How to choose a general construction contractor. How to choose a general construction contractor Adequate prices and ready-made facilities

Develop a construction organization plan.

To do this, on the site plan, they think in advance and outline the places for storing materials, placing construction mechanisms, the entrance of vehicles and construction vehicles, the routes for supplying a temporary power supply and water supply.

There are two options for storing materials on the site:

Contractors or material suppliers may bring them up gradually, as needed for this stage of work. In this case, the size of the storage areas for materials is minimal.
It can be profitable to buy bring materials in advance when suppliers provide seasonal discounts. A large amount of materials is already more difficult to place on a site in a zone of free development. The area may not be large enough. It is not uncommon to have to look for reserve sites outside the site.

At the construction site, it is necessary to provide place for placing a concrete mixer. Nearby there should be sites for storing sand, gravel, as well as a warehouse with cement and dry mixes. The concrete mixer should be supplied with electricity and water.

Wall materials (bricks, blocks, beams, logs, etc.), which are used at a construction site in large quantities, are stored closer to the house under construction so that they do not have to be carried far.

On the construction site it is convenient to have a canopy- a workplace for the preparation of materials and the manufacture of structures used at a construction site. For example, such training is required when working with fittings, wooden parts, as well as plumbers, roofers.

A large number of materials during storage must be protected from moisture or the sun. These are lumber and other wood parts, mineral wool products, dry mixes, drywall, roofing material, etc. Other materials are easily damaged or easily lost or carried away. The storage of such materials requires the construction or availability of closed warehouses.

When purchasing materials and equipment for the future, estimate the cost of organizing their storage. It is possible that the purchase of materials in advance will not be profitable.

Construction usually begins with a check-in device at the site. Taking into account the fact that the race will be used by multi-ton trucks for the delivery of sand, gravel, concrete and other building materials to the site, the arrangement must be approached thoroughly and done well and for a long time. It is advantageous to place the entrance to the construction site on the site of the future permanent entrance to the house.

Consider the question ahead of time drainage of rain and melt water from the construction site. Pit, trenches under the foundation should not be flooded. It is impossible to put a foundation on the soil that has become sour with water. To drain water before starting work, they dig drainage ditches.

We bring and we install a change house on the site - trailer where builders can hide from the rain, store tools. For this, some build a temporary hut from boards on the site.

If possible, we will power supply works from the mains to the house. If not, then we purchase and install a generator to supply electricity to power tools, pumps for pumping water and other devices. The generator will also come in handy after being connected to the mains, as a backup source of electricity in the house. The recommended electric power of the generator is not less than 5-7kW.

The next step could be installing a fence. around the site to ensure the safety of materials and other property during construction.

To protect against theft I recommend installing a video surveillance system with cloud storage, since the choice is huge. Hang the first camera openly and clearly. On a pole at the edge of the site overlooking the house and change house. But hang the second one on the other side to the neighbor, so that she can see both the house and the first camera. But the builders do not say anything about it. And additionally install a pair of infrared lights for night mode.

Hired builders say that there is video surveillance, and for theft and so on, there will be harsh sanctions. Everyone must sign a liability agreement. Put up cameras, it's profitable. :)

We solve the issue of providing construction with water. It is advantageous to immediately build a permanent source of water supply provided by the project - a well or a well, or connect to the central water supply network of the village. But this process takes time. To speed up, a container is installed on the site and filled with imported water.

We buy building materials

The purchase of building materials can be entrusted to the contractor performing the work - you have less worries.

But if you want to save money, then take this job on yourself. Explore the market, collect all possible information about the prices and quality of building materials in the construction region. It is safer to buy materials from well-known manufacturers, but it can be cheaper to find materials from less well-known brands, but not inferior in quality to the first ones.

Do not buy too cheap materials. Remember the basic rule of the market - quality costs money.

When buying large quantities of goods be sure to bargain with the sellers. During periods of reduced demand (usually from November to February), price discounts are often offered. Buy materials at this time in advance. Get discounts from sellers for the purchase of a wholesale consignment of goods, free shipping, unloading, installment payment.

Agree or find out the conditions for the return of materials in case there are excess, unused materials left at the construction site.

Choosing a contractor to build a house

Building a house is best entrusted to a construction company. A conscientious reputable contractor will relieve you of many troubles in organizing construction, procurement and delivery of materials, from the need to search for and negotiate with teams of builders, control them and resolve various contentious issues with them.

