Air-Lock Log Homes

Notes:

Plan to talk to contractors before 6 a.m. and after 9 p.m. They are more likely to be at a building site during normal office hours. About 35% of our clients act as an Owner/Builder.

Some people should not act as their own contractor! Be sure you interview with several contractors before you choose the one that suits you best.

Construction

Deciding to have a contractor build your log home is a very important decision. Air-Lock Log Homes Southwest recommends you do so, even if you have some experience. Here is a guideline to help you decide.

Remember, if you want to participate substantially in your project, you need to choose a contractor that is willing to let you do so. You may have carpentry or wood working skills. You may want to paint, caulk, help stack logs, or assist with interior finishing. Discuss this issue well in advance, including the related money implications.

One way to participate is to do the shopping. Most likely, you will have some personal funds allocated to the project. A good way to introduce these funds is to purchase materials for your contractor to install or purchase the log kit. Then you may want to personally pick out light fixtures, kitchen cabinets, or a wood burning stove. These are easily defined in your contract agreement and indicated as "purchased by owner". Your lending institution should also be consulted on this aspect of the construction process.

The only way to determine how much your new home will cost is to meet with several contractors early in your planning process to discuss specifications. Specifications include descriptions of materials and construction processes that will be used to construct your home. For instance, the foundation can be pier and beam, footer and concrete stem wall, footer with block stem wall grouted solid, or slab on grade or a combination of these specifications. Specifications should be defined for every feature of your home.

It is a good idea to interview several contractors, then, using the advice you like, write your own specifications. You should share the Specifications list with the designer at ALLH to be considered and incorporated in the necessary drawings. Submit the same set of plans along with the specifications to each contractor for a bid. A bid - not a price estimate. For this reason, you need to know when you want to build and when the contractor can put your project in his schedule. This must be a mutual decision. You might determine if there is an "off" season for local construction. If so, you could request a special off-season discount. (It's worth a try!)

About this time, you will have conversations going on with lenders, Air-Lock Log Homes, several contractors, realtors (if you are still purchasing your land) and, of course, your family. Maybe you should add a therapist to this list too! Others have gone before you, and with a clear vision, you too can go down this road. It takes perseverance, though! There will come the day you close on your land, place your deposit for your Air-Lock Log Home log package, sign loan documents and a construction agreement and all will be GO!