Builder Contracts and Paying Money

Builder - There is a perception among the general public that a builder will say and do all the right things to get hired for a job and once the work has been started, good luck finding them actually working on the job. A bid for work that was estimated to take two weeks to complete is dragged out for several months, and if you have already paid the contractor, you may never see him again.

This kind of horror story does occur but very occasionally. Most builders are top grade professionals who work very hard to complete a job on time and on budget. That being said, it is important to fully vet out a contractor before you contract with him (or her) and to make sure your contract and payment arrangements are clearly spelled out.

Part of that vetting process goes beyond simply asking a buddy who he (or she) knows that has worked on their house. More times than naught, you won’t get burned, but why gamble when there are some excellent resources available to make sure the pro you are hiring is really a pro.

Trade associations such as the National Builders Association maintain information on the builders who are part of their trade. A qualified contractor must maintain all licenses and liability insurance and feedback from previous clients is kept in a database so that the association can provide constructive criticism to help a contractor perfect his (or her) craft. They also provide a mediation service should an issue arrive. In the contract you put together with you newly hired contractor, you will want it to clearly state all of the responsibilities of both parties: the builder and you. Issues such as performance deadlines, change orders, material selections, maintaining proper insurance and lavatories needs to be spelled out. You will want to agree on a timescale for payments to the contractor. The contractor will most certainly have sub-contractors employed, and most contractors do not have the resources to cover payments to his (or her) subs. Pay your contractor directly. Do not pay any subs. Your contract is not with them. Get a receipt each time you make a payment and be prepared to pony up a deposit around 20 to 30 percent of the total job to get the work started.

Once the job is complete, you will want to do a final walk through with the builder and test as much of the work as you can. Your builder should warranty his (or her) work for a year. If everything meets your expectations, you should pay the contractor right away. Don’t make the contractor wait thirty days for final payment. This puts a burden on payroll and his (or her) relationship with his subcontractors.Know more about National Builders Association and Builders.

3 Qualities of a Good Builder

Builder - There are three traits in a qualified, proficient that you should look for when you are hiring a builder to build a new or remodel an existing home: Reliable, Responsive and Results-Driven. There are other factors which are very important such as affordable and experienced, but most of these can be classified under these three main categories. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Being reliable-- and this doesn’t matter what type of industry someone is in-- is the cornerstone which will make or break that business. Being reliable for a builder means being able to fulfill the commitments made to a client. A contractor should work hard to be accurate on his bids, to be honest about the timeframes for completion and should be able to achieve the desired results set forth by the client.

The problem arises in that so many contractors claim to be reliable that the term is in jeopardy of being a cliche. Any contractor if asked if he is reliable is going to answer in the affirmative. However, try asking past clients if said builder was reliable and you may get a different answer. That is the most common complaint among dissatisfied clients is that their builder was not reliable. They said and promised all the right things to get the contract, but where were they after the contract had been signed?

Being reliable does not mean being perfect. Mistakes will happen. Challenges that create delays will occur, but the builder committed to his client will make sure to hold himself to the highest standard possible to keep these errors and omissions to a minimum.

Responsiveness refers to how a builder communicates with his client. This is so critical in the design/build process. An unresponsive contractor can make a great job okay and a struggling job a nightmare. Being responsive means open dialogue, listening to what the client is saying, not being afraid to saying something cannot be done.

The third trait of being driven for results suggests that the builder, his support staff, his subcontractors, the entire organization is dedicated to making sure a job is seen through to completion. So many homeowners have seen an otherwise wonderful build job or remodel experience fall apart because the last five percent of the job wasn’t done. The builder has moved on to the next job, and now this homeowner feels jilted or dismissed.

By maintaining these lofty goals-- reliability, responsiveness and driven for results-- a builder can feel confident that he brings the required skill set to any project. The outcome is a pleased client who is happy to promote the contractor’s business and a contractor who can look forward to future work.Know more about Builders.

Why Builders Register With Job Sites

Builders - The Internet has provided improved ways for builders to find clients. One of these ways is to establish an online website that gives consumers information about the company. Online visitors are able to get an excellent idea of a business from the text and pictures displayed on the site. If potential customers like what they see, they can even make the contact from the website online.

However, the next problem for a business is how to get the website information to as many potential customers as possible. One popular strategy is to use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. These help move the website location as far to the front of the browser search results as possible. On the other hand, an even more efficient method of generating contacts is a matching site.

The earliest matching sites on the Internet paired potential romantic partners. People would register with the so-called dating sites, provide information and pictures, and work toward meeting new people. Different sites differed on how much the website participated. Some simply let their clients browse through a list of candidates. Others applied sophisticated computer models to recommend matches. In any case, these sites continue to be extremely popular and useful.

Since that time, websites have been constructed to match a variety of people, including job seekers, people looking to buy or sell items, and contractors. Some sites match a wide range of contractors including software designers, electronic engineers, and managerial candidates. The latest websites include matching services for builders.

There are two types of sites for matching builders: commercial and free. The commercial sites have a cadre of contractors who register with them for a monthly fee. This type of site is attractive to consumers because it is a one-stop place for them to locate a contractor. Instead of leaving consumers to evaluate contractors from a list of results from a search engine, this type of matching website does the work of recommending a set of builders for each client. They also maintain a complete database of the experiences of previous clients. Consumers will have a thorough amount of data with which to make their decision.

However, the commercial sites sometimes charge a hefty fee for contractor membership. Interested contractors are now finding free versions of these sites that are just as efficient, and more cost-effective. These free websites are often maintained by a consumer-protection organization or an industry builders association. Each of these organizations is highly motivated to match quality builders to consumers. A builder is well advised to register with such a site in order to increase his exposure and get with a range of suitable clients.know more about Builder.

