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How to Ensure that COVID-19 Does Not Stop Your Construction Project

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The construction industry is among the sectors that are facing many changes due to COVID-19. These changes are restricting how business used to be done before the pandemic. The shelter-in-place orders may have made your construction continue as an essential business. However, you still have to observe and maintain social distancing. But, some places are more restrictive when it comes to the construction type that is allowed. If you’re allowed to continue your construction project, here are tips to help you keep it moving.  

Communication 

In the current times where things are always changing, the involved parties should maintain constant communication. Therefore, make sure that consultants, lenders, workers, and owners maintain communication via email and phone. Video conferencing can also be used to communicate without a physical meeting of the team. 

Inspections 

The full crew might not be present at the construction site all the time. However, inspections are important to ensure the progress of the construction project. Virtual walk-through inspections can particularly be effective during COVID-19 for regulatory and safety reasons. Regular inspections will enable you to ensure that your project remains on track. 

Materials 

Some countries are experiencing delays in material supply due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, understand what and who is affected by the pandemic to ensure that delays in material supply won’t affect your project. 

Schedule 

Consider the way COVID-19 is affecting your country or location to determine whether it will impact your construction schedule. For instance, has the pandemic affected the availability of labor? Has COVID-19 affected the availability of inspectors? Consider such factors to come up with a more realistic schedule for your construction project. 

Costs 

Costs, materials, schedules, and labor go hand in hand. That’s because most problems can affect the project cost significantly. The general conditions and delays can impact the budget. Insisting on a strict schedule can lead to contention. This can occasion additional overtime claims or even a premium pay. To avoid this, review your project carefully and identify every item that can affect the budget. This can be due to a labor shortage, regulatory workforce decrease, or material shortages. That means you should review your budget with the help of a consultant. 

Although COVID-19 could be temporary, things remain uncertain. Therefore, adapting quickly is very important when it comes to keeping your construction project going. Follow these tips to ensure that this pandemic doesn’t stop your project.
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What a Contractor Does

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Handling a construction project is a complex process. It involves the knowledge of building codes, architectural design, basic elements of construction, and zoning regulations. A contractor is responsible for overseeing multi-unit housing and individual houses construction projects. Here are some of the things that a contractor does when handling any construction project. 

Contacting 

A building contractor is involved in the stage of signing contracts for new houses. They find and solicit bids from clients. They also handle schedules of subcontractors that will be required to complete construction projects. Ideally, a contractor is involved in the process of formulating and signing contracts. They also negotiate the fees every subcontractor is paid for their work. 

Client Interaction 

A business owner or a new homeowner consults with a contractor before requesting a bid. A contractor is responsible for providing all the information a potential homeowner needs. They should help potential homeowners make informed decisions by providing accurate information about their dream homes. 

Advising Clients and Prospects 

It’s the responsibility of a contractor to advice their prospects and clients. That means a good contractor is a reliable and trustworthy professional. They want to help their clients achieve their goals by guiding them accordingly. A good contractor advises a potential homeowner on issues like project scope, size, and building materials. 

Regulations

A professional contractor is knowledgeable about the local building codes and regulations. They know the necessary permits for every construction project. As such, they advise and help their clients acquire the necessary permits before or during construction. This ensures that construction projects run smoothly without controversies with local building regulatory authorities. 

If planning to build a house, work with a professional contractor from the beginning to the end of your project. That way, you won’t face unexpected challenges that might end up making your construction project a nightmare. 
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What Makes a Great Contractor?

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As the building and construction industry continues to grow, so many contractors are finding their ways into the trade. However, the majority of them are half baked contractors with very little to offer. Below, we discuss some of the key traits of a great contractor that you should look out for when hiring. 

List of References

Sometimes, proof of license is not enough to show that a contractor can successfully handle your project.  A good contractor should provide you with a list of references or the clients that they have served in the past. That will give you a better idea of their expertise, reliability and other things that are often overlooked. To be sure that you are hiring the right contractor, contact the references that they give you before signing any contract. 

Organization 

The way in which the contractor presents themselves and handles projects is critical to the success of your plan. Great contractors emphasize well trained staff with experience on the job. Besides, they also have adequate staff including sub-contractors that make sure projects are done to standard within the given timeline. A good contractor should at least give you an overview of how they handle operations including conflict resolutions and contingency plans. 

Great contractors have the right people and provisions for ensuring better project management. 

