Ten Construction Dont's

TOP TEN WAYS FOR BUILDERS TO GET THEMSELVES INTO TROUBLE

1. No written contract with the owner. When the builder believes the work is done, and it is time for payment without a written contract, about all the builder and the owner will agree on is that something was to be done on the property.
2. No written change orders. This is how lawyers fund their children's education.
3. Failure to start the job on time, or failure to show up when promised. When the homeowner waits at home, because you promised to be there and you do not show up, you can imagine all of the nice things that the homeowner will tell his friends about you.
4. Sporadic Work. When a builder starts a job, leaves for a few days or weeks, comes back, does a little more, and then leaves again. Imagine the warm feeling the homeowner gets living in a partially completed home, and never knowing when you are going to show up to finish the work.
5. Failure to complete work on time. If the job is not done and the homeowner has to move out of their present home, you will give them an instant "panic attack".
6. Doing business with a difficult buyer.When your "gut instinct" tells you to leave at the first meeting, do it.
7. Builder fails to give a pre-lien notice.Only give a pre-lien notice on jobs where you want to get paid.
8. Builder discounts from suppliers not explained to the home buyer. Never tell a homeowner that you are giving them the lumber at your "cost" and then show the homeowner the lumber yard list price, but not the discount price. The trust level takes a big dive when the owner finds out about the discount.
9. Failure to explain at the beginning that the home will not be perfect.Consumers in the 1990's expect everything to be perfect. If not perfect, they expect you to make it perfect or give them their money back.
10. Ignore customer complaints.This is how lawyers will fund their retirement. Ignoring a customer's complaint does not make it go away. It only makes it worse.