The construction organization will be responsible to you for the timing and quality of work, the safety of materials and the protection of the construction site. But you have to pay for all this.

In order to save money, many developers decide to take part of the work of building a house on themselves. Some of the work the developer performs with the help of his family. To perform other work, it hires a team of builders - workers working under a contract, as individuals or as individual entrepreneurs.

The first thing to consider when choosing a contractor is on the recommendations of his previous customers. It will not be difficult for a conscientious contractor to provide such recommendations. Recommendations can be both written and oral.

Recommendations should confirm the ability to perform those types of work and use the materials that will be at your construction site. Try to see the objects and communicate with customers for whom the contractor has already worked before you.

Before starting negotiations with the contractor, try to find out the range (fork) of the cost in the region of the construction work that will be performed at your construction site.

Good specialist, professional team:

Specializes in performing a certain type of work, one or two, no more.
Can and does not forget to read project drawings. Before concluding a contract, he will inspect the place of work, get acquainted with the project and the estimate (if any), in order to find out and evaluate the conditions, volume and nature of the work, as well as what materials will have to be dealt with. Only after that starts a conversation about the price of the work.
He does not charge an amazingly cheap price for his work, he does not ask for an advance.
He knows his own worth, no more than + 20% of the market price. A professional earns well because he works quickly. With a high price, there will be few orders. So it's not good for him.
Ready to sign a written contract for the performance of work with payment according to the estimate (or other, contractual price) and does not start talking about “paying additional costs”.
It has its own tools, including power tools and small construction machines used for work - a concrete mixer, a welding machine, an electric generator, etc. Lack of the right tool slows down the work. Therefore, the pros always have a lot of it, for all cases.
Does not start work until all material is purchased and brought. And it doesn't matter who buys it. Sitting and waiting is not for the pros.
The pros don't have a second/main job.

Unfortunately, the majority of contractors offering their services cannot be classified as conscientious professionals.

Contractors to avoid doing business with:

The same workers are ready to do any work from the foundation to the roof and electrics.
They do not know how and do not want to watch the project. They “know best how to do it” and make it easy for them. As a result, the windows are in the wrong place, there are not enough ventilation ducts, and the opening for the stairs is small in size.
At the conclusion of the contract, they are ready to do any work without looking at the project, they set a low price for their services, and then, in the process of work, they use different ways to receive additional money from the customer.
They ask for an advance, and after receiving the money they disappear. Well, if not forever. It often turns out that they have not yet finished work at a neighboring construction site and continue to work there.
They choose the moment and offer the customer, or pay more, or we go.
They say that the work turned out to be more difficult or more voluminous than they thought, and therefore they have to pay extra.
They claim to have used more materials than planned. In order to confuse the developer, materials are delivered to the site in small batches, so that it was impossible to track the total amount of delivered material.
Overestimate the prices of materials purchased by the contractor.
They convince the customer to do something faster and easier than it is accepted by the project and work technology, as a rule, to the detriment of quality.
Under various pretexts, they try not to show the customer (technical supervision engineer) the results of the work, which will then be hidden. For example, they cover the wall with drywall without showing how and how much insulation is laid under it.

The developer can hire a separate specialist, a foreman, to organize the construction. The foreman is ready to take on the work of organizing construction, finding employees and concluding an agreement with them, purchasing and delivering materials, and other work. The services of a foreman free the developer from many worries, and are cheaper than if the building company was engaged in the construction of the house.

Don't fall for the "foreman - scammer" bait. Such a “boss” with a good mobile phone, a middle-class car, a loud confident voice, ready to solve any construction issues without any problems, will try to get a good advance from you. After receiving an advance payment, at best, he will send random people just recruited from an ad in a newspaper to the construction site. After that, his phone will become inaccessible, and he himself will be elusive. Or the foreman may disappear after receiving the first payment for the work performed.

All of the above dishonest actions may take place, both from private specialists and teams, and from construction companies with a big name, an office and a secretary. An expensive contractor is not always the best, and cheap workers will make you spend more.

