Happy Birthday America!!

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July 4th. What does this day mean to Merlin Custom Home Builders? First and foremost this day is to celebrate our country’s Independence. Without which, we would not have the freedom to do what we do best — build the most amazing custom homes in Las Vegas while working with an outstanding group of people. We have some of the world’s best homeowners, architects, designers, engineers and subcontractors who make it possible for us to build homes, condos and estates based on creative visions and designs.

July 4th also means pulling out a blanket, picnic basket, and enjoying the outdoors with family and friends. And let’s not forget the fireworks!!

A safe and happy Fourth of July to each of you and your families.

Building Success 101

 

Q: How much do permit requirements and codes vary from place to place?

A: While all jurisdictions require a building permit for structural work, whether it’s a new home or a remodel, others require a permit for every job, and still others set their requirements somewhere in the middle. As for codes, while the International Code Council publishes a model building code, states can choose to adopt all, part, or none of it, which means that codes vary considerably from one jurisdiction to another. The differences are driven by factors that range from politics to local conditions. As a professional builder it is our business to know our local permit and building code requirements.

Steve, Bart and the Merlin Custom Home Builders team understand that building a new home is one of the most important investments a family will make. In many cases it represents the single largest financial investment. The home is designed and built to provide years of pleasure, comfort, and security. It is the physical manifestation of “family” and the place where celebration and joy are expressed and experienced.

No wonder that when it comes to building custom homes or remodeling, no one likes surprises. The document that spells out the detail and helps set expectations for both builder and client is the contract. The contract is the roadmap that defines the destination, describes the detail of how the project will proceed, and steers everyone clear of obstructions and delays.  Merlin Custom Home Builders likes our contracts to contain three key addendums.  What are we building, how much will it cost and how long will it take. Those addendums are 1) The permitted set of plans and specifications,  2) A detailed budget, 3) The construction time-line.

The contract is crafted so that it protects both Merlin Custom Home Builders and client, and clarifies everything about the job. It is organized into a number of sections, including information about the project location (address, lot number, condo number, etc.), permits, contractor insurance and licensing, budget, project timetables, and payment schedules.

While all of these details are important, Merlin Custom Home Builders finds that if conflicts arise during construction, they’re usually caused by misunderstanding over the “who, what, and how” of the job, and an effective contract works to clarify these issues.

Who makes the decisions?

One very short but important section names the owners’ representative. This should be one person — for instance the husband or wife, but not both — who will act as the Merlin Custom Home Builders’s main contact for approvals, changes, and questions. Having one owner as the representative helps eliminate confusion and makes communication more efficient. Similarly, the language should defines Steve or Bart as Merlin Custom Home Builders’s representatives that sign off on changes — whether it’s the company owner or the owner plus the site manager or superintendent.

What, exactly, is the client buying?

The project description defines exactly what the homeowners will be getting for their investment. The more detail the better. Merlin Custom Home Builders’s contracts accomplish this by referencing the project plans and specifications.  Ideally, contracting the permitted set of plans if available, because permitted plans incorporate details the city/county require and the budget can then include costs relating to those requirements.

The plans are the visual description of the new home, and include floor plans, elevation drawings, and all electrical and mechanical systems. They should note who prepared them and when they were signed. The plans should include all necessary changes — for instance, from the building department and the zoning board.

The specifications, or “specs,” are the written description of what will be done. They list all items that will be installed in the custom home: the carpet, flooring, door hardware and light fixtures in each room; the model numbers of kitchen appliances, furnaces, and water heaters; the brands and colors of paint and roof shingles. The project price is based in part on the specs, so clients should study these carefully to confirm that they understand what they are getting before signing the contract.

How will discretionary funds be allocated?

Discretionary funds include estimates and change orders. It’s important both be crystal clear. Estimates cover parts of the job that haven’t been fully specified yet, such as when the homeowner has yet to decide on types of flooring or faucet fixtures. The estimate should specify when the decision is needed. Merlin Custom Home Builders’s preference is that everything is specified and all estimates have hard numbers within 30 days after beginning the project.

The contract should also clearly explain the builder’s change-order policy, including what types of changes can be made at each stage of the project, who can sign off on changes (Steve or Bart and the owner), and the administrative cost for preparing change orders. It’s in everyone’s interest for even small changes to be documented in writing.

A contract that clearly defines the who, what, and how of the job steers the project clear of the most common minefields. This will help ensure that the homeowners get the custom home they envisioned, for the price they budgeted and within the timetable expected.

Warm Regards,

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Steve Jones & Bart Jones
Merlin Custom Home Builders
6408 S. Arville Street
Las Vegas, NV 89118

702.257.8102 – Phone