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Your contractor should be able to completely prepare you for construction. If certain pre-construction steps are not completed, your project will be susceptible to unnecessary delays, additional costs, communication barriers, and even fines from the city or your local HOA. Before construction actually begins, your contractor should:
- Provide a set of construction drawings that reflect everything on the contract. You should receive these drawings within a week of signing the contract.
- Provide an engineering plan prepared by a licensed and experienced structural engineer. Beware of off-the-shelf plans that can be purchased from an engineering design mill. A reputable contractor should have an engineer on staff.
- Obtain necessary permitting from your local city department. Arrangement for this timely task should be spelled out in your contract. Failure to correctly pull permits may have legal consequences. Important: Disclose all easements to your contractor prior to getting permits. This will help to avoid plan conflicts or design changes.
- Conduct a pre-construction meeting with you, the salesman, and the construction manager. This meeting should prepare you for construction and is essential to making sure your project runs smoothly. The following things should be discussed at this pre-construction meeting:
- Time and date of excavation
- Material selection
- Realistic expectations of backyard construction
- Responsibilities of the homeowner (if applicable)
There are also things that should be completed by you, the homeowner such as:
- Have all financing completed. Contractors should not start any work until financing has been funded.
- Get “Home Owners Association” approval if it applies to the community in which you live. Failure to do so could lead to fines and delays on the pool project. As the homeowner, you are usually responsible for obtaining HOA approval.
To gain a better understanding of the building process and timelines, visit this link.
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