Tips for the developer - how to build a relationship with the contractor

Enter into a written contract with the contractor based on the project and estimate.
Conclude a contract for separate short stages of work so that you can quickly get rid of an unscrupulous contractor. A threat on your part to refuse to continue cooperation disciplines the contractor.
Hire specialized teams. One - for the construction of foundations and masonry walls, the other - for mounting the roof, the third - for installing windows, etc.
In the contract, clearly state what needs to be done, when and how much to pay.
In the contract, be sure to determine the penalties for the contractor for violating the deadlines for the completion of work.
With everyone it is obligatory to sign an agreement on liability for building materials, equipment and expensive tools.
Try to avoid paying up front. Provide for the stage-by-stage payment for the work performed. Pay only in full made and accepted you work steps. Unpaid money is your main instrument of pressure on the contractor.
Upon completion of the work, pay the contractor no more than 90% of the agreed amount. The remaining 10% will be paid, for example, after three months, after the elimination of hidden defects that can be detected during this time. Specify this condition in the contract.
Use the services of a professional maintenance engineer or an experienced builder you trust. How a technical supervision engineer can help, see at the beginning of the article. Contractors often use your inexperience in construction matters to their advantage.
Try not to go beyond business relationships with contractors. This disciplines the contractor and prevents him from manipulating you.
Resolutely tear off relationships with an inept and unscrupulous contractor. Follow his lead, believe his persuasion and promises to fix everything - you will lose even more time and money.
Think over and discuss with the contractor an algorithm for monitoring and accepting the work done. The technical supervision engineer or you yourself must inspect and accept the results of hidden work, which then become invisible. Made plaster - accept. Then, let them putty, also accept, and only then the wallpaper. Laminate laid - accept. Plinth later. Allow work to continue only after the deficiencies have been eliminated and re-inspected.
The contractor's proposals to change the design, replace materials, or do something faster and easier should not be accepted without discussion with the designer and (or) the technical supervision engineer.
If you give money for materials, then all the material must be bought at once for the entire amount. And lie where you are. But not like that, they bought half the amount, and took the other half as an advance. The worker buys small things himself. You pay for it after the fact! once a week.

Payment for additional work. Here we must clearly distinguish between two options. The performer could not know. For example, they began to dig a hole in the ground. But it turned out that there was an old foundation down there, it was necessary to hollow it out. Here additional work is logical. The performer forgot, did not take into account, did not think. For example, I “forgot” to apply a primer under the putty. It's definitely at his expense. After all, he is the professional, not you.

Do not leave the design and construction of a house in one hand- it should be different independent individuals or organizations from each other. The competition of interests and opinions of these specialists will allow you to choose the best solution and avoid unjustified costs.

Scheme of work of the customer with contractors - the designer and performers. Only such a scheme of work will allow you to save money and get a better result.

There are more than enough firms, teams, private traders offering themselves in the "all in one" format, which "design" themselves - they do it themselves. It would seem that this is happiness. BUT…

In this case, there is a very bad phenomenon, called a conflict of interest.

What does the performer need?

Build as quickly as possible.
Minimum cost for yourself.
Earn as much money as possible from you.

What do you need?

Qualitative result
Reasonable prices

Agree, "reasonable prices" are not weakly in conflict with "earn as much as possible." And “quality result” is not friendly with “faster and minimal costs for yourself”.

Now imagine the temptation of the performer. After all, the customer is a "fool", and poorly understands. Deceive him ... well, no problem at all.

As a result of the conflict of interests of the customer and the contractor - when "all in one", we have both inflated prices for materials, and extra materials, and very expensive installation prices. Yes, of course, more than 3 times - this is rare, usually an overpayment of only 1.8-2 times.

Not all performers agree to work on someone else's project. They know better what to do. Whom to believe, the designer or the performer - you have to choose.

Building a house

Only after obtaining a building permit, you can start building a house.

On the site mark out, guided by the drawing from the project, the location of the foundation of the house and the place where underground utilities enter the house- pipes of water supply, sewerage and ventilation systems.

Then they dig trenches and lay pipes(or cases for subsequent installation of pipes in them) underground utilities under the foundation future home.

Start building the foundation. For a strip foundation, trenches of the required configuration and depth are dug. At the bottom of the trenches, sand is poured and rammed to make a pillow. Formwork is installed on the sand cushion, reinforcement is laid there and concrete is poured into the formwork.

Concrete poured into the formwork must set, harden and gain the necessary strength so that walls can be placed on it. To do this, the concrete is kept in the formwork for at least 20 days.

While the foundation concrete is gaining strength, you can carry out work on the installation of a water intake well, The fact is that as a result of the construction of these facilities, quite a lot of free soil remains, which must be put somewhere.

