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Home Owners Choosing A Michigan Builder |
Building or remodeling your home can be a great investment. Like an experienced money manager you need to to find and experience builder that can manage your project. As you begin to choose the right builder take some important steps to ensure that you get the builder you need.
Once you have decided what resource(s) you will use choose at least three to give you estimates. If any of those estimates are over $600.00 dollars the individual must have be licensed by the Department of Labor and Economic Growth in the state of Michigan. A residential builder is allowed to complete a whole structure or remodel an entire structure and includes all of the tasks of a maintenance and alteration contractor. A maintenance and alteration contractor is able to do the following: basement waterproofing, carpentry, concrete, excavation, structure wrecking, insulation, masonry, painting, roofing, screen and storm sash, gutters, siding, swimming pools, and tile. When the builder shows up for the estimate use this time to ask questions about not only your project but also about his business and his business practices.
These are common questions and the builders should not feel intimidated by you asking these questions. If they cannot at least provide you with the answer then just move onto the next builder. Always be courteous during the estimation. If the builder finds that you are difficult to work with he may not be so eager to make you his/her client. If you do not feel the builder will be the best fit for your project just kindly take his estimate and move onto the next builder. Just remember to be polite and courteous when getting your estimates. Once the estimates are all in then look them over and make sure that you have everything in writing. If something is left out just ask the builder to add it to the estimate so that you know what is included in the estimate. Just remember that sometimes things are left out due to human error or a misunderstanding. When you have picked a builder the next issue is to everything put together into the contract. A contract is a legal binding form that states the work that will be completed, who will complete it, where it will be completed, when it will be completed, and the cost. Here are some key items that should be included in a contract.
Before signing a contract you may find it necessary to get legal advice. This advice may cost you money but could save you more down the road. After you sign the contract you are legally bound to what is in the contract. Once the contract is signed by both parties get copies and store in a safe place. The builder now can begin work on your project and he too will be bound to the contract during the project time-line. During the course of the building you may find an item you would like to to be updated or delete that was not in the contract. ie. Fixing rotten wood that was not seen or adding ceramic tile. These item can be added through change orders. The change order includes the original contract but amends items to the original contract. These items add or subtract costs out of the original contract and again is part of the legal binding agreement for both parties. State Contact Numbers: Builders Division (517) 241-9254 Enforcement Division (517) 241-9202 Construction Lien (517) 241-9241 State Web Site: http://www.michigan.gov/builders Set as favorite Bookmark Email this Hits: 1840 Comments (0)  Write comment |
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