Online Websites Match Builders And Customers

Builder - Homeowners have more ways than ever to find quality builders whom they can trust. Several types of websites now exist that help consumers locate a builder with top credentials. One of these is a full-service website that handles all parts of the process.

Before the advent of the Internet, consumers often started by locating a builder from their local business directory. They might look at the size of the advertisement, the quality of the text or pictures, or even simply choose from among the first companies displayed in alphabetical order. Then they would visit a few candidates to get a feel of their work ethic. They may ask for some references from their client list to get an even better idea of the level of quality.

A better method was to talk to friends or neighbors about their experience with various builders, and to use this information to both choose a builder and check their quality level.

The Internet brought this process to a completely new level. Business directories for each city now became available for a range of services including builders. These online directories are much easier to search and use than the often bulky printed directories. These directors often link builders’ websites, which provide even more complete information about each contractor. These websites often have enough detail to allow the customer to make a virtual visit to the contractor online. Initial contact can be made online as well. Some business directories also allow for rudimentary feedback systems. However, these systems are problematic in that many customers do not leave a rating unless there is a perceived problem. The results are often skewed for an otherwise quality builder.

The most modern sites for builders have a closed system. Instead of providing information and leaving most of the work to you, they monitor the entire process from start to finish. You start by providing the website with the details of their job. They take the next step for you, by locating several builders who are qualified for the job. They do this from a list of builders that register with them ahead of time. You then choose the builder from their recommendations, and proceed with the job. After the job completion, you provide detailed feedback of the experience. This is one of the most important parts of the service. When you initially choose your builder, you can do so with the help of a thorough feedback system with information from every client that builder has. This gives you the information you need to quickly and efficiently evaluate a set of builders, and choose one that does the highest quality work for your type of job.Know more about Builders

New Benefits To Joining A Builders Association

Builder - Contractors choose to become part of a Builders Association for a number of reasons. One is to continue the flow of information they got from their training. They continue to receive the latest opportunities, government regulations, or advances in their field. Others join the association to become part of the whole group of their organization. They do this to increase their networking contacts and to make friends they can work with on a professional or personal basis. Still others join an association to bolster their own reputation. They show customers and others that they are an active and qualified member of their professional community.

However, with the advent of online services, one of the new and powerful benefits to joining a Builders Association is to become part of a job matching process. Of course, many associations have provided both contractor and consumer listings for years, but this is a different, more powerful program. With this process, interested association members are given the opportunity to register as part of a contractors’ cadre, and agree to be listed and receive feedback. Consumers then come to the association site, provide details of the job they have in mind, and receive a short list from the group of contractor qualified to do the consumer’s job. This makes the association website highly attractive to consumers. Instead of using their local business directory or performing web searches on the Internet, they can now come to an industry association for recommendations. It is a one-stop experience for them. It also gives them a high degree of confidence that they will be working with a quality contractor.

Part of the power of these matching services for builders is the feedback system. Each consumer who takes advantage of the website is required to leave feedback. This includes a level rating as well as a detailed description of their experiences with their contractor. Future visitors to the website will see the feedback for each contractor, and use it to help make their decision.

Builders find this process to be a very efficient way to broadcast their reputation. Their listing with the association will have every experience from their past customers listed. They will be able to improve on the efficiency of their word of mouth advertising. In addition, they will have their bona fide reputation for all to see. Discerning customers, who are not impressed by advertising hype or by testimonials that could have been manufactured, will see real feedback from real customers.

Some contractors see this addition to the services provided by their Builders Association as one of the most important benefits in years. They use these services to generate many more leads, allowing them to continue to grow their business.Know more about Builders.

How Feedback Works For A Builder Matching Website

All builders seek to enhance their reputations. Before the advent of the Internet, contractors would advertise their services in all sorts of ways. They generally started with a strong listing in the local business directory. They catered to their customers with large ads and details about their experience. These ads were bolstered by ads in newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. Of course, these ads only represented a promise of reputation, not a proven track record.

Many builders at the time felt that after the ads, the most important way to advertise their true reputation was through word of mouth. Satisfied customers would see that the work was done with a quality attitude. The job was performed per specifications, on schedule, and on budget. Then, as they completed a job in a particular neighborhood, they counted on their happy customers to tell their neighbors and friends, and generate more leads. Some builders would even solicit feedback that they could use in their media ads.

The Internet has made this process much more efficient. One powerful strategy is for a builder to take advantage of a matching site to get job leads. Some of these sites are hosted by some form of Builders’ association, which operates as an industry site as well as a consumer-protection organization. The power of these sites is the feedback system, which communicates the strength of your reputation and gives consumers the confidence to contract with you.

These matching sites for builders have developed their feedback system from models used by the first consumer websites: online auction sites, online bookstores, and online merchandise outlets. For each job that you perform through the website, you receive a customer rating (perhaps a 1 out of 10 level rating) and a detailed description of the consumer’s experiences.

Just as when you started your business, you register with the website with a clean slate and no established reputation as yet. Initial clients may tend to choose contractors with established positive feedback over newcomers. However, as you attract customers willing to give you a chance, perhaps with the incentive of discounts during this stage, you build up your website feedback. New customers to the site will find your company as part of a list of suitable contractors, and choose your company according to your amount and level of feedback. This is a highly efficient way of broadcasting your true reputation. Builders often feel that it is much more effective than either media ads or word of mouth. They discover that, after the initial stages of building their online reputation, that their client lead list begins to avalanche, and allows them to grow their business in a brand new way.Know more about Builder.