This one is easiest lay soil inside the foundation(if there is no basement) for . Or raise the level of the ground outside to ensure a good outflow of storm water from the house.

Next, perform waterproofing of the foundation and basement, start building the walls and roof of the house. After that, windows are inserted, an entrance door is installed. Construction of a frame, boxes of a house can be considered complete.

At the final stage of construction, the installation of communications inside the house is also carried out. They insulate the walls from the outside and finish the facade.

After that, you can get a home passport at the technical inventory bureau and register the property at the Registration Chamber.

How long does it take to build a house?

After the construction of the house box (foundation, walls, roof), work is stopped for several, usually winter, months. Over this time walls and other structures of the house should dry out. Due to water loss, many building materials shrink. For example, wood, foam concrete are especially strongly compressed.

The soil under the foundation is compacted and not always evenly. As a result of all these processes the house is shrinking. Small cracks appear on the walls, usually not dangerous for the strength of the house. If the walls outside and inside the house are finished immediately, without a break for shrinkage, then cracks will appear on the finish.

In the next summer construction season, engineering communications are being laid in the house, concrete screeds are being made, walls are being plastered and painted, and windows are being installed. Construction and finishing works again bring a lot of moisture into the house. And the water has not completely evaporated from the walls yet.

At the end of the finishing work, it is necessary to dry the house for several months. It is not comfortable to move in and live in a damp cold house.

Then the walls of the house are insulated from the outside and the facade is finished. A layer of insulation makes it difficult for the building moisture to evaporate from the walls. If the insulation and finishing of the facade is done at the early stages of construction, then the moisture in the walls will linger for a long time and can ruin the finish.

Housewarming is usually celebrated in the third year from the start of construction.

How to build a house in one year

If there is no strength to wait for settlement for three years, then a house can be built in one year. But for this it is necessary to choose the appropriate technologies and stages of construction.

For example, the walls of the house are made of blocks with glue. Large block walls build pretty fast. Thin layer of adhesive solution 2 mm. adds a minimum of water to the wall masonry. Aerated concrete is a material with open pores, easily loses moisture. The wall dries quickly.

Aerated concrete at all stages, until it is under the roof of the house, protect from atmospheric moisture. During transportation, storage at a construction site, when laying in a wall, they are covered with a film on top, leaving the side surfaces open for moisture evaporation.

For flooring use or. From within. These technologies allow you to perform work quickly and with a minimum amount of solutions containing water.

Aerated concrete walls are warm enough to start living in the house without waiting for their insulation from the outside (if it is provided for by the project). For wall insulation it is better to use mineral wool, although it is more expensive - the walls will dry faster.

To speed up drying and reduce humidity in a new house, electric fans must be installed in the exhaust hoods. They buy an electronic device - a thermohygrometer, to control the temperature and humidity of the air in the house. With an increase in the relative humidity of the air in the premises of more than 50-60%, an electric fan is turned on in the exhaust ventilation duct.

The construction market offers other technologies for the construction of rapidly erected houses. For example, frame, from SIP - panels, from glued beams. But this is at home, as they say, an amateur.

Three approaches to building a house - choose yours

In practice, one can see three ways people approach building their own home.

The first - build a house for life. They want to enjoy life in the comfort and coziness of the built house. Such owners clearly plan the terms of construction, the size and sources of financing, attract contractors for the construction at all stages of construction, perform the entire range of engineering and landscaping work at once. The house is being built in one to three years.

The second - live for construction. They start construction according to the principle - today I will pour the foundation, and then we'll see. A kind of homemade, experiencing the buzz from the construction process. Construction amateurs who, nevertheless, study construction technologies to the best of their ability and try to do everything themselves. They have vague ideas about the timing of the completion of their construction, the size and sources of money that are needed for construction. Their building hobby spans decades.

There is, of course, a golden mean when reasonable participation in the construction of family members and relatives, the study of the construction market and the selection of construction technologies and materials that are effective specifically for your construction, as well as qualified control of the work of contractors, can significantly reduce the cost of construction, without significantly stretching its duration.

Calculate the construction budget, focusing on the cost of building one square meter of usable area of 1000 USD (turnkey with landscaping). With active own participation in construction, this amount can be reduced by 20-40%.

Determine the terms and sources of construction financing acceptable for you.

Remember, the most profitable investments are not in real estate, but in your own health and development, in the health, upbringing and development of children.

