Building a House / Developing Rural Property / Country Livin'

[SilverBullet432]

Are you saying it costs 10-12 per foot to drill a water well? Around here its more like $120 per foot. IMO . Your first thing should be drill for water, if you strike oil, then hotdog!! also, i would say add a. Softner/filtration system or the first things to go will be your fridge and dishwasher. Then your plumbing

[Travelingchild]

....Contractors have been pissing me off with my current home......

Find another one,, Seriously I've been in the industry for around 15 years and I'm always amazed at people who whine and bitch about their contractors and subs..

It's simple.. Fire the SOB if they piss you off or you feel they're Ripping you off.

I've been everything from a laborer, framer, finish carpenter, supervisor to my current position in problem solving & logistics.
Everything takes longer than expected period..

Subs give unrealistic time frames... It'll be done in "123 weeks" when in reality it takes "12345 weeks"
It's better to give a time frame "12345 weeks" and finish in "123 weeks"

Material markups are anywhere from 15% to 30% You can save money buy purchasing it yourself on certain items find contractors willing to work with you.

Someone asks for cash advance on project labor run.. away most likely not financially solvent..

When paying Contractor or subs get release of lien for work/supplies paid.. Hows the relationship between General and Sub's listen to the worksite bullshit..
If the General is driving a freaking new truck and the subs are complaining about getting paid make the the check out to both, yes it can be done..
Hell find out where the supplies are being bought and make sure their accts. are in good standing , I'd make the check out to the sub and their supplier so no lien can come back at you.
"
At the End of Each Day REMEMBER

You are the Paying Customer YOU get what YOU want or EVERYONE Can GET OFF YOUR PROJECT!!

[graffex]

If you have any electrical questions feel free to ask. I started out doing commercial and now do a lot of basements, additions, and custom million dollar homes.

[TXBK]

Find another one,, Seriously I've been in the industry for around 15 years and I'm always amazed at people who whine and bitch about their contractors and subs..

It's simple.. Fire the SOB if they piss you off or you feel they're Ripping you off.

I've been everything from a laborer, framer, finish carpenter, supervisor to my current position in problem solving & logistics.
Everything takes longer than expected period..

Subs give unrealistic time frames... It'll be done in "123 weeks" when in reality it takes "12345 weeks"
It's better to give a time frame "12345 weeks" and finish in "123 weeks"

Material markups are anywhere from 15% to 30% You can save money buy purchasing it yourself on certain items find contractors willing to work with you.

Someone asks for cash advance on project labor run.. away most likely not financially solvent..

When paying Contractor or subs get release of lien for work/supplies paid.. Hows the relationship between General and Sub's listen to the worksite bullshit..
If the General is driving a freaking new truck and the subs are complaining about getting paid make the the check out to both, yes it can be done..
Hell find out where the supplies are being bought and make sure their accts. are in good standing , I'd make the check out to the sub and their supplier so no lien can come back at you.
"
At the End of Each Day REMEMBER

You are the Paying Customer YOU get what YOU want or EVERYONE Can GET OFF YOUR PROJECT!!

Yes, 1000 times. Also, do not pay for labor until the job is 100% complete. I paid a painter once before he came back to finish the touch-up work on a remodel, and I never saw him there again. I got tired of him not answering, so I had to do it myself.

It is very important to get to know your neighbors. They could be the best ever or the worst, but you have got to find out so you know what you should expect. Try to be civil with them should a dispute arise, unless you want a feud. If they are good people, they can help can an eye on things while you are away. If they are meth cooks, you may want to reconsider your location.

[Alex V]

Piggy-backing on Travelingchild's post I would say spend the money on an AIA 101-2007 Owner Contractor Agreement. This is a contract that has stood up in court countless times and will give you the legal means to fire the contractor should he not fulfill his duties. Also if creates a schedule of values and sets standards for payment. The contractor will issue payment request forms once a month. He has to give you a pencil copy a week before the payment is to be signed. You will review it to make sure that the payment he wants is justified and that the materials and labor has been incorporated into the work. This is usually taken care of by the Architect. He/she signs off on you and gives it to you to issue payment. This way you know that you are not paying for work that has not been done. You will also retain 10% of each payment so that at the end of the work and you have a certificate of substantial completion you are still holding a 10% retainage. Once you have a release of leans and the contractor has completed the punch list, you will release the retainage.

[Travelingchild]

... and custom million dollar homes.

Yup custom homes are a blast....
Hows this for a mechanical room 9 foot high ceilings took me two weeks scribed to the floor..

Maybe some camo on the satellite dish.

[cbx]

Piggy-backing on Travelingchild's post I would say spend the money on an AIA 101-2007 Owner Contractor Agreement. This is a contract that has stood up in court countless times and will give you the legal means to fire the contractor should he not fulfill his duties. Also if creates a schedule of values and sets standards for payment. The contractor will issue payment request forms once a month. He has to give you a pencil copy a week before the payment is to be signed. You will review it to make sure that the payment he wants is justified and that the materials and labor has been incorporated into the work. This is usually taken care of by the Architect. He/she signs off on you and gives it to you to issue payment. This way you know that you are not paying for work that has not been done. You will also retain 10% of each payment so that at the end of the work and you have a certificate of substantial completion you are still holding a 10% retainage. Once you have a release of leans and the contractor has completed the punch list, you will release the retainage.

Holy balls that is nice.

[JusticeM4]

Good info here. I'm thinking of doing something like this in the next 5yrs, but not quite that remote location. Just outside the city and more out towards the country, while still having access to utilities.