Competitive Pricing 

One way to gauge the skills of contractors is by looking at their rates. Contractors that offer very cheap quotes are likely to do a low quality work. On the other hand, contractors with extremely high rates may not guarantee the best quality. Great contractors do not come cheap but, have reasonable rates that appear somewhere in between. Requesting and comparing quotes from different contractors will enable you to find a fair price range for your budget. 

Great contractors do not attain the title in a single project but, through a series of successes. They focus on developing continuous and long term working relationships for the mutual benefit of their companies and clients. 

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What You Should Know About Custom Home Floor Plans and Layouts

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When it comes to designing a commercial home, there are many considerations to make. These can make your custom home building project seem overwhelming. However, you can have the process simplified by working with experienced custom home designer and builder. But, before you start planning the floor plans and layout of your home, here are things that you need to know. 

Allowances and Restrictions of Custom Home Layouts 

It’s important to know your property’s conditions that can dictate the function and shape of your home. 

Some of the restrictions to consider include: 

  • The current size and footprint allowances
  • Current zoning and bylaw regulations 
  • Tree requirements and restrictions 
  • Easements, right of ways, and encroachments 

To ensure that you understand your lot’s construction potential, your custom home builder should start by formulating your property report. This should outline allowances and restrictions. 

Architectural Style 

Share your vision with the builder and designer. Do you need a craftsman style home with modern accents or a modern farmhouse that creates an industrial feel? Regardless of your design, share your vision with the designer and builder. This will enable them to help you achieve your goals. 

The Budget 

Having a budget before construction starts enables the designer to operate within your financial capabilities. The designer will work with the builder and share obstacles and opportunities with you. They will also come up with custom floor plan and layout with your desired function and budget in mind. Their goal will be to maximize on what you can accomplish with your budget. 

Priorities 

It’s important to have a list of priorities or a wish list. This should highlight what you want your floor plan and layout to have. It can include a backyard swimming pool and other important features. The designer and builder should work with you to ensure that the floor plan and layout of your custom home will take advantage of the natural sunlight. This will make the home more energy efficient by ensuring that it utilizes light from the sun during the day. 

These are the most important things to know about custom home floor plans and layouts. Work with a designer and builder that understand the importance of custom home floor plans and layouts to achieve the goals of your custom home project with ease. For More fact checking see the official site here: https://www.nahb.org/
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6 Tips on Nailing Construction Design

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It’s time to make your home ownership dream a reality or you’ve decided to create a larger facility for your business. What next? Well, many people get stuck now knowing where to begin when it comes to designing their new home or commercial building. The home design process can be quite overwhelming at times. Understand that this is your project to conceive and nothing should limit your creativity when creating a home that perfectly suits your family’s needs. Here are tips to help make your home construction design process easier and less complicated. 

Establish and Consider your Budget

Well, you can’t create home construction design that you know is way above what you can afford. Proper planning and decision making are two important aspects of any construction project. One of the things you must establish early on is a working budget. Of course, there will be variables and factors that may make it difficult to determine the accurate cost of the project at this stage. However, having your budget in mind when planning everything else will make you have realistic expectations and feel much better about the end result. 

Decide on the type of Home you want to build

As mentioned, don’t limit yourself to a specific type or design since there are many options to consider. Take your time to carefully consider each style and design, looking at the pros and cons of each. Your goal should be to find the style that feels best for you and your needs. 

You’re better off prioritizing what you Value most

What you value most in a home isn’t necessarily what someone else values. If you’re building your first home and have a small family, you might consider keeping it small. If you have a big family, don’t be afraid going big in your construction design. Consider allocating more of your budget towards the living room if you love spending time with family watching TV. Bottom line is that you should give more attention and priority to rooms that you spend most time in or make you feel happy and energetic.

Plan for Growth and Expansion

While it’s okay to look at the present needs of your family, you also want to look in the future. Don’t push yourself too hard. Keep within your budget but remember you might need a home addition in the future. You shouldn’t misuse the extra space on your property, therefore. 

Find out more about the Local Zoning Laws

It’s important that you take time to check the local zoning laws of the area or neighborhood you intend to construct your new home. You don’t want to deal compliance issues and feel frustrated later for doing something that didn’t comply with the existing laws. Zoning laws vary from state to state. They provide guidelines on the size of land a person needs before they can build a house, how long the fence is supposed to be, among other considerations. 

Don’t Forget about Functionality

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to focus more on the aesthetics and pay little attention to the functionality of their new home. Don’t be so carried away by the looks. Make sure you look at the construction design from the perspective of it being a complete, fully furnished residential property. 

Just remember you don’t have to go about your construction design alone. Find an experienced team of professionals to work with and make your perfect home a reality.

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