| Many people spend months or even years | | | | think of it as a carpenter's job. And the |
| planning the log home of their dreams. They tour | | | | carpenters consider it part of the electrical work. |
| home shows, scour magazines and review house | | | | If neither party has budgeted for the job, you |
| plans with giddy anticipation. | | | | can end up with 12 hours or more of labor costs |
| When construction finally starts, their pride and | | | | that aren't covered in your contracts. This can |
| elation can't be denied. After all, as British | | | | lead to a couple thousand dollars in unanticipated |
| postmodern novelist Angela Carter wrote, "home | | | | costs, according to Guy. |
| is where the heart is." | | | | "You can't have breaks within the scope of the |
| Although no experience can compare with seeing | | | | work," Guy says. "You need to be sure |
| a dream come to fruition, let's face it, the actual | | | | everything is covered." |
| process of building a custom home can create | | | | To avoid a problem like this, you need to make |
| anxiety. | | | | sure you understand the entire scope of the |
| You have to wade through myriad decisions and | | | | work that needs to be done, then communicate |
| navigate the ins and outs of dozens of | | | | what you expect to the subcontractors. At The |
| construction steps. | | | | Construction Process Group, Guy prepares a |
| Wouldn't it be nice if there were a way to avoid | | | | "scope of work" document. "This clearly defines |
| the common pitfalls? | | | | who does each task so that the bids you receive |
| Well, there is. | | | | will be accurate and nothing will come back to bite |
| Following are seven secrets that log home | | | | you," he explains. |
| construction experts and home owners who have | | | | 4. Develop a budget (and stick to it). |
| gone through the construction process | | | | It's easy to give in to the temptation to add |
| recommend to keep your project on track and | | | | fancier features and upgraded appliances. After all, |
| within budget. | | | | each change may only add a hundred dollars or so |
| 1. Educate yourself. | | | | to the cost of a home. But it all adds up. "Before |
| Before you even start planning your new home, | | | | you know it, the budget is thousands of dollars |
| stop and consider whether you know enough | | | | off track," says Guy. Letting the budget get |
| about the processes to ask relevant questions | | | | away from you can lead to long-term problems. |
| and make the many decisions that are required | | | | "Often, when people overspend their budgets, |
| when building a custom home. | | | | they tend to skimp at the end of the process, |
| "Be honest with yourself," says log home project | | | | when it comes time to stain or seal the logs," |
| consultant, former builder-dealer and author Jim | | | | says Guy. |
| Cooper. "Ask yourself how much you really know | | | | "Coatings are one of the products where you |
| about construction." If your answer is "not much," | | | | really get what you pay for." Skimp here and you |
| it's time for a crash course. | | | | could end up with logs that look weathered |
| If you don't take the time to educate yourself, it | | | | before their time, or worse, fall victim to rot and |
| could lead to costly mistakes. | | | | insect damage. |
| For example, when working with a surveyor, one | | | | To stay on budget, experts suggest you try your |
| of Jim's clients once asked, "How much for the | | | | hand at one of the financial management |
| septic field?" The surveyor told the client, he | | | | software programs on the market, such as |
| would need to spend "about $800." | | | | QuickBooks, which even sells a specially designed |
| "What the surveyor was really telling the client | | | | contractor edition. One thing they do not |
| was that to do the engineering drawing for their | | | | recommend, however, is to purposely |
| septic field would cost about $800," recalls Jim. | | | | overbudget, or create a "fudge factor." By doing |
| "The septic field itself cost $12,000 to $14,000." | | | | so, you can create more problems than you'll |
| But the client didn't understand the difference | | | | avoid. |
| between engineering a septic field and actually | | | | "That means the budget is off track |
| installing one, so the surveyor's answer was | | | | everywhere," says Construction Process Group |
| misleading. | | | | partner Jim Christopher, who believes in budgeting |
| 2. Don't go it alone. | | | | realistically. "I tell clients to be prepared to spend |
| Whether you employ a general contractor or | | | | an additional 10 percent over that budget for |
| builder or decide to build your home on your own, | | | | owner-directed expenses," says Jim. |
| you'll still need to collaborate with professionals and | | | | "Then I ask them to show the restraint not to |
| subcontractors. If you don't have experience | | | | use it." |
| dealing with these pros, or you're not comfortable | | | | 5. Pitch in. |
| doing it, you may want to consider hiring a | | | | No matter who you choose to oversee your |
| project manager or facilitator. "The cost of this is | | | | project, there are creative ways you can stay |
| generally about half the price of a general | | | | involved and keep costs down. When Steve |
| contractor," says Jim. | | | | Hissong built his own log home in Belleville, Ohio, he |
| For example, The Construction Process Group in | | | | looked for subcontractors who were willing to let |
| Ortonville, Michigan, helps home owners in a | | | | him work alongside them. "My heating guy |
| variety of ways. | | | | knocked $700 off the total cost of my project |
