|
|
Q: I was told that the only way to find the right builder for the job was to get bids and just take the lowest one. Is that right? A: Choosing the right builder can be a difficult and time consuming process. But when you consider that for most people, your home is the single largest investment in your life, it is probably worth some effort to do it right. Competitive bidding is one way to select a builder, but before you decide to go this route you may wish to consider some of the following thoughts: 1. The job must be well defined with thorough, written details so that it can be bid apples-to-apples. Many details in construction are subject to interpretation. Your low bidder will undoubtedly choose the method or material which suits him best, not you. 2. Does competitive bidding ensure that you will get the lowest price possible? Absolutely not! Builders must provide contingency in their bids to cover the risk that costs may change. If costs remain stable the builder keeps his contingency money. 3. Lowest Bid - Are you qualified to distinguish which bid is not only the lowest price, but also whether that bid includes everything the other bids include? 4. How do you decide who should bid your project? 5. How many bids does it take to guarantee the lowest price? Q: Why are houses in Park City so expensive to build? A: Good question! The obvious reasons are the finishings. Here we tend to include many things as standard that you might not see elsewhere, i.e., Exteriors of wood and stone, Interiors with stain grade trim, wooden doors and windows, and upgraded fixtures and appliances. The not-so-obvious reasons are things hidden from the naked eye such as: engineering - all houses in this area are engineered for a seismic rating and all houses have to bear huge snow loads on the roof, climate - the long cold winters require heavy insulation, double glazed windows throughout the house and beefy heating systems as well. Q: How much should I expect to pay per square foot for my home? A: Over the years I have heard all sorts of snappy answers to the square-foot-cost question but the best yet goes something like this: "Buying a house by the cost per square foot makes about as much sense as buying a car buy the pound." I know that your intentions are good when you ask the question, but don't you really want to ask something more like "What should I expect to pay for a 3000 square foot Mountain Style home with 4 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, a formal dining room, game room, video room, and a three car garage, and vaulted ceilings with upgraded finishes throughout?" If you ask a builder for a square- foot-cost quote you'll probably get it. As an industry, we are generally eager to please. However, if you choose your builder by cost per square foot, you are missing the big picture. You really want to know what it will cost to build your house. . . so take the time to ask the right question! In so doing, you will eliminate the variations you may get in the square foot cost answers that keep the general public in a constant state of confusion about the real cost of building. Q: Don't all builders build the same? I mean, we pay permit fees to get building inspectors to inspect houses as they are being built. The Building Department wouldn't let them pass inspection if they were defective, right? A: The ranks of homebuilders are as different as the general population. Some are particular, others are not. Some actually spend time on the job, others delegate, or hardly ever visit the job at all. We are all required to adhere to the building code but that is about all. The building code covers health and safety issues only, and that is what building inspectors must look for; compliance with basic health and safety issues. Inspectors want to know only if your stairs are built safely, not whether they look good. They check that your heating system works and doesn't pump carbon monoxide into the house. They don't care if it heats inefficiently or will break down in two years. Do you have a question about building in Park City or Summit County, Utah? Please email us. All questions will be answered promptly, but if you need an immediate response please call Curt at 435-513-9326. |