Budget-Time Frame-Quality...... What Gives? Your plans are done……….. you waited months for the plans to be approved, and spent numerous hours selecting finishes and materials. In fact, you can’t wait to select a contractor; most likely there are lots of contractors to choose from in your area. You probably have friends that swear by a local builder, but on the other hand you have family that swear by another local contractor in your neighborhood. What to do? This is a huge decision you are about to make and more importantly, the contractor you choose will be spending your hard earned money. However, this is a dilemma that plays out in the minds of many of our clients. But how do you know what to expect from the bids you are about to receive?
Well like everything in life there is a process. We see it everyday in our lives, nature, and our daily routines. We are part of the process of life and construction is part of this science too. There are some fundamental key questions you need to ask yourself in order to understand and know what to expect in the construction of your house and costs. Here are the three main questions you need to have answers to: · Is there a time frame that needs to be met? · Is there a budget in mind that cannot be exceeded? · Are the quality and materials the objective of the project? Knowing which one of these three questions is your priority, will allow you to see and understand the direction your construction project will undergo. Let’s analyze each of the questions in more detail: When time frame is the priority, you can expect costs that run higher than the typical and the quality in craftsmanship and materials can be sacrificed to meet the deadlines. A rushed time frame will require more man-hours and can overlook certain details no matter how much you think you or someone will be dedicated to the specific tasks. If budget is a priority, finishing the project could either be on time or it could run longer than expected, because cost can dictate the priority a subcontractor will set aside on the project in order to meet your budget. For the same reason, finding materials that fit the budget allocated for the project could take time to find and delay timelines. Due to budget constrains the quality of the materials may have to take a back seat in the project. This could end up in a selection of materials that resemble what you had in mind but are not your ultimate wish. When quality and materials are the objective in your project, then budgets tend to be higher, especially if certain quality is expected. Finishing can take longer than the average industry project in your area in order to meet the expectations. In some cases, having certain materials will take longer to find or longer to arrive at your supplier/fabricator. For example, some of our projects have included hand mosaic tile patters that took approximately three months to arrive on site after finalizing the templates and color samples. Not to mention that the cost was well over $500 per square foot. In summary, if your focus is on a timeline, then expect to have sacrifices on your quality and cost. If budget is the driving factor on the project, then expect time frames to be extended and quality not to be to expectation. Lastly, if quality and materials are your expectations then the cost could be higher than the norm and the project could take longer than the typical. Knowing these parameters will help you better understand your construction process and the bids your contractor will submit. Understanding these simple basic questions at the beginning of your project will help you see where and how a contractor will adjust the construction bid. When you have a better understating of what is expected, you are more likely to except the construction cost and in return achieve the ultimate goal of building your dream home with a process that meets your expectations - in other words an exciting project…. You should not experience any less than the ultimate joy when building your home. At least for me, I can not express the feeling when a client thanks me for not only the home I have designed but for the process they have experienced watching their dream home come to realization. Claudio Ortiz, Principal CODG, Inc. www.codginc.com You can email me with comments or questions at Claudio@codginc.com
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AuthorClaudio Ortiz is the principal and founder at CODG, Inc. With over Twenty years of experience designing and working with local municipalities. Archives
July 2023
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