| With the current housing market there are more | | | | a home builder is to check them out thoroughly. |
| available building contractors for you to seek bids | | | | The first thing you want to make sure of is that |
| from. This always happens when the market | | | | they are licensed and properly insured in your |
| slows down a bit. For the contractors it is not a | | | | state. You will need to make a few phone calls |
| good thing but for the consumer looking to have | | | | but it can save you a lot of headaches down the |
| a new home built it is a great opportunity to get | | | | road. Also ask the builder that you ultimately |
| a good deal. However there are some things to | | | | choose to provide you with an insurance |
| keep in mind when you are looking for a building | | | | certificate. This is a paper sent by the insurance |
| contractor for your new home and here we will | | | | company stating that their insurance policy is |
| cover a few of them. | | | | current. When you request an insurance certificate |
| First off when you are beginning your search | | | | you will automatically be notified if their insurance |
| make sure that you get at least three bids on | | | | policy is cancelled or any changes are made to it. |
| your project. When you do this you need to | | | | Before you sign a contract ask the contractor |
| make sure that contractors get the same | | | | how they work with their subcontractors. Do |
| information from you. For example if you want | | | | they bid out the jobs, do they have insurance and |
| solid cherry cabinets then make sure that you tell | | | | licensing information on them, how do they pay |
| all three contractors that this is a must for you | | | | them? One thing you should require from your |
| and should be figured into your pricing. When you | | | | contractor is release of lien from all the sub |
| tell all three contractors the same information | | | | contractors that will be on your job site. This will |
| when you compare their bids you will be | | | | save you from a possible fiasco later as you |
| comparing apples for apples. | | | | sometimes here about building contractors that |
| After you have received your bids carefully look | | | | get paid from you or your lending institution and |
| them over. Make sure that each proposal includes | | | | then fail to pay their subcontractors. Then what |
| everything you have specified. Many times you | | | | happens is the subcontractors liens your home for |
| will see that builders include allowances for items. | | | | the amount they are owed and you could end up |
| Make sure that the allowance adequately covers | | | | paying twice for services. |
| the item. For example if you are building a 2000 | | | | Picking the right contractor to build your home is |
| square foot home and you have picked tile | | | | very important. You want to make sure that |
| throughout the house and you see a $500 | | | | things go smoothly so everyone is happy in the |
| allowance for it to be completed this should cause | | | | end. Building contractors are less busy right now |
| you some concern. | | | | so it is a consumer's market so do your |
| Another important aspect when trying to choose | | | | homework and you will end up with a good deal. |