As with any other profession, there are certain terms and phrases in the contracting industry that are commonplace to them and make no sense to the consumer. While this is normal, it’s also frustrating because consumers want their construction jobs completed without having to decipher “contractor speech.”
Here are some tips for understanding your general contractor’s language the next time you are working with someone in the Oak Hills area:
- You need a punch list. When the contractor wants to create a “checklist” of all the finalized items for the work that must be performed on the construction job, this is referred to as the punch list. The punch list is what you and the contractor both agree contains all the major details of the job, and it omits minor line items that should see completion before all work performed.
- Your design needs a tweak or two. While you have good design ideas, the contractor is trying to be professional and keep a friendly tone about telling you it can’t be built. Sometimes concepts are cool, and you may have seen something you really like while traveling through Oak Hills. However, you may have to go back to the drawing board to achieve realistic construction goals.
- Have you considered this option? Options are not another way of the contractor trying to upsell a situation. The reality of the situation is that they have more experience with building and residential construction than consumers do and, when they make a suggestion for an idea change, it’s with merit. Their option could include ideas that have more efficiency, ways to reduce material costs, and measures for reducing labor hours. It may behoove you to listen to their advice.
- This is my price. Your potential contractor works for a price that they’ve reached following hours of evaluation. They’ve examined the square footage of your project, analyzed the work you need, and priced out the materials you have selected for the construction project. Therefore, there’s often not much room for negotiation. However, keep in mind this pricing will change if you decide to make changes to the scope of the project mid-way through.
When looking at these phrases, they do seem harmless. However, in the building and construction world, they do hold strong meaning. So, the next time you’re working with a general contractor in the Oak Hills area, you’ll know precisely what they’re talking about when they visit your job.