A healthy, friendly family, successful children are the best capital!

What size lot are you building your house on?

The construction of a country house is often a nervous process and requires maximum involvement from the customer. However, there are advantages to this, because, unlike the urban new building, here all stages are controllable and there are more opportunities to track the moment when something went wrong. The commercial director of Izburg, a company specializing in wooden housing construction, Yegor Gribov told readers of the RIA Real Estate website how to organize the process of building a cottage so that, with minimal time and effort, keep abreast of construction and, as a result, get exactly the kind of house you wanted .

The more responsibly you approach the choice of a contractor, the less headache you will have to experience at the construction stage and later, when you begin to settle in your property, the expert is sure. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out several stages of "screening out" potential contractors in order to select the optimal one.

Stage one: experience, services, prices

The first, one might say classic, recommendation when choosing a contractor is to consider only experienced companies with a good reputation. Of course, a company without experience is a certain adventure. However, you should not immediately run away from a newcomer to the market: a startup can offer very good conditions, since it is in its interests to develop a portfolio, reviews and get some working capital. Therefore, it is quite possible that such a company will try to earn a reputation for building well and agreeing to significant discounts. However, this should only be done if you have the time, energy and knowledge to fully control the process, otherwise it is better to choose a company with extensive experience and a good reputation.

In addition to experience, you need to pay attention to the volume of construction. Experience is a very important ingredient. Therefore, at the stage of studying the site, look at the completed projects. The higher the price segment in which the company operates, the fewer projects are likely to be implemented, since each of these houses is a piece of exclusive product. In the "economy" segment, it is logical if there are really a lot of implemented projects - up to several dozen a year.

How to check the reliability of the developer of suburban housingThe construction of a country house is a complex and multi-stage process, therefore, more and more often, people who want to acquire their own cottage opt for a plot with a contract, hoping to eventually get a turnkey house. However, the buyer wants to be sure that he will not get a pig in a poke, so before choosing a specific project and signing an agreement with the developer, you need to check his "good name".

In addition, you need to pay attention to how many construction technologies the company uses. If there are many of them, this is a reason for doubt. As a rule, reliable companies specialize in one or two technologies, in which they achieve high skill, train staff, prescribe regulations and follow the latest developments. If you are offered aerated concrete, glued beams, and frame houses, such a company probably works with subcontractors, and itself can guarantee little.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the prices. The price tags declared on the site often may not reflect the whole picture. So, if one company offers to build the same house for two million, and the second for five - this may mean that the first of the marketing interests did not voice the entire amount. For example, how much does a house cost without a foundation, ceilings and the cost of work, but you will learn about this at best in the office, so at this stage it is better to focus not on the price, but on other indicators.

And, of course, at the first stage, one should take advantage of our time - the availability of information. Having chosen several companies with interesting offers, you should not be too lazy and study reviews about them. However, they are likely to be only positive on the company's own website, so it is advisable to look at reviews on several specialized sites, as well as search for them in social networks. Do not be too lazy to create a new topic yourself and ask people to talk about the experience of working with a particular company - this way you will get an objective picture.

Second stage: negotiations and personnel intelligence

Secondly, be sure to ask if it is possible to go and see the facilities under construction. The best option is if they offered themselves and named many addresses.

Pay attention to whether there is a big difference between the initial conditions announced on the site and what the manager says. Of course, many use tricks to attract a buyer, but the more serious the discrepancy, the more reason to suspect that this is not the only liberties that they allow themselves here.

It will also be indicative if the company has one or more architects on its staff - this demonstrates a willingness to work with the client, with his preferences, and will also serve as indirect evidence that the company has a lot of orders, since an outsourcer would be involved for one-time work.

Also, the presence of a full-time designer or an entire design department can be regarded as an additional guarantee of the quality of the built houses, as specialists will be able to optimally select materials, engineering systems and calculate all the nuances of the building structure.

Third stage: we go to the construction site

The construction site is the main litmus test that will help you make the final decision.

Even if you are not very well versed in the intricacies of the construction process, just look at the form in which the site is maintained. Was the trash scattered? Materials dumped, somehow? The workers are dressed in what they want, smoking and loitering around? So it is better to look for another company. If everything is folded neatly, there is no dirt, all the masters are at work and dressed in corporate uniforms - this is already a marker of responsibility and organization.

