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| Contracting
a Home | ||
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 There's
obviously a massive amount of work involved in contracting a home. The major item
to get approved is the final inspection. Once that's done, a Certificate of Occupancy
can be issued. That document is needed to close on your loan and officially move
in. Your project will include some details we didn't have, so you're on your own there, but here are more of the leftover jobs and paperwork to consider as you near the finish line. Final Inspections & Overlooked Codes Let's talk about the final inspection first. Is it going to be a "white glove test" and a hundred nit-picky corrections? Will it throw off the closing date and cause you to lose your mortgage rate lock?
If
there are problems, they'll most likely be minor things like smoke detectors.
People don't install enough of them, put them in the wrong places, wire them wrong,
or just forget to put them up. Many
people don't always realize they need fire-rated service doors between an attached
garage door and the house. Some
homeowners forget to provide access to their attics or crawlspaces. Codes also
say that outlets for countertop use have to be protected by a GFCI (ground fault
circuit interrupter). Codes
require stair railings to be a certain height and have a minimum spacing between
the spindles. There's a lot of these health and safety issues to deal with, so
it's a good idea to have an inspector drop in before the final inspection to make
sure you're on the right track. Once
the work passes, some building officials will sign your Certificate of Occupancy
right on the spot. Even if they find a problem, they may give you a temporary
certificate to get you through closing. In other areas, there is a day or more waiting period. Look into these items ahead of time to avoid delays in your schedule.
The
second is making sure you have lien waivers from all the subs and suppliers to
verify that they've been paid for every item listed on your statement. Once you've got those together, the bank's appraiser then goes through the house and double-checks that it's actually been built to the specifications on your sworn construction statement. The appraiser will also call your subs to verify the lien waivers and make absolutely sure everyone has been paid.
There's
no doubt some major problems will come up during the project. For the self-contractor,
those problems can cause more tension and frustration than normal because it's
your home. That's when it's time to step back and take a break -- maybe only for a few hours. But take some time away and even schedule a day or two for that. A little time off will help you be more productive, get along better with everyone, and have more fun. | ||
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More How-To Information: | ||
Probably
not -- if you've established a good relationship with your local officials and
treated them as resources, not adversaries. The final inspection may cost you
a few days to make corrections so allow yourself that extra time. 
Once the project is done, the bank will ask for more paperwork. The first is documenting
all your expenses in a final sworn construction statement. 
A job site is always a hectic place, but be sure to save the receipts, instructions
and warranties that come with the materials, fixtures and appliances -- especially
for the oven, microwave, and dishwasher. So make sure your subs save those for
you.