There are a lot of other major players in the custom home building process besides contractors. The contractor has the primary communication with subs, suppliers, and inspectors, but you’ll be involved in many of the conversations.
Suppliers come in different shapes and colors, and each one has its own terms for deposits, payments, and delivery. If you’re working with a contractor, he’ll probably arrange for most of the basic materials from a supplier with whom he has an established business relationship.
Even though your contractor provides the suppliers, you can still look to buy fixtures and items. To make your contractor’s job a little less hectic:
- Communicate as soon as possible to make sure he hasn’t already ordered the item.
- Make sure the item is practical for the project. For example, older electrical and plumbing fixtures may require some adaptation for modern usage.
- Make the item easily available to the contractor by having it delivered to the site.
- Ensure the finances have been reconciled with the budget and contract.
Suppliers often need deposits to hold materials and for large items ordered in advance. Make sure you have plenty of cash available for deposits and to keep the suppliers happy.
Subcontractors don’t have all the credentials of a general contractor, but they’re experts in their specialized fields. They’re referred to as subcontractors or subs on your site because they work for the general contractor.
Subs Needed in the Custom Home Building Process
Here is a list of subs probably necessary for your project in the approximate order they will work on your project:
- Grading sub or excavator
- Foundation sub
- Concrete sub
- Framing sub
- Plumbing sub
- Electrical sub
- Mechanical/HVAC sub
- Roofing sub
- Drywall sub
- Painting sub.
Subs may also handle items, such as tile, masonry, millwork, stucco, insulation, sewer/septic, and carpentry. Most of these subs have licensing in their specific area. Make yourself available to walk through the property with the primary subs with whom you may have some input, such as:
- The plumbing sub
- The electrical sub
- The HVAC sub
- The roofing sub.
Subs are craftspeople first and businesspeople second. Many of them are less concerned about their social skills than their work quality. You need good communication and rapport during the process, especially for the finish work.
Last but not least, you will be confronted with two types of inspectors during the process – these being building and bank inspectors.
The bank inspector determines how far along the project is so you can be reimbursed for the work that’s been completed. These inspections occur at specified times. The building inspector visits to make sure that the project is being built to meet the local codes and according to the approved plans. These inspections occur based upon local government requirements established by the local building department.
These two inspectors aren’t interchangeable and have no interest in looking at anything beyond their scope. They both want the house to be completed in a reasonable time frame and in a workmanlike manner.
The whole inspection process can be smoothed if you and your contractor follow these few tips:
- Call the inspector a few days in advance so you don’t have to stop the project and wait.
- Keep the site clean and organized so the inspector feels good about what he sees.
- Make it easy for the inspector to see what he needs to see so he doesn’t have to spend time digging and become frustrated.
- Keep disputes calm. Find out how to fix the problems and only pick battles you’re sure you can win in the custom home building process.