Last fall we met with and interviewed (in our clumsy totally-lacking-in-knowledge way) 3 different builders out on our property. We asked for bids from 2 of them, and were told "a couple weeks" till we received them. Two weeks came and went. This was also when Covid was beginning it's climb to the peak, so we allowed for the chaos and were patient. Eventually sent emails, were promised we'd get them soon. Wood prices were climbing and we realized that any bid we got at that point in time was useless anyway as the estimates would have to be redone before we could actually start building this spring.
Based on non-bid factors we decided on a local General Contractor. He seemed very willing to work with us as far as finishing some things ourselves, and asked a lot of detailed questions in order to give us an accurate bid (which we never got). When we contacted him to let him know our decision, he seemed agreeable, and communicated with our architect at least once. It was mid-winter, so still nothing that could be done for months. At least twice I mentioned our lack of knowledge with the whole process, but he never responded re: that. When I asked that we set up a meeting he said he would be out of town until mid-February and would contact me when he got back. That date came and went. After waiting 2 weeks I emailed him. No response. Waited a week and tried again. No response. Waited another week and then a third e-mail. This time he responded and said he couldn't put us in his schedule until Sept.! NOT good! We discussed this and decided to stick with him as we really did not want to start the process over again. Three days later he emailed again and said he had more signed contracts and could not schedule us until NEXT spring!! NOT HAPPY considering the biggest delay was him ghosting me!
Based on non-bid factors we decided on a local General Contractor. He seemed very willing to work with us as far as finishing some things ourselves, and asked a lot of detailed questions in order to give us an accurate bid (which we never got). When we contacted him to let him know our decision, he seemed agreeable, and communicated with our architect at least once. It was mid-winter, so still nothing that could be done for months. At least twice I mentioned our lack of knowledge with the whole process, but he never responded re: that. When I asked that we set up a meeting he said he would be out of town until mid-February and would contact me when he got back. That date came and went. After waiting 2 weeks I emailed him. No response. Waited a week and tried again. No response. Waited another week and then a third e-mail. This time he responded and said he couldn't put us in his schedule until Sept.! NOT good! We discussed this and decided to stick with him as we really did not want to start the process over again. Three days later he emailed again and said he had more signed contracts and could not schedule us until NEXT spring!! NOT HAPPY considering the biggest delay was him ghosting me!
So, we decided to contact the second-choice guy from last fall. Set up an appointment for the following Wednesday.
On Monday we met with the excavator out at the property to review the needed work for the driveway, septic and other dirt work. We told him our sob story, and he immediately offered to contact a GC he knew. We agreed and he immediately called him, verified he had time this year, and forwarded him my email address. I had an email from him the same night, sent our plans etc, and set up an appointment with him for Thursday evening.
Wed. we met with the 2nd choice builder. He apologized several times for not getting a bid to us last fall, blaming it on the Covid surge. This is a person who works with a "custom home" builder. It didn't take long to decide that this is not the type of builder we want. Basically they let you choose from the finish options that their supplier offers, and will work with your floor plan. He said they'd be willing to work with us putting in some sweat equity for some things, but it was obvious that this was not their normal way of working. While it's certainly possible that things would have been fine, stepping outside the norms for a process this complicated is bound to cause issues at some point.
One thing we did come away with was that we would NOT be doing a metal roof like we want. Cost was $73,000 for the roof alone!! Apparently, MN requires "standing seam" roofing in heavy guage steel for a metal roof on new construction, the most expensive type. In contrast, an asphalt shingle roof would be about $7000. That night we also brainstormed a possible change to the floorplan that might be less expensive.
Thursday the meeting with the GC went MUCH better. I had told him we wanted to do some work ourselves, and he came with a contract form (just as a worksheet at this point) where he had filled in the things he obviously would be taking care of, eliminated those things that we have already dealt with, and all the "maybe" slots were discussed, and the decisions noted. We gave him our sketch of the possible change to go along with the floor plans for estimation. He does not do the estimates himself, but works with a local lumber yard who will figure it up. They're pretty busy so it might be a few weeks.
He mentioned several other homes he had built up the road, and since I have a friend with a new house on that road, I asked for names. He WAS the builder on that house, so I contacted her to get together. Her review of his work was very good. They had had him do work on a previous house and liked him well enough to have him back for the new house- and her husband is a GC himself, so he certainly would not hire an inferior builder.
Best part- he can start our house as soon as we get everything on our end ready! We need several things before we can apply for the building permit. #1- we need a survey and the site staked out. But that can't be done until the build site has been leveled, and That can't be done until the frost is out of the roads next month. (When the roads thaw out in the spring, the ground underneath is very soft. To prevent damage, the roads have weight restrictions in place until it all dries out. Excavation equipment and trucks full of driveway gravel are too heavy.) #2- We also need our final plans, in a more detailed version than what we have so far, and until we get our estimate back and decide on that possible change, those cannot be completed. So, potential timeline- 2-3 weeks for the estimate, unknown amount of time for the plans, and then 2 weeks for the permit process. MAYBE break ground mid-May.
Best part- he can start our house as soon as we get everything on our end ready! We need several things before we can apply for the building permit. #1- we need a survey and the site staked out. But that can't be done until the build site has been leveled, and That can't be done until the frost is out of the roads next month. (When the roads thaw out in the spring, the ground underneath is very soft. To prevent damage, the roads have weight restrictions in place until it all dries out. Excavation equipment and trucks full of driveway gravel are too heavy.) #2- We also need our final plans, in a more detailed version than what we have so far, and until we get our estimate back and decide on that possible change, those cannot be completed. So, potential timeline- 2-3 weeks for the estimate, unknown amount of time for the plans, and then 2 weeks for the permit process. MAYBE break ground mid-May.
But, spring is here! We are getting our own small projects done at Bosky Glen. Removal of old barbed wire fencing, beginning work on the garden, putting paths in place, etc. It feels SO good to see things finally in motion!
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