Watch the RIA Novosti interactive report on how to build a wooden house without a single nail. By pressing the buttons of the player, you will learn about the history of the construction of log houses in Russia and the advantages of such a dwelling.

You can also look at the construction process itself. Of course, it is difficult for a non-professional to understand the technological subtleties, but still there are quite obvious things. For example, if your roof is insulated not from below, but from above, and besides, even in the rain, then it is logical that it will get wet and become like wet cotton wool. This is a gross violation of technology, no matter what the workers tell you.

You can also take a few photos, and then look for matches on the Internet or find out on specialized sites (forums), for example, whether the insulation or insulation fits on the right side, whether the sequence of actions is violated.

Fourth stage: transparency of the contract

The contract is your reservation for the entire time until the end of construction, as well as after it. The easiest (but costly) way is to bring along a lawyer who is knowledgeable in real estate contract law. If you want to do it yourself, you have to be careful.

The contract can be one or more. For example, the customer himself, for some reason of his own, can break it down into stages, for example, separately conclude an agreement for the construction of a "box" of a house, separately for engineering networks and separately for finishing.

All the necessary items - estimates, project, and so on are drawn up as annexes to the contract. That is, you should not indicate that under the contract the company undertakes to build a house six by six meters, without explaining what kind of house it is. You also need to specify where and how the house is located on the site.

Sometimes there are anecdotal formulations, for example, in the estimate it is indicated: "the foundation is one piece; the walls are four pieces." It is not right. Therefore, you should be alerted if the entire contract for the construction of a house fits on two pages. In fact, a fairly large package of documents is attached to it: construction schedules, payment schedules, a project, an estimate, specifications, and so on.

House in law: how to register the rights to a newly built country houseA country house must be built not only according to the mind, but also according to the law. Experts told the RIA Real Estate website about all the procedures for designing an individual house at each stage of its construction.

Separately, you should study the warranty. The guarantee must separate the load-bearing structures of the house and other components. By law, the customer of building a house has five years to detect defects. If the warranty period is shorter, this is an alarm signal. However, a very long warranty will also look strange and pointless, as if the company is trying to throw dust in your eyes and convince you of its coolness and reliability. In fact, an anecdotal situation may arise when the guarantee is still valid, but the company has long been gone. So you need to look at the company in a complex way: if it has experience and a name, then it does not need reputational risks, which means that it will do everything to prevent defects during construction or to correct all problems discovered after the failure as quickly as possible.

Ideally, before starting construction, it does not hurt to sign a special act of acceptance and transfer of the construction site, according to which everything that happens on the construction site is transferred under the responsibility of the contractor. That is, compliance with safety regulations, the safety of materials, order at the construction site - all this should become his, and not your area of responsibility, and this must be fixed.

Stage five: control during construction

If your contractor allows it, you can hire your own engineer for technical supervision. However, it also happens that the contractor does not allow this, then you need to be especially careful at the acceptance. Without building knowledge, it is difficult to understand here, but something can be understood if you know what to look at.

You can also insist on accepting work in stages. Separate foundation, separate walls and so on. Most firms have internal quality control - this can and should be asked how it happens, who is responsible for it. If suddenly you are told "We have experienced teams, they do not need to be controlled," this is again a dangerous moment.

See in the RIA Novosti report how houses are built from glued beams. By clicking on the interactive buttons, you will also learn how the building materials for this type of housing are produced.

For example, we have multi-stage control: directly in the team, the foreman monitors the work, compliance with all instructions and technologies, and the next level is our internal technical supervision, which can stop all work at any time if something was done with violations. At the same time, foremen have their own - monetary - motivation so that the work does not stop, so they are interested in doing the work correctly.

But there are firms that are reluctant to do so. They, as a rule, have the task of doing as many stages as possible quickly and imperceptibly, for example, burying, pouring concrete, immuring everything in the walls that can give out a marriage or a violation of technology. It will also not be superfluous to invite a specialist for acceptance here - it will cost less and save you from unpleasant hassle if flaws show up in a year or two.

However, the main thing to remember is that the more attentive you were at the first stages, the less worries thereafter. A good responsible contractor will really save you headaches and unplanned expenses for years to come.

To perform quality construction work, it is important to choose the right reliable general contractor. But this is not enough, there are additional features that you need to know, and this will be the key to the correct production of work and trouble-free relationships between the customer and the contractor.

tender support

Customer and general contractor

Let's understand the terms, this will help to understand the rights and obligations of the customer and the contractor.