| The company's program includes about eight | | | | because we worked together in the evenings," |
| hours of work on a house. They review plans | | | | says Steve. |
| from a design standpoint, examine whether the | | | | Often referred to as sweat equity, by finishing |
| log home package provides all the materials | | | | floors, tile, trim work, sanding and staining |
| needed to build the home and review the | | | | yourself, you can save a bundle of money, while |
| customer's site. | | | | taking pride in the fact that you helped to build |
| "We make sure the home owners have thought | | | | your own home. |
| about all the different ramifications that building | | | | 6. Check out your contractors. |
| out in the country can bring," says partner Guy | | | | Don't pick your contractors by simply looking in |
| Huenecke, a long-time expert in the log home | | | | the phonebook. When you are spending this kind |
| field. | | | | of money and working on a project of this |
| "Often they just assume things are available, like | | | | magnitude, you'll want to base your decision on |
| access to water. A thorough review lets us assist | | | | more informed and personal recommendations. |
| in developing a realistic budget." | | | | Guy suggests that home owners go to a local |
| There is also some education about money. | | | | lumberyard to inquire about qualified |
| "We help them understand how the cash needs | | | | subcontractors. |
| to flow," Guy says. | | | | "That's where the tradespeople do business, not |
| Even if you don't want to spend money on | | | | Lowe's," he says. |
| experts, it pays to seek advice. When Kim and | | | | Your local home builder's association is another |
| John Wary of Rogers, Arkansas, decided to act | | | | possible source for good contractors. |
| as their own builders and general contractors, | | | | You can find your local chapter by logging on to |
| they knew they were taking a leap of faith. | | | | the National Association of Home Builders' web |
| "There were times that I didn't know if we could | | | | site ( and clicking on "Contact Us" or by calling |
| do it," says John, "but you can't be afraid to ask | | | | 800-368-5242. |
| for help." They talked to others who had built log | | | | Once you've narrowed your choices to a few |
| homes in their area to learn what the entire | | | | contractors, ask each one for the names of past |
| process entailed. John even went to job sites to | | | | customers you can call. Then take the time to |
| watch construction of other homes during various | | | | check the references and ask probing questions |
| stages. | | | | such as did the contractor stay on schedule? Did |
| Throughout the design, delivery and construction | | | | he accommodate change orders? Did he stay on |
| of their home, Kim and John relied heavily on their | | | | budget? |
| log package supplier, Original Log Homes in British | | | | Also, ask to visit potential contractors at a job |
| Columbia, Canada. | | | | site where they are currently working. "When a |
| "They went above and beyond for us," says John. | | | | job's not finished, you can see a lot," says log |
| "There were times when I would call them every | | | | home owner Steve Hissong. |
| day and ask questions for 20 minutes. But they | | | | "You'll also get a sense for the kind of people who |
| were always approachable and supportive." | | | | are doing the work, and whether they are using |
| As a backup, the Warys employed the services | | | | quality tools." |
| of a log home builder in their area on a | | | | The experts also recommend that when you've |
| consultative basis. "He built other homes for our | | | | narrowed down your list of potential contractors, |
| supplier," says John. "I only had to call him a few | | | | you get at least three quotes for every job you |
| times, but it was a comfort to know that I had | | | | need to do and everything you need to buy. |
| that extra support if I needed it." | | | | It's well worth the effort. "It took a lot of time to |
| 3. Understand the scope of the work. | | | | get all those bids," says Steve, "and initially I |
| Sometimes, despite the best efforts of home | | | | wasn't sure if it was really going to be worth it. |
| owners to stay with their original plan, aspects of | | | | But, it was. The house ended up appraising for 30 |
| a custom-home project can get off budget. When | | | | percent more than I put in it." |
| that happens, often the cause can be traced to | | | | 7. Respect the professionals. |
| one of two reasons: A subcontractor low-balled a | | | | Although everyone wants to get the best price, |
| price, then wrote the contract so loosely it didn't | | | | you have to accept that working with a |
| include everything needed to complete the work; | | | | contractor is not like buying a used car. "You |
| or, the bid wasn't accurate because no one | | | | shouldn't beat down a contractor until you get |
| completely defined what was expected. | | | | your bottom dollar," says Guy. |
| A classic example of the second problem occurs | | | | "Your contractor has to make a reasonable |
| when a home is being assembled. | | | | amount of money so he can have the time and |
| As the crew raises the logs, they also usually drill | | | | resources he needs to do a good job." |
| holes to run wires for the electrical system. But | | | | Come to terms with the fact that no one is going |
| who ends up routing the openings in the logs for | | | | to build your home for free. |
| the junction boxes? | | | | The more involved the house is, the more the |
| Typically, electricians won't do that type of, they | | | | contractor's fee will likely be. |