Communicating with your builder By Greg Jordan    When choosing a general contractor it is important to find someone who is responsive to your needs. Someone who will hold your hand when the going gets rough. You need an individual who will hear what you are saying and take definitive steps to resolve any problems. You should be able to reach that person in a timely manner and effectively communicate any concerns that you may have. You want a builder you can talk to and know they are listening.    Building a new home or remodeling the one you are living in can be an incredibly stressful experience. There will be a continuous stream of strangers, otherwise known as sub-contractors, constantly in and out of your home day in and day out. They will be there in the evenings and weekends. Your builder is your liaison between all of these people. It is the general contractor that must make this ballet of trades people all work in concert to realize the vision that you have set forth. Without excellent communication with your general contractor the task will be much more difficult. You should find an individual who can be easily reached at any time during the day and on some occasions, evenings and weekends. Interview builders based on multiple criteria, but be absolutely certain that when the job begins, your builder won't be "missing in action". The time to address any given problem is immediately, not after the next sub-contractor begins his or her portion of the project. Without the ability to address problems in a linear fashion the next sub who follows will end up having to improvise and many times compromise on the finished product. Typically sub-contractors are focused only on their specific task, not understanding or caring about the next step. The general contractor is the person who ties everything together and understands the big picture. Good communication with your builder is paramount to a quality end product.    When your project is finished the general contractor should be your best friend, almost a part of the family. You should want to invite him or her to your house warming party. Good communication is one of the most important keys to successfully completing a homebuilding or remodeling project so make sure that you find someone who has the ability to listen and make your vision a reality. Greg Jordan is the owner of Omountain Homes and has been building & remodeling homes since 1986. He does projects throughout central Texas. Omountain Homes can be reached by calling 557-4790 or you can visit them on the world wide web at www.OMountain.com. Close this window