Customer, by definition, is a natural or legal person who applies to another person: the contractor or the contractor with an order for the production of construction work. The customer can be a private person, the government, enterprises, state bodies and institutions, associations of citizens.

general contractor is a legal entity, a socialized enterprise, which undertakes to perform construction work on the instructions of the customer, in accordance with the contract, project, using the customer's materials or their own materials for the fee specified in the estimate.

Based on this, relationships are built. The customer needs to perform certain works, and the general contractor organizes and performs them. It is important that at the first stage the customer feels a respectful attitude towards himself, this can be an indicator of a serious attitude in the company towards the fulfillment of the tasks set.

It is necessary that mutual trust arises, and it is built on reliable information provided by the construction company acting as the general contractor.

But in order for the relationship to be productive, trust alone is not enough, it is important to know the principles of choice.

Criteria for choosing a general contractor

In order not to make a mistake in choosing a contractor, it is not enough to focus only on one positive quality, for example, a long period of existence of the company. Various factors must be taken into account:

Whether the organization is multidisciplinary and performs the work itself or involves a large number of subcontractors.
Are there all permits from the relevant state bodies for the work: certificates, licenses that confirm the qualifications of specialists.
The age of the organization, so as not to get on a one-day company.
Pay attention to "live" reviews, not those that are stamped by order of the company. To do this, it is enough to learn about the completed objects and communicate with customers. If the contractor refuses to provide information, then there is something to hide.
The presence of a uniform among the builders shows the correct attitude of the management towards the performers and safety precautions.
Go to one of the company's facilities and note if the builders are adequate or under the influence of alcohol or any drugs. How they relate to work: responsibly or somehow.

Low prices for services cannot be decisive when choosing a contractor. On the one hand, acceptable prices can be an indicator of the sufficient workload of the construction organization, the correct organization of work, thanks to which it is possible to optimize prices.

On the other hand, low prices can be a trap for unscrupulous performers to attract the largest number of customers. But in this case, there can be no confidence in the quality and timing of the order.

Selecting a general contractor for the object

The choice of a general contractor is, in fact, a preparatory stage for the construction and the beginning of the relationship between the customer and the contractor. The next stage is the preparation, coordination and signing of estimates, contracts, work schedules.

And now, something that relates directly to your object, and more importantly, to your finances:

Pay attention to the correctness of the contract for the production of contract work. If you are not confident in your abilities, the Internet will help. You can find standard contracts for the production of construction works. In addition, the services of a lawyer at the first stage of drawing up a contract are cheaper than litigation in the event of a contractor's dishonest attitude to the performance of work.
We need a work schedule. The contract should stipulate penalties in case of its violation. Otherwise, the construction will turn into an endless long-term construction.
What prepayment is required. If it is in the range of 20-25%, this is quite an acceptable amount, but in this case, reports on the use of funds should be required.
Be sure to stipulate the provision of sales receipts for payment for building materials.

In addition, you should not trust just a word and hope that the contractor will responsibly fulfill all its obligations. After the signing of the contract, a more important stage begins: the construction itself.

Control on your part should be throughout the entire construction period. This does not mean that it is necessary to spend from morning to evening at a construction site. But it is desirable to stage-by-stage signing the acceptance and delivery of the work performed, to control the funds for the purchase of building materials and their expenditure (the amount of materials must comply with technological standards and estimates). This will stimulate the performer and encourage him to take his duties more responsibly.

If subcontractors are involved in the performance of some works, the general contractor is responsible for the quality control and timing of the work to the customer.

It is important to pay attention to the quality of work at all stages of the production of work and do not be shy if a marriage is noticed. It is easier to correct a mistake at the construction stage than to deal with the consequences or get involved in litigation. Agree, it is difficult to check the quality of sewerage or electrical wires embedded in floors or ceilings, so stipulate for the provision of photos of complex or hidden work.

Thanks to these tips, as a rule, it is possible to avoid misunderstandings between the customer and the general contractor and unnecessary financial expenses.

Our specialists guarantee compliance with the requirements of the law at all stages of tender support. Settlement of disputes with customers, appealing FAS decisions, work on all trading platforms.

