Are you in the middle of planning a building project? Whether you’re renovating, rebuilding or extending your home, ensuring you understand all the details of your project and have strong communication with your builder is key.
The journey to educating and understanding each stage of your project is vital. Damian Barker, founder and CEO of luxury building specialist, Verus Construction, shares his answers to common questions people avoid asking their builder.
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How can we guarantee we stay on budget?
It’s key to understand how the project cost is determined and the steps the builder took to confirm the final quote. Before signing on the dotted line, It’s best advised to request a detailed breakdown of costs and ask for periodic updates to track expenses throughout the project in order to avoid any unnecessary surprises.
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Is your price an estimate or a quote?
The terms ‘quote’ and ‘estimate’ can easily be mistaken for the same thing, but don’t be caught out. To avoid confusion, it’s crucial to clarify whether the builder is providing a rough estimate or a fixed quote. While an estimate is an approximation of potential costs, a quote should be a fixed total, providing a clear and final price. Asking the builder directly and reviewing the contract details can help ensure you know what to expect financially.
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How do I know when I need to do things?
To know when you need to do things, it’s important to have a clear schedule in place. Request a detailed timeline or project schedule from your builder, outlining key milestones and deadlines to ensure these are on your radar. This helps you stay informed about when decisions or actions are required on your part.
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Do you anticipate any problems?
It’s always wise to anticipate potential challenges in any project. Ask your builder to identify any potential challenges or risks they foresee with the project so that you can be prepared. This proactive approach helps in planning for contingencies and avoiding unexpected issues down the line.