Do I Need Help With Selections?

in South Central, KY for over 25 years. and a Certified Green Professional. viewpoint Tim, Some underestimate the time a project will require, while others expect it to take a lot longer. Design Matters T e biggest variables in projects are size and design. For a custom builder, no two projects are the same. It's no surprise that a big, complex home is more challenging and will take longer than a smaller and simpler one. If homeowners already have a complete set of plans and specs from an architect, that will speed up the builder's design phase. If not, they need to budget time for that planning and design work. Selections… Ask builders what causes most construc- tion delays and the answer will likely be a toss-up between weather and homeowner selections. While no builder has control of the weather, the best professionals have a tried-and-true selection process that they've spent countless hours perfecting. I know what you're thinking… Selections? How hard can that be? Why spend so much time constructing a bullet proof selection process? We already know what we want. Right? T ink about how many decisions you about how long it should take to fi nish our new home? had to make the last time you walked into a coff ee shop for a cup of joe? What size? What blend? Regular or decaf? (Duh, regular.) Room for cream? For here or to go? Cash or credit? Most of us know what we want, but we're sometimes unprepared for the "nested" deci- sions that accompany the primary decision. We know we want hardwood fl oors, but the best builders will also prepare us for the nested decisions that accompany the hardwood decision, such as wood species? Board width? Engineered or solid? Pre-fi nish or sand-in-place? What Homeowners Can Do T e most important decision the homeowner will make is selecting a builder with well- designed processes and procedures in place to guide you through the building process smoothly. After the project is underway, it's impor- tant for homeowners to make design and product decisions on or before the deadlines set by the builder. T ese decisions range from choosing custom cabinets early enough for them to be built and delivered when needed, to making sure the windows are selected well before the framing carpenters need them on site. T e best builders know how to guide homeowners through these decisions with- out causing delays in the construction pro- cess. Homeowners who want the project to keep humming along on schedule won't change those selections after making them. Changes made late in the design stage can delay plan completion; those made after project kickoff can delay the fi nish date. Homeowners who understand this will invest the time and eff ort needed to make fi rm decisions, and the best builders will help every step of the way. With the right builder by your side and a refi ned selection process, you're building project will be smooth sailing all the way to the fi nish line. Do I need help with selections? Understanding the variables that affect the building process