How to choose a contractor that will be able to carry out the construction of a country house with high quality, compliance with contractual deadlines and at real market prices? There are many attractive offers, however, often unprofessional and dishonest people are hiding behind them. Therefore, the search should be treated thoughtfully and slowly. Suppose that you decide to build a three-level brick cottage, the project of which, adapted to the site, you already have. First of all, study everything you can find on this topic: from the foundation to the roof. Russia is an amazing country, and a private developer must either be "savvy" himself, or delegate the authority to select, supervise and accept work to an experienced foreman who has nothing to do with contractors. If time and money allow, it is better to hire both a foreman and a chief engineer, and not to step aside yourself, but to keep the process under control.

As a rule, the construction of a brick cottage stretches in time for three years. In the first year (from the beginning of April to the beginning of October), the development of underground space takes place, the construction of the “zero” cycle takes place. According to technology, the foundation should settle for six months. In the second season, walls and a roof are erected, and in the third year, you can safely do finishing work. Therefore, you can go in two ways: either entrust all three stages of construction to one company, or look for highly specialized specialists for each type of work. Each of the options has its pros and cons, but in any case, both the foreman and the chief engineer must conduct their supervision from the beginning to the end of construction, representing your interests. Therefore, first of all decide on them. The chief engineer, among other things, performs the functions of a construction lawyer and can always be involved in controversial issues. In addition, its task is to reduce your costs.

Now you can start looking for a contractor. Select a few of the proposals that interest you the most (from newspapers, magazines or the Internet) and send them your project, asking for a preliminary cost estimate. Get ready for the fact that someone will not answer at all, someone will list the cost of individual works, but without a grand total, and only two or three organizations will make an estimate more or less conscientiously. Those who promise fabulously low prices - immediately sweep away. Familiarize the foreman and chief engineer with the estimates received. All answers should be compared and analyzed in detail. Try to learn as much as possible about the experience of these firms, find customer reviews and arrange meetings with those of them whose calculations were most convincing. Conduct interviews with potential contractors together with the foreman and chief engineer, as they will speak the same language with them and will be able to assess their capabilities more accurately than you, identify strengths and weaknesses. If you are holding a meeting without the support of professionals, then ask the contractor candidate to comment in detail on the estimate, dwelling on each of the points. Ask at what stage they think difficulties may arise, how to anticipate them, and if they have experienced similar situations before. Find out what could cause an increase in the estimate. Take an interest in the experience of the company: ask to see photos of the constructed objects (preferably at various stages of construction), go to one of the objects under construction. Ask if the company has a complaints service that deals with the elimination of defects identified after the acceptance of the object. Find out how competent the contractor's employees are in construction services, whether the company will hire subcontractors or do all the work itself. The contractor must be able to "read the drawings", know the nuances of modern technologies and competently apply new building materials. If a potential contractor makes a number of design corrections and practical recommendations for your consideration, this is very good, since the design today leaves much to be desired. Unfortunately, there are many mistakes, including gross ones. And the advice of experienced construction practitioners is “worth a lot”: they can suggest the best option for using materials or technologies in terms of price-quality ratio, and also indicate the most correct solution that will lead to an improvement in the performance of the future home.

Please note that the weight of a brick house significantly exceeds the weight of houses made of aerated concrete or wood, so take everything related to the "zero cycle" very responsibly. The foundation, on the strength of which the reliability of the house depends, must correspond to the load of the brick walls and roof. Do not be surprised that the cost of constructing a powerful buried foundation for a brick house can reach a third of all general construction costs. This is fine. Now a few words about the "pitfalls" and why the construction site needs a foreman representing the interests of the developer. From practice, a great many options for deception and theft on the part of contractors are known, as a result of which quality suffers irreparably. For example, when constructing a foundation, unscrupulous builders, for profit, can use lighter (and cheaper) reinforcement, and instead of tying the reinforcement with steel wire, they can fasten it with spot welding. When pouring, they can use cheaper cement of a different brand, which has significantly lower strength, or even use expired material. There are many tricks and they should be, if not eliminated, then at least minimized. Otherwise, the foundation may crack, settle, and the whole house will need to be saved.

When the contractor is selected - conclude a contract with him. At this stage, it will not be superfluous to consult a lawyer. With special attention, approach the points “obligations of the parties” and “terms for the completion of work” - an honest contractor in the contract stipulates the responsibility of the parties in case of their failure. It is necessary that the construction organization provides you with sufficiently serious guarantees of quality and timing. After all, building a house costs a lot of money and is of great importance in the life of a family. Especially if people are planning to build a reliable brick house, as they say, "for centuries." Good luck!