Hills Architectural Properties

Archive for February, 2011

You must be in a hurry to bid farewell to your landlord and start living in your own house. But take a moment. Just like you have read in the previous articles, you need to understand the process for best results. It is never too early to live in your own house. Even if it was possible, tomorrow is ideal! However, it is important to note that some things will consume your time before you finally step into your own house. These include the following;

· Saving for the house – As seen earlier, it is best to raise some of the funds for your house. Saving takes time and based on your estimated budget, you can easily estimate how much longer you will need to wait.

· Purchase / Lease of land – The process of owning land is usually a long one especially when changing hands between individuals. There are many verifications to do, starting with a process known as search, which is done to ensure that the seller is the real owner of the parcel of land in question. The process ends with the production of a title deed in your name. This is a sensitive process and many people have lost all their savings in shady land transaction deals. Take your time to evaluate the seller and to be hands on as far as this process is concerned. Shortcuts are very dangerous in such dealings, please beware.

· Design and approvals – The design process is one of the most exciting moments of a prospective house owner. It is one of the processes that puts your dream into a tangible possibility. One thing to realize here is that there no ideal design. Design is a process that is very flexible. This advantage gives you the benefit of getting what you have always dreamt of. You need to be very involved in this process. Right from the start, discuss with your architect what you and your family desires. You should try your best to understand the meaning and use of every kink that goes to paper in the name of your house design. One of the best ways to enhance your appreciation of design is to request for visual presentations in the form of three dimensional and models in addition to the usual two dimension presentations. This will take you not less than a month at best. Start early to ensure you have a full understanding of your product before you go ground breaking.

· Selection of Contractors – This process is not very complicated as long as you have engaged an able quantity surveyor. As earlier mentioned, it is wise to prequalify (Vet) possible contractors before you invite them to tender for the work at hand. Once you have your preferred (and appropriate) contractors, invite them to tender and give them enough time to fill in their prices. A week or two should be sufficient. Once the tenders are returned and opened, they are evaluated for another one week and finally the successful tenderer is picked. It is important to have a pre-construction meeting with both your consultants and the contractor. This will iron out all the issues and make sure that all understand their roles and obligations to each other.

· Actual Construction – Depending on the type and size of your house, the construction period will differ. This could also be determined by your cashflow. This is particularly very important and should be clearly arranged with your financier or accountant in consultation with the quantity surveyor. It is important to know an estimate of money required to be input into the project over the entire construction period. There are also some unforeseen events that could hamper with the timing of your project. Examples include bad weather, industrial strife with the construction workers, coat injunctions or even political interference.

A programme of works is a timetable for the whole process of construction right from preconstruction period to the time you move in your furniture. Though provisional, this is a very important tool as it helps control the timing of your construction.By Kynyn Kamau

In recent years the building trade’s reputation has taken a battering due to the unscrupulous antics of the minority of practitioners. As such, many people looking to hire builders may be interested to know how to avoid the unreliable companies in the trade.

1. You will no doubt have a clear vision in mind for what you want the builders to do, however, it will also help you to have a written version too. It will help your chosen builder to stay on track and make sure the quotes you receive are accurate.

2. One of the easiest ways to find a builder you can trust is to use one that a friend or relative has recommended. You may have even seen the work they carried out, so can judge for yourself how good they are.

3. If your friends or relatives have any negative stories about builder experiences to recount, it’s worth paying attention to those too. That way, you’ll know who to avoid.

4. If you are starting from scratch, a local business directory is a good way to start. As well as providing a list of the builders in your area, it will also give you contact information, website details and reviews from previous customers.

5. You will, however, need help whittling your list down. The National Federation of Builders is a good place to start, so ask them for further advice.

6. Next, you may want to do a few basic searches online including the names of the companies and any individuals that are mentioned. That way, if someone has posted something up about a negative experience, you can strike those firms from your list.

7. Visiting the websites of the companies should also be a useful way of checking out a firm’s credentials, but you may want to follow it up by asking them for examples of previous jobs they’ve carried out.

8. When you have three or four builders in mind, provide each of them with your description (see point 1) and invite them to provide a quote for the work. Be wary of those that are far cheaper than the others, as there may be good reason for their ability to discount so heavily.

9. When you’ve chosen one of the companies, ask them to provide a detailed breakdown of the work; when they will start and finish the job; their working days and hours during that time; and what planning permission will be required.

10. Most jobs will not require a deposit, so if the firm insists on one you ask for a thorough explanation of the reason. You should also speak to the National Federation of Builders and other practitioners to see if your builder is right to ask for money upfront.

