daily at the construction site. Even if the tradesmen didn't stay on the job at her house, they definitely started their work there. Also, taking the baked goods gave her a "reason" to stop by. Even now, months after her house was finished, she'll still occasionally drop a plate of "blondies" by the construction trailer. Showing others that you appreciate their work is nearly always worth the effort.

Listen to your gut instinct and go with it. If the DiJulios heard it once, they heard it a hundred times: you'll regret painting the interior with eight different dark colors. Now, that's the most talked-about feature of their house.

Ask plenty of questions about your builder's model house. Typically, builders use many upgraded items in their models. Don't assume everything you see is a standard feature. Ask your builder for his suppliers' names and visit their showrooms. You may find something you like better than the builder's offering for comparable price.

Dining room.
(Jim Walker / The Virginian-Pilot)

Unique fixtures, particularly those for lighting, don't have to be pricey. Ask in the lighting departments at stores like Home Depot and Lowe's for the "special order" book. Stores can't possibly stock every option, and special orders come in all price ranges. If the sales associate is knowledgeable about his store's suppliers, that's even better. Use his expertise to help you find a manufacturer whose products match your taste and pocketbook.

Use the Internet. When local stores and suppliers don't carry what you have in mind, search the Internet. The DiJulios found several lighting fixtures and a dining table that way.

Anything with curves costs extra. If you can live with straight edges and corners, do so; they're more economical.