| Owner builders oversee the construction of their new | | | | materials from. |
| homes, cutting out the costs of a general contractor. | | | | Owner Builder Questions to Sub-Contractor's |
| To do this, though, owner builders need to hire and | | | | References |
| manage their own sub-contractors. | | | | 1) How would you rate your experience with this |
| Choosing the right sub-contractors will make the | | | | contractor? |
| difference between a successful owner builder | | | | 2) How would you rate the contractor's |
| construction project and a financial disaster. | | | | communication with you? |
| Owner builders need to ask these 43 questions when | | | | 3) What are the contractor's strong points? |
| choosing their sub-contractors: | | | | 4) Weak points? |
| Owner Builder Questions to Sub-Contractors | | | | 5) Why did you choose this contractor? Was it |
| 1) How long have you been in business? | | | | quality, price, reputation, other? |
| 2) Have you or your partners worked under any | | | | 6) Was the work finished on time? |
| other names? | | | | 7) Was the work completed on budget? |
| 3) How many jobs do you do per year? | | | | 8) Would you hire this contractor again? |
| 4) How many jobs do you work concurrently? | | | | 9) Have you called them back for any warranty |
| 5) How much time are you (the owner of the | | | | work? |
| sub-contractor firm) on site personally? | | | | 10) If yes, how did they respond? |
| 6) How many crews do you have? | | | | 11) Did they keep the work area clean and neat? |
| 7) Will you be working with the crew on my site? | | | | 12) Were they easily accessible by phone? |
| 8) Do you sub out any of the work? If so, what? | | | | 13) Was he (if the owner) on site or did he have a |
| 9) Do you have a contract you use? (Owner builders | | | | supervisor on site? |
| should use their own contract, not the | | | | 14) Was the on-site supervision adequate? |
| sub-contractor's contract if at all possible.) | | | | 15) Would you recommend them to a family |
| 10) Can you provide me with a copy of the contract | | | | member? |
| in advance? | | | | Owner Builder Questions to Sub-Contractor's Supplier |
| 11) How long has your foreman worked for you? | | | | References |
| (Owner builders should ask this if the owner of the | | | | 1) How long have you known the contractor? |
| company is not doing the job himself.) | | | | 2) How would you rate his/her reputation? |
| 12) Please provide me with a bank reference. | | | | 3) Does he/she have an open account with you? |
| 13) Please provide me with a copy of your insurance | | | | 4) If so, what are the payment terms, and does he |
| certificate. | | | | pay on time? |
| 14) Have you had any suits brought against you by | | | | 5) How much of your business does he do with you |
| any homeowners or builders for whom you have | | | | each year? (1%, 5%, etc.) |
| worked? (Owner builders can check their background | | | | 6) What is your relationship with the contractor? (Is |
| for bankruptcies, judgments, and lawsuits. Let them | | | | it strictly business, personal friend, family, etc.?) |
| know you will be checking.) | | | | Remember, the more homework an owner builder |
| 15) If yes, why, and what was the outcome? | | | | does the more he is prepared before hammering the |
| 16) How many change orders would you consider | | | | first nail. Owner builders will save significant time and |
| average per job? | | | | money this way. |
| 17) Are there charges or fees for a change order | | | | Owner builders who skip these steps and who think |
| (other than the obvious costs for the change)? | | | | they can have a verbal agreement with a |
| Some contractors charge a fee for this. | | | | sub-contractor get burned in the long run. |
| 18) If a mistake is made by one of your crews, who | | | | Remember the big picture! The owner builder goal is |
| pays for it? | | | | to build your dream home and save tens of |
| 19) What kind of warranty do you provide? | | | | thousands of dollars in the process. This does not |
| 20) Are your warranties guaranteed by you or a | | | | mean owner builders need to be cheap. |
| third party? | | | | And it does not mean that owner builders should skip |
| 21) Please provide 3 (or 5) references for work done | | | | steps just to get to the fun of building - you will |
| in the last 6 months. | | | | have plenty of time for that! |
| 22) Please provide 3 (or 5) suppliers you buy | | | | |