Your Questions, Answered
We hope the FAQs below will be a good starting point into researching your remodel or new custom home construction. They have been broken into 7 different categories for your convenience. Of course, feel free to email us with any specific questions you might have.
FAQs:
Contractors
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The earlier the better. If the contractor is hired while you are still planning your home, you’ll be able to call upon and benefit from their knowledge.
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A good contractor will be able to supply you with an ample amount of references. Check out their work first hand and talk with past clients. Most importantly, choose a contractor with whom you’ll be most comfortable working. Building a home is a lengthy project; you want a contractor who will be with you every step of the way.
Feel free to reach out to us to learn more about the Headwaters approach to building and client partnerships.
Home Design
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It is quite possible to buy “stock” plans from a plan book for a few hundred dollars. The challenge would be to find a plan that suited you and your building site. A professional designer or architect will be able to produce a plan that balances your needs with what suits your land.
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We build all sizes. Most of our work has been from 2,500 to 6,000 square feet. We have an Unlimited Contractor License which allows us to build a home of any size.
Contracts
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Yes. A thorough contract, specifications, and plan are critical to the project’s success.
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A Fixed Price agreement allows you the considerable peace of mind knowing exactly what your home will cost. This peace of mind comes at a price since most contractors charge more for a fixed price project. With a Fixed Price agreement you will be paying what the contractor thought your home would cost months ago when the bid was produced. You are essentially buying a house from the contractor, it just doesn’t happen to be built yet.
A Cost Plus agreement gives you greater flexibility during the course of construction. The contractor’s fee is typically less for a Cost Plus project since you are sharing in the risk. In a Cost Plus agreement you will be paying for the actual expenses for your home plus a percentage for the contractor’s overhead and profit. In a Cost Plus agreement the contractor is building the home “with” you rather than “for” you.
Headwaters prefers the relationship that comes from building a home with our clients, and therefore uses Cost Plus contracting exclusively.
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Everything that goes into the construction process. All materials, labor, subcontractors, allowance items and expenses. The fee is not applied to work that happens before we start construction or after we are finished.
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Hire a reputable contractor in whom you have faith. If you don’t feel comfortable trusting the contractor to spend your money wisely, you should not feel comfortable with the contractor building your home, especially not on a fixed price.
Construction Process
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Many different people will participate in the construction of your home. Throughout the project someone from our staff is on site daily to ensure the quality of work. On most projects we take care of all the carpentry work ourselves.
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Generally this is not such a good idea. The majority of the subcontractors we use, we have used time and time again. We know what to expect, they know what to expect, they know what is expected of them. This familiarity helps the project run more smoothly and contribute to the finished quality.
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This is not a problem; living far away only increases the need for proper planning and good communication. Some of the finest homes we have built have been for out of town clients.
How will I be kept informed about the progress of our home if we live out of town?
Every week you’ll receive an email update typically with photos showing the week’s progress.
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We specialize in well built, efficient homes and commercial buildings.
Financials + Billing
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Yes, for the same product and specifications. Our value lies in the quality of the building experience and the finished home.
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At the end of each month you will receive an invoice from us.
This invoice will cover all the of Headwaters’ expenses incurred on your behalf plus our fee.
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For each project we ask the homeowner to purchase a Builder’s Risk Policy. This covers the repair or replacement cost of the structure if something unfortunate such as fire should damage the home. Headwaters will maintain Workmen’s Compensation and General Liability Insurance.
Green Construction
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Yes. In every home there are opportunities to build more sustainably. How many of those opportunities we can take advantage of depend upon our clients.
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An Energy Star certification or a LEED certification provide a third party testament to how well your home was built. In the future when you choose to sell your home these certifications will help educate a potential buyer as to the quality of your home.
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Build a home to last for generations. One of the greenest things we can do is to make sure that the resources we are using are used well.
A good next step is to follow the Energy Star Guidelines.
For the more ambitious home project the US Green Building Council’s LEED program is a great choice.
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Most any insulation installed properly can effectively insulate your home, until the wind starts blowing. When the wind is blowing there is pressure difference between the inside and outside of your home. Every little gap provides a path for air to move reducing the effectiveness of your insulation.
Aside from a couple of SIP projects we use Icynene Insulation exclusively. Both Icynene and SIP do a tremendous job of sealing and insulating.
Warranty
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Our workmanship and materials for a year.
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Yes, it occupies almost a page of our contract.
Everything is spelled out; what is covered and what is not covered. It is the same warranty we have used building homes for attorneys and architects. We feel it is not just thorough but more importantly it is fair.
The finished project stands as a monument to our craftsmanship. Throughout construction we are constantly thinking in terms of durability and quality. “Surviving” the warranty period is not our goal. Our best interest is served with a quality home that withstands the tests of time.