Mehl Homes, Inc. - Building Tips/Advice

BUILDING TIPS/ADVICE

Do you need some building tips or advice? Let us help you figure out how to select your contractor, determine your building budget, how to stay on budget or to discuss the "Square Footage Myth".

SELECTING YOUR CONTRACTOR
Building a custom home may very well be the most expensive investment of your lifetime. Be very cautious in selecting a contractor. Most people spend more time picking out a new car than they do researching their building contractor. Below is a list of things to consider.

Check with The Department of Labor and Industries:

	Is your contractor Bonded and Insured.
	Are there any claims against the Bond.
	Are there any Lawsuits filed in Superior Court.
	How long has this company been in business.

Is the contractor financially stable?

	Obtain bank references.
	Obtain trade and supplier references from some of their suppliers such as their lumber company, millwork, roof and plumbing suppliers. How long have they done business with this supplier? Do they pay their bills on time?

Past customer referrals

	Are the majority of past customers satisfied or just the few the contractor selects.
	What kind of service was given to any warranty items. Did the customer end up with the house he or she thought they were getting?

THE SQUARE FOOTAGE MYTH
In selecting a contractor, people immediately think of cost. Frequently this cost is measured by price per sq. ft. Airplanes are not sold by the lineal foot, nor cars by the pound, or groceries by the bag, neither can houses be sold by the square foot.

In fact, a number of factors contribute to the cost of a house per sq. ft. We will be happy to consider them all in your estimate.

DETERMINING YOUR BUDGET
Using our simple budget calculator you quickly determine an approximate budget amount for your home building project. This is a very simple calculation and is not exact. For exact figures please contact a lending institution to determine the loan amount to fit your payment comfort zone.

You may also click on our "How much can I afford?" calculator to see how expensive of a house you may be able to build based on more financial factors.

1) Loan Amount:	$
2) Additional Equity: (From existing house sale)	$
3) Total Cash: (1+2)	$
4) Balance Owing: (On lot)	$
5) Budget Amount for House and Site Costs (3-4):	$

STAYING ON YOUR BUDGET
Watch for these common pitfalls:

	Allowances given by contractor may be too low. For example, inadequate money allowed for septic or sewer requirements, patios, walkways, tile, carpet, etc.
	All fees may not have been included in the bid (i.e., County or City Mitigation Fees, Sewer or Water Assessment Fees, etc.).
	Make sure all site costs are included. For example, maybe excavation for home was included but not clearing of the lot.
	Be cautious of a foundation allowance.

Ensure what you want is what you get!

	Make sure what you want is in writing.
	Be sure you understand the plans and specifications.
	All material should be clear (i.e., Type of roofing, windows, siding, appliances, etc., should be clear of any liens.).

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