By Bob Hoebeke
President, Hoebeke Builders
It’s over! The parade has passed, the marching bands are removing their gloves and packing up their instruments, the fire trucks have gone back to the station, the floats have delighted many but are getting ready to be mothballed, and there is confetti all over the street. All good parties have clean-up, and this is no exception – the dreaded last 2 percent!
Arguably, the most important part of any building project now lies ahead. The difference between good and great awaits your attention. Imagine the Mona Lisa without the shadowing around her eyes and nose – very important to the overall look of the painting, it was Leonardo da Vinci’s last 2 percent.
Your team (architect, builder, interior designer, and landscape architect) has almost done what you hired them to do, but your project is still not quite complete. Let’s make one last plunge, pushing the ball over the goal line, and once and for all, FINISH your project.
You’re all moved in, your life is in boxes, and you’ve gotten out your checklist. Here’s what needs to happen:
Architects have the least to do because they had the most to do at the beginning of the building project.
But, one last brief walk-through with a set of plans should pick up any changes made to the original plans following actual construction. At some point in the future you will need an “as-built” set of plans, so now is the perfect time to request them. Think property tax challenges, passing plans on to a future homeowner, etc. Keep them in a safe, secure place where you’ll always be able to find them.
Builders have the most to do.
That’s because the number of systems, fixtures, appliances, etc. in a home have to be tweaked to perfection. Oh, and that piece of trim over there is missing … So you and your builder don’t harm each other during this last critical 2 percent of the project, consider the following plan:
Maintain three lists.
- The “total inconvenience” list is for those items which are direct impositions to your living patterns. Could be a water heater that won’t heat, a light circuit that keeps shorting out, or a refrigerator that won’t refrigerate. Any major inconvenience goes on this list. You should encourage your builder to see you every morning for the first 7 – 10 days after move-in so those problems receive immediate attention.
- The “45 Day Final Punchlist” list. This is for things that can wait, but hopefully, this list doesn’t end up too long. The idea behind it is to bring back a trade one time to fix eight things instead of eight times to fix one thing. This will drive you less crazy!
- Finally, a “Paint Touch-up” list kept separately so you can just hand one, very focused list to the touch-up painter AFTER the 45 day punchlist is finished. This should be the last trade in your home at the very end of the process.
Schedule a “fix-it” day.
A little before the 45-day list, coordinate with your builder to have a “fix-it” day when all trades needing to correct items come at scheduled times on the same day. Though the day is crazy, usually about 80 percent of all items are corrected, and not much but paint touch-ups are left.
Interior Designers have performed most of their function during construction.
They helped with selections and material patterns. Most projects require some additional furnishings and window treatments. Hopefully, your interior designer is on the ball with orders, and the “install” happens either at move-in, or just after. Count on them being around just after the movers leave, so they can help with positioning furniture and “nesting.”
Landscape Architects are often handcuffed.
They’re held back by a building process which stages materials in the direct path of landscape installation. So, it wouldn’t be unusual for crews to be working out in the yard while you are moving-in and nesting. You’ll want a tight timeline for completion, and some good instruction on both plant care, and how to operate the irrigation system.
Whew! That’s it, you’re FINISHED!
If you’ve followed the prescription, your friends will marvel at how swiftly, and efficiently your building project went together. We’ll leave it to your good judgment on whether or not you share how much you saved through building a team and planning together!
From, developing a “Lifestyle Inventory,” to building and monitoring your Project Team, Hoebeke Builders Consulting Services has all the tools necessary to dramatically increase your project’s efficiency, while decreasing your project’s cost! www.hoebekebuilders.com