So, why not use a local business directory to get started? For instance, you may need builders in Birmingham, so require a Birmingham directory to search for them.By Robert Berry-Smith

If you haven’t been asked to sign a “green” construction contract yet, I expect it will happen in 2011.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards encourage conservation of resources through better design and construction of commercial and residential buildings. LEED is a voluntary program. But about a quarter of all construction now incorporates LEED standards. California’s new Green Building Code (effective 1/1/11) is sure to raise that percentage.

A building can qualify for one of four LEED certification levels (certified, silver, gold or platinum) based on a point system that considers site management, conservation of resources and material selection.

Most LEED points (referred to as “credits”) are awarded for meeting design standards. But an owner who wants a project to qualify for LEED certification will require that contractors: (1) develop and implement a plan to reduce waste and pollution, (2) recycle construction debris and (3) favor certain types of materials.

For other than residential buildings, an independent commissioning authority (CxA) leads the certification process. The CxA develops design specs intended to meet LEED standards. A different CxA may monitor actual construction. When work is complete, the CxA will verify compliance by writing a commissioning report that qualifies the project for certification.

Both single family and multifamily homes and both new construction and gut-rehab of existing dwellings can be certified. A LEED for Homes Provider will review the plans before construction begins and arrange for inspections during construction by a Green Rater. When the project is complete, the Provider will submit a final LEED checklist to the U.S. Green Building Certification Institute.

What’s different about a LEED (“green”) construction contract?

Plenty. The agreement will require that the contractor develop and implement a site management plan and favor certain types of materials. You’ll probably have to deliver compliance data with each request for payment and send a representative to LEED conferences with the CxA or Green Rater.

On commercial new construction and tenant improvement jobs, the contract will require (1) compliance with waste management standards, (2) re-use of materials, (3) a minimum recycled content in materials and (4) use of wood with a certificate of origin. A contract for residential work will cover all of these issues plus requirements for managing the site and material-efficient framing – usually a waste factor limit, detailed framing documents, a detailed cut list or off-site fabrication.

Note another important point: A prime contractor on a LEED project has to write subcontracts that pass these same LEED obligations on to subcontractors.By Gary Moselle

Because of the effects of recession on everyone, seldom can you find someone who did not experienced monetary crisis. Even companies, organizations, executives, families, students or homemakers experienced financial crisis, like you.

In a struggling economy like today, planning to build a house is out of the question. However, your decision may be affected if you ponder on the benefits you can have if you own house, than renting a pad for long period of time.

Building your own home is exciting yet not easy because you have to consider two options, building through real estate development or hiring contractors and build it yourself.

It sounds so easy, but lack of planning could turn your dream house into a nightmare, thus, you have to organize and to plan ahead to avoid such scenario from happening. Having an insight on what to do and what to avoid in constructing a house really helps. If you lack information on house construction process, then, this article is for you. Read on and know techniques on home construction.

Things to consider before you start your task:

* Budget. You have to consider how much money you can afford for your house.
* Blueprint. You have to plan everything. Consider the number of bedrooms you need and their sizes, floor plan of your kitchen, living room, dining room and bathrooms.
* Location. Source out areas where you intend to build your home. When selecting a location, consider the amenities offered in the area, like supermarket, schools, church, sports facilities, police station and hospitals.
* Design of the House. Consider what type of house you want to construct, like duplex type, townhouse, ecological house or bungalow type.
* Financing. If you lack the needed finances, consider your sources of funding. Are you going to take a loan from a bank, cooperatives or financial institution of your choice.
* Method used to construct your house: Decide whether you want your home built by either though real estate development or through contractors.
* Architect. Hire the services of an architect to transform your vision and plans into a blueprint. Make sure that your contractor and architect work together to ensure that your budget fits right into the plan.
* Building Permit. Before you start construction, get the needed business permit from city hall of the locality where you belong.
* Electricians. They are the ones who install the electrical wiring of your house.
* Plumbers. They are responsible in the installation of pipe works inside your home.
* Roofer. Responsible for installing roofs in your house.
* Building Inspector. You should inquire from your local building inspector on the safety features needed for your house.
* Before construction begins, you have to make sure that there is water and electricity in your home because sewers and electrical lines are installed first before builders start the construction of the house.
* When choosing a contractor, make sure that you have chosen an accredited and licensed contractor for the job.
* Landscaping. A finishing touch that beautifies the surroundings of your home.
* Parking area or garage
* Building materials
* You should not forget to allocate money for extra expenses for home furnishings, like tables, sofa, dining table, and many more.
By William Fischer