Ease your mind before signing on the dotted line

Since my first From Scratch column ran back in late January, I've received several calls and e-mails asking the same question -- why don't you use some
powder on your forehead to decrease that distracting glare in your picture?

While I've taken that advice to heart, and now travel around with my own "Designer Guys-style man-makeup" assistant, it brings me to the other oft-asked burning question -- how do you select a building contractor with ease and confidence once you have your preliminary drawings ready?

Considering we're set to receive our prelims this weekend, and will then be shopping them to our builder finalists soon after, I'm finally ready to answer the question.

Particularly good time

Now is a particularly good time to get out and see the show homes. Although the Manitoba Home Builders Association was a tad optimistic in calling it the "Spring" Parade of Homes, this year's collection offers an excellent variety of styles and price ranges.

You have until today to enjoy the Parade, although the sales people don't disappear when the Parade ends -- they'll still be happy to talk with you during regular show home hours after the Parade.

I'm working under the assumption that you've read my previous instalments and are well-versed in the proper show home inspection techniques.

It's also wise to remember that not all builders have entries in the Parade. Be sure to ask around and talk with friends and co-workers to find out who they would recommend. Word of mouth is the most important way of getting the goods on a builder hopeful.

Once you've selected two or three favourite builders based on their clever layouts and quality finishings, you may want to consider the following checks to ease your mind before signing on the dotted line:

• Call up the Manitoba Home Builders Association at (204) 925-2560 and find out if your finalists are members. It's wise to ask if there have been any complaints against them and if those complaints were resolved.
• Give the Better Business Bureau a call at (204) 989-9010 and see if there have been any red flags raised. Remember that just because a company has had a complaint filed against it, doesn't mean they are not reliable. Check with the builder personally to see what happened and how the problem was resolved.
• Get two or three references from each candidate and call them. Do not rely on the warm and fluffy letters that builders hand out. Talk with the clients themselves and ask the tough questions -- Were there delays? Were there cost overruns? Was your home completed to the specifications promised?

Delays can be really put a scorpion in your shorts, especially if you've already sold your existing home and the possession date for your buyers is fast approaching.

Plus, being forced to pay two mortgages at the same time because of delays can lead to an extremely smiley bank representative and an unhappy and lonely piggy-bank.

While builders allow for delays because of poor weather, an unusually wet stretch will cripple the efforts of the sub-trades.

This is a good time to mention that the client bears a level of responsibility when there are problems during the building process.

Any changes made after your blueprints are drawn will lead to a domino effect of delays and added, non-budgeted, costs.

The more research and planning you do before signing your purchase agreement, the less chance of woes down the road.

You can't expect smooth sailing if you are constantly rocking the boat.