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My advice is do not enter into a general contract to build your home. Interview project managers for experience and references. Negotiate a project management agreement (PM). Pay a fixed fee. A PM will act as your agent to solicit bids and inspect progress, you will write checks and make decisions.
Advantages:
1. A PM can be fired and is pay as you go. A GC that goes bad ends up in court losing mucho money and time.
2. A GC's goals are in conflict with your goals. A PM's goals are your goals.
3. With a PM all expenses, estimates, costs and bids are known to you. With a GC you will never really know what things cost.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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SoCal,
I wonder why the prices are changing on you. Are the plans complete?
Are the specifications complete? Are you making verbal changes along the way?
I shall quote my esteemed colleague,Rob : "How much does a car cost?"
I agree with Rob, or find a Contractor who uses a design/build model and have him help you design a home, along with specifications, that fits your budget. (Expect to pay up front for these services).
Get references, see his work ask for a list of his past clients and CALL THEM!
Dan (GC)(ret)
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1100 sq.ft. is pretty small for a 3+2. Check out some of the kits from HPM or Honsador. They can probably refer Contractors as well.
Dan
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Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is, in fact, a certain amount of "jerked around" and/or "getting took" applied to those "newbies" who are inexperienced with the local realities, almost like a hazing ritual.
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Many Contractors get tired of tire-kickers calling and asking for prices. It takes alot of time to do a proper bid and many people seem to think that it is shrewd to go around to many Contractors with a wad of cash looking for the hungriest Contractor who will jump the highest to grab the prize.
People who want to build a new home need to have their plans done and specifications complete, and research their Contractors before putting a job out for bid. Then the Contractors know they are for real.
By the way, the best way to price a house by the sq. ft. is by sq.ft. "under roof" plus sq.ft. of deck. i.e. sq.ft. of house plus garage plus lanai plus deck.... cost for semi-custom $125/sq.ft. not including utility hook-ups.
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125 sqft is a bit high, but I guess it depends on finishing ect for finished space. Most unfinished space is in the 45-50 sqft range.
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unless specified I figure zero unfinished space
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it doesnt take much time to write down the cost of each part. framing+plumbing+electric etc etc.
why dont people just add up a few numbers, its easier than wondering what the cost will be. a napkin and a pen is all you need.
the doc is in...
the doc is in...
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Well I meant like Lanai space, garage ect...
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well then, what range would a kitchen or bathroom be?
