Common Custom Home Building Mistakes Part One

Mistakes are universal across all occupations with an endless list of possibilities. Consider a barista making a simple cappuccino- Did she weigh her coffee grounds accurately?  Was her milk steamed to 135 degrees Fahrenheit? Did she time her espresso shot to make sure it was neither too bitter nor too sour?  Thankfully, if she failed to do any of these things right, she could just remake the drink – costing the coffee shop a couple of bucks and her client an extra 90 seconds. Not the end of the world.

Unfortunately, you cannot just rebuild a house if it does not turn out right. If the following mistakes can be avoided, the client will be happier, and the project will finish faster.  We at JD Rock Construction have made all the mistakes we will discuss.  We are grateful for them because of the valuable lessons they have taught us.  Moreover, we are grateful for the gracious clients who have endured these mistakes with us and for the patience they offered. Today we zero in on one particularly potent mistake…

MISTAKE #1 – Starting Construction Without a Full Set of Plans

This mistake begets most future mistakes.  Proverbs 24:3 says “by wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.”  If you lack a full set of plans, then you also lack understanding.  The human brain can only retain so much data, but a set of plans never forgets what was drawn.  A full set of plans should, at a minimum, include the following:

·         Site plan

·         Floor plan

·         Ceiling plan

·         Electrical plan

·         (4) Exterior elevations

·         Roof plan

·         Engineered foundation plan

·         Engineered structural framing plan

As soon as the builder is given the green light to construct, he will hire subcontractors for the foundation, plumbing, and electrical system.  It would truly be better to hold off on construction a month or two until plans are finalized than to later tear out work because it was not what the client wanted. Let me emphasize that these plans must be final.  If the client signs off on the floor plan, he must understand that any deviation from the plan moving forward will come with a price. Getting plans extensively revised in the middle of the project is a nightmare and will create much more work for the builder and increase the likelihood of error from confusion. Save yourself the headache and ensure you have a full set of plans before commencing construction.

Be sure to check back for part 2 of Common Custom Home Building Mistakes and learn how to create your best custom home build experience!