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Okay guys – I’m in the public construction sector. How does one find a good – no
b great
home constuction contractor? I am going to be buying property in North Carolina / Western part of Virgina this year, and then building the home I want ( I hope ) – what are the channels one goes thru for that?
Now – if any of you guys need a Water treatment plant or a wastewater treatment plant, let me know! 😉
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Replies
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Hey guys - are ya mad at me or sumpin? I is sorry - please give me some hep!
*I think we're pretty good. You might just hire us. There's a small chance I'm a bit biased. Even if for some reason you choose not to hire us, take a trip over to our web site. http://www.headwaters-enterprises.com There's plenty of good information on how to select a contractor.Chase
*Hi Wolvie, I'll try and help ya out. I think I would talk to people in the area you are planing on building. People that are having homes built presently. Ask them who they are using and if they would hire this individual again if they had to. Ask them what they liked as well as didn't like about the contractor. Also ask if you could see more work that they have done in the area. Go look and pay particular attention to details inside and outside of the house. Outside you may want to look at the materials that were used and how they were installed. Inside look at the trim and how it was installed. Do all the mitres on trim joints fit well or are they filled up with painters caulk to hide defects? Look under the windows at the window aprons. Do they have mitre returns on the ends or did somebody just whack em off at an angle? Basically, try to form your opinion as to whether or not you would be satisfied with his work based upon what you have seen and heard from others.By all costs avoid a contractor whose main concern is how quick he can build it and one that doesn't keep his word. I have worked for one of those, and I feel it is very unfair to treat people that way.Finally get everything down in writing and have fun with your building project.I could probably come up with more ideas but in my opinion these are the basics. When I started out on my own, I advertised in the newspaper to get work. Now the majority of the work I receive is from recommendations from previous customers. My grandad used to tell me that a good word will go far; but, a bad word goes even farther. Hope I gave you a starting point at least.Frank "Mad Dog" Maglin
*MDM - my problem is I don't know anyone in that area. I was thinkin of maybe some network you good old boys might have. Thanks for the info so farWolvie
*Well, I will check out your site - do you work in the High Point area?It will probably be a few months before I'm ready - I'm property shopping right now, and will hit NC at the end of April to look around at a few places if all goes well.
*Wolverine:Sorry, we don't work in the High Point area. That's a couple of hours east of here. We work strictly in the Boone-Blowing Rock-Banner Elk area. Best of luck with your search. Unfortunately it can be quite a chore finding the right builder. Good for you that you're starting to look now. I pity the folks that to select a contractor until they are ready to start. Chase
*Good ole boy network huh? Do you know the secret handshake.Seriously, if you dont know anyone in the area I'd suggest going to several local lumber yards, real lumber yards if there are any left not the big box stores. Go to the contractors counter if they have a separate one for pro's and ask for the names of the three or four best builders/contractors in the area. If this is a high end project you might mention that also. Then take the three or four names that keep popping up and give them a call. The sales folks know a surprising amount about whats going on construction wise in the area, especially outside sales. Take Mad Dog's advice and ask to look at a current project as well as past projects. We have a reference list that we give prospective customers and incourage them to call and make an appointment to look at these past jobs, preferably with out us even present, or we may show up and make introductions then take off so they can talk openly [of course we okay it with our customers before putting there name on the ref list].As to calling the BBB, I have my doubts that helps much, but I guess it couldnt hurt.It's still gonna be partly luck unfortunatly, but that may help get you started.Best of luck, Chuck
*Hey Wolvie, go to the topic "Ask a Homeowner" and check out some of the suggestions Kai has made if you haven't seen it already. She makes some really good points, as do many others who have posted there.
*Wolverine- This is input from "a worthless nut"You should check local kindergartens. The best kids with blocks are the builders. If that doesn't help find the local material suppliers and hang out for a day. See who is well received . Check with the local BIA, papers, realtors ,and drive through developements and ask the various contractors who they are working for and what they think of that company or individual. Call the folks they speak well of and ask for references. This is time well spent. You will be Married to this builder for the next nine months.
*Wolvie, I just thought of another idea. If you can get "allowed" into a building site, ask the workers-- although this probably will give you more insight about the subs than the General. From there, you can approach the General and say, for example, "I saw the master bath at the [whatever] house, and was impressed with the [worker-name, workmanship, whatever]. Do you use them regularly?" It might not work in your circumstances, but I got a lot of jobs for my bosses because "wander-throughs" (however they managed it) saw me busting my butt, and doing a good job. I guess they figured that a good General would know who the good Subs are. Of course, I could be wrong :)(My g/f relocated to near Asheville, NC and loves it; they bought, however, didn't build. If the area in which you are looking is near there, I'll be happy to ask her to correspond, and she'll probably love to!)(P.S. Those dang click lights--I finally have them, the box, the packing, all in one place. Hope I still have your addy! I plan, really, to mail them tomorrow.)
*Alright Wolverine..( and I wouldn't do this for any one else but seeing as your a good sport )...what you do is you plan on a Wolverinefest that goes for about 3 months next spring...you'll need to start the planning now and make sure you post a thread in the Tavern about it. I know, Iknow..it IS a BRILLIANT and CUNNING PlAN and that's what mates are for. See 'cause you're a gurl you wouldn't a thought of this..( it's probably got to do with brain cells and choclate and duff.. I mean stuff.
*Mark, that is the BEST recommendation yet! You could probably get a deep discount on your airline tickets if you order them now. Plan on a RT to Greensboro/High Point airport in NC, spring of 2001!You guys from Texas, pay attention to this, now! ;-)Wolvie
*Just make sure you reserve your airline tickets, Mad. My cabinet plans await you!
*When I first got into this area and was looking for good subs, I asked at my lumber yard. Of course, they all know me there so I was sure to get the honest scoop.All their recomendations were excellent. Found the best masonry contractor I've ever worked with this way.