4 Things to Know Before Starting Your Construction Project
“The most successful construction projects are ones where the homeowners have prepared, ahead of time, a scope of work, a detailed drawn plan, and a distinct list of products, fixtures, finishes, and construction materials.”
Government Regulations
Whether it be a demolition, remodel, addition, or a new construction project, it is wise to determine the government regulations in your area. Finding out the permitting requirements for your project and what regulations your project may have to abide by is one of the first steps to determine the governmental feasibility of your project. This often feels scary and shrouded in mystery, which then becomes a hurdle for many people.
To make it easier and less mysterious for homeowners, many cities, towns, and counties have great information about construction permits and guidelines on their websites. They also usually have forms and instructions in downloadable formats so you can print them out to read and complete at home. If you prefer talking with a live person, you can always call your town, city, or county building department offices on the phone to ask about the guidelines for your neighborhood.
Financial Feasibility
Financial feasibility is understanding and determining the full financial costs from the beginning to the end of your project. It includes the costs of planning time, architect fees, contractor fees, permits, licenses, materials, supplies, finishes, fixtures, living space if living off-site, specialty products, and other construction-related costs.
To determine how much your project is going to cost you first need to know what it is that you want to do (Bathroom remodel? Addition of a family room? Backyard shed?) After your call to your governmental agency about regulations, you can do internet research or call a contractor to find out the going rate for construction work on your type of project in your area.
Planning ahead for funding your project will give you peace of mind that you can start and finish your project without running out of money. Some questions to ask yourself are:
Do I need to take out a construction loan for my project?
Do I have cash on hand already?
Should I take out a home equity line of credit for the funds?
If you have an accountant or financial advisor, you can utilize their advice on how to structure your funding options.
Most importantly, when calculating costs, a good rule of thumb is to have a 20% contingency above your estimated project cost.
Emotional Preparedness
One thing many people rarely consider before embarking on their construction project is whether they are prepared for the emotional intensity and the uprooting process of construction.
Good questions to ask yourself to determine your emotional readiness are:
How long is your project going to take?
Could you still inhabit that space (i.e., live in a part of your home or work in your home office)?
Do you have to adjust your regular lifestyle to take on this project? If so, how?
Do you have a solid written plan that will help you stay on track when you become emotionally and physically tired?
A piece of the emotional process is "decision fatigue." Decision fatigue occurs when you are faced with many choices and a short time frame in which to make those choices.
The most successful construction projects are ones where the homeowners have prepared, ahead of time, a scope of work, a detailed drawn plan, and a distinct list of products, fixtures, finishes, and construction materials. While this does not eliminate the need for decision making during the project, it does greatly alleviate the emotional burden of decision fatigue.
The other emotional piece of a building project is the relationships within the household. If couples or families continue living in the space while construction is going on, it can be challenging with noise, dust, decisions, less physical space, and other construction-related events. Tensions can run high, so preparation is crucial. Having a plan for living and working in or out of the home during the construction project is just as important as creating a finishes and fixtures list.
Project Organization and Logistics
To keep your project organized from the beginning, it is recommended to be clear on how you are going to set up your construction project team and develop a logistical plan.
As the homeowner, you will always be the ultimate decision-maker, and team leader; who the team consists of, how they are lead, and how the project is managed will be up to you.
Usually, the core team is made up of you and an architect, an engineer, a designer, and a general contractor, who are hired directly by you, the owner. The architect translates your project ideas into a drawn plan, the engineer makes sure the plan is structurally sound, the designer helps you select finishes and fixtures that match your style, and then, the general contractor uses the information from you and all three of these team members to build the project from the ground up.
Some owners choose to design and purchase finishes and fixtures on their own, so they'll utilize only an architect and a general contractor as their core team. And, if they need engineering help, they'll bring on an engineer for one-time consulting. Some design firms also do architectural plans as part of their services, so it will depend on how you, the owner, set up your core team.
Identifying who will be on your core team, who will be responsible for leading their portions of the project, and how the whole team will communicate throughout the project's life is valuable for a healthy and smooth job.
From the logistical standpoint, you will want to address a few questions as you move forward with your project:
How will your construction project impact the community?
Will you need to inform your neighbors about the project?
Will you need to protect your property or your neighbor's property from dust, runoff, noise, etc.?
How may it affect parking or traffic?
Do you have enough space on your property for a portable toilet (and access for cleaning it), safe storage of tools, supplies, and materials?
Do you have an architect, engineer, and/or designer in mind, or will you need recommendations?
Will it be more convenient for you to be hands-on or hands-off during the project?
Do you have a detailed scope of work-ready (spreadsheet of what things need to be done, when they are supposed to be complete, and how much they cost)? Or will you need help creating one?
Are you going to live on or off the property while construction is happening? Have you addressed your living and emotional needs (as mentioned above)?
Preparing ahead of time makes a difference to the success of your construction project. Knowing your governmental regulations, financial feasibility, emotional preparedness, and project organization and logistical planning will put you in an excellent position to begin your project.
We at Schilly Construction, Inc. have been helping people achieve their home building dreams for over twenty years. If you need support in any stage of your construction project, from preparation to breaking ground to advice on next steps, we can help you by answering questions, researching, and providing our expertise.
