Save Costs, Hire Right and Move Out During Construction (Mailbag)

In this mailbag episode of Home: The Second Story, we answer three common questions about residential construction and renovation. We start with what happens when homeowners feel like they are managing the builder instead of the builder managing the project. We then talk about whether it is realistic to live in a house during a major renovation. Finally, we cover the early design decisions that can have the biggest impact on construction cost.

We first respond to a homeowner who feels like building a house has become a second full time job. Communication is slow, decisions happen at the last minute, and trades sometimes arrive without the information they need. The important point is that the coordination work always exists. The homeowner, builder, architect, or someone else has to do it. If nobody is responsible for that work, problems follow. A strong team can prevent much of this. Homeowners should also interview the actual project manager who will manage their job, not only the owner of the construction company.

If a project is already going badly, an owner's representative or architect can sometimes step in to help manage communication and decisions. Firing a builder is possible, but it is usually a last resort because replacing a contractor in the middle of construction creates major financial and liability complications. Homeowners should document everything, hold regular meetings, understand their contract and state laws, review payment requests carefully, and avoid allowing the contractor to get too far ahead financially. These things may not seem like your job, but they are crucial.

Our second question is whether homeowners should remain in their house during a major renovation. Our preference is clear. If moving out is at all possible, move out. Living through construction slows the project because crews have to work around the family, reconnect utilities, manage dust barriers, limit working hours, and protect occupied areas. It can also be emotionally exhausting to watch your house being demolished and rebuilt. A temporary rental may seem expensive, but it can cost less than the additional time and inefficiency created by living on site. We also recommend finding housing with flexibility in case construction runs longer than expected. (It usually does.)

We finish with the early decisions that affect budget most. Site selection can have an enormous impact. Long driveways, difficult terrain, utility extensions, limited construction access, an