are there any pitfalls in having a log cabin built by a contractor i have seen his product and he is good?
Answers:
There are all kinds of pitfalls when hiring a contractor to build you any kind of house. You have seen some of his work and it looks good. Talk to the people who own the homes you have admired. Was this contractor easy to get along with? Did he construct the home on budget and on time? Was the contractor always asking for money so he could "pay for materials"? Was the contractor easily reachable by phone during construction? Were fixture allowances adequate, or did the homeowners have to pony up a lot of extra cash for quality flooring, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, etc.? Did the contractor offer a solid written warranty on the construction of the home? Were there arguements over "extras", or was there a provision in the building contract that provided for "changes and extras"? Would they have the same contractor build them another home?
How about the contractors financial stability? A homeowners worst nightmare has to be a contractor disappearing or going bankrupt part way through the construction of a new home. After having paid the contractor, the homeowner is often left holding the bag. They often they find themselves responsible for paying twice after materialmen and subcontractors file leins for unpaid bills against the property.
Many great craftsmen are very poor businessmen. My best advice to you is to do your homework before hiring a contractor to build you a home. Never sign a contract or enter into an agreement without first consulting a qualified Attorney. Make sure that the Attorney you hire to review your contract is well versed in Real Estate and construction. Most multi lawyer offices will have one Attorney who specializes in Real Estate and Construction. That person should be your choice.
Some States and some Lending Institutions require a "Release of Lein" be provided by each material supplier and labor subcontractor involved in the building of a new home. Even though your State and/or Lending Institution may not require a "Release of Lein" prior to the disbursement of construction funds, you should insist on it in your contract with the Builder. No material supplier or subcontractor will sign a legal document giving up their right to file a lein against a piece of property until they have been paid. A lein is their only guarantee that they will eventually get their money. This puts the contractor in the position of having to pay his bills before he collects money from you. This is a good thing.
If the contractor refuses to be a party to a Contract that requires a Release of Lein, it should tell you that he has little or no working capital. A business that has no working capital is one step from bankruptcy and you cannot run away fast enough. Stand fast on this issue, it is for your protection.
If your contractor of choice is otherwise good, but lacks working capital, all is not lost. You can enter into a "cost plus" type of Contract in which you are the General Contractor and the contractor who is actually overseeing the construction of the home is paid on a percentage over cost basis with you responsible for actually paying the bills and him collecting his fee from you. There are also pitfalls to this type of contract, so rely on the advice of your Attorney.
I hope this little bit of insight helps. Good luck with your building project.
Other answers:
im a contractor..i dont however build log cabins but i builod everything else.if you nhave checked him out and trust he will do a good job then the only stress you should have is a financial one.honestly, do you think you could professionaly build one yourself??...do you have the time??...these things should be taken into consideration..
im a contractor..i dont however build log cabins but i builod everything else.if you nhave checked him out and trust he will do a good job then the only stress you should have is a financial one.honestly, do you think you could professionaly build one yourself??...do you have the time??...these things should be taken into consideration..
Has he provided you with a list of customers and have you checked with them. There is never a guarantee with any contractor but that is one of the best ways to eliminate a potential problem. All good contractors are eager to have you talk with previous customers.