Helpful Hints ...   We are going to use this page as a location where we will remind you of some of the important things and ideas that we have experienced and seen over time as we have been in this business, We hope that you find it to be useful information.   Early Decisions Reduce the Chance of Delays and Cost Overages Experience shows that the more decisions you initially make, the more smoothly the project will unfold; thus the more accurate the original quote. Making changes after the contract has been signed and the construction has commenced often results in an increase in the price and length of the project. The decisions that you make are incorporated into your construction drawings. It is to everyone's benefit to have the majority of your choices made by the time we sign the contract.   A Picture Tells a Thousand Words Pictures, photographs, and websites are very helpful to us as well as to your architect/designer. Look through home building/design magazines and websites. Then cut out photos of details you like and put them in a three ring binder. You don't have to like everything in the photo. There may be a simple molding that you like or maybe a type of tile. There may be something in the picture that you don't like; this is just as useful. The goal, once again, is to have as much information as possible about what you envision (or not) before we start construction. Click here to see some of the moldings, etc. that we have used in the past.   Selecting a Builder Your home is probably your most expensive investment. Before you spend thousands of dollars on building or remodeling, you need to do your homework and understand your role as a consumer.   Your first step is to plan: Think your project through from start to finish. Consider special needs you may have and how you will use the space in the future. Consult an architect or designer if necessary, and decide on a realistic budget. Think about the materials you want to use - visit lumber yards and suppliers, look at magazines featuring distinctive home designs, see what friends and family have done, or do research on the Internet. Clearly define the job you want done in a specification sheet and rough floor plan which you can give to potential contractors. When all the contractors who bid on your job work from the same design plan, you are most likely to get complete and accurate bids that can be compared.   Shop for Quality - Not the Lowest Price Once you develop a list of builders or remodelers, find out about their reputations and the quality of their work. Recording all information, as well as your own impressions about specific contractors and homes, in a notebook helps to make comparisons easier. The best way to learn about contractors is to visit homes they have built or remodeled and talk to the owners. Don't be shy. Knock on doors and ask people how they like their homes, and whether they would buy another home from the builder or have another remodeling job done by the contractor. The more people you talk to, the better the cross section of opinion you'll receive. Check out each contractor's credentials. Find out how long the firm has been in business and what kind of reputation it has established in the community. Try to ascertain information about the contractor's credit rating. Check with the Better Business Bureau and local consumer protection agencies to learn if there have been any complaints.   What Consumers Should Know About Their Contractor's Insurance Coverage. Uninsured contractors can expose unwary home owners to financial hardship. All responsible contractors should carry appropriate insurance to protect their clients, their employees and themselves. But what insurance should your contractor carry to protect you, the home owner?   Liability Insurance If your contractor is a sole proprietor and has no employees and uses 'independent' subcontractors to do any portion of the work, your contractor cannot purchase Workers Compensation Insurance. To protect yourself, you should insist your contractor and/or his or her independent subcontractors carry Liability Insurance. This insurance coverage protects you if your property is damaged, or if the contractor or subcontractors is/are accidentally injured during the course of the work. Proof of your contractor's liability insurance helps you substantiate that this contractor operates as an independent business person and is not your employee. Therefore, you are not responsible for injuries, pain, suffering or lost wages provided the injuries were not caused by you. Get a copy of your contractor's and any subcontractor's Liability Insurance. Make sure the policy's effective dates are current and that the policy dollar coverage is sufficient to cover any potential claims for injuries or damages. Be sure the insurance certificate covers the period the workers will be on the job. It is reasonable to expect that professional contractors who carry all the appropriate insurances will have greater business overhead expenses and that their bids will be a bit higher than those from workers who take business shortcuts. However, it's a small price to pay to hire the right person for the job and forego the risk of exposing yourself, your financial future and your home to someone who is improperly insured or uninsured.   Service and Warranties Make a special effort to learn what type of customer service and warranty protection contractors offer. Do not wait until after you have purchased a house to find out how to correct problems. Most builders offer some form of written warranty. Find out the length of the warranty, if it is backed by an insurance company, and what procedures to follow if a problem arises. Many contractors back their own warranties on workmanship and materials, typically for one year. A warranty backed by insurance costs more, but it offers long-range protection. When choosing a contractor, be thorough and ask a lot of questions. Get as many specifics as possible. Never hesitate to ask a question for fear of sounding stupid or uninformed. What seems like a stupid question may yield an informative answer or avoid any future misunderstandings.   LeFort Home Builders is committed to offering a top-notch experience for all of its customers.   "We will not be satisfied, until you are.... completely...."