This article was updated on 09/10/19. Happy TV Dinner Day!
Building the home of your dreams can be a drawn-out process. After youve had the blueprints drafted and hired the perfect contractor, youll need to supervise the entire build process to ensure everything is getting done.
Just because you arent living in your dream home doesnt mean that you shouldnt be taking safety measures. After all, construction sites are loaded with pipes, tools, and materials, all of which can be an issue, but are assets that are essential.
Many homes in the build process have been vandalized and defaced, leading to long delays. Here are some important safety measures that you should be taking to ensure that your building schedule isnt interrupted because you werent proactive.
Secure the Construction Site with Fencing. You might think that choosing not to install security fencing around the skeleton of your dream home will cost you money unnecessarily, but this installation could actually save you money in the long run.
Fencing can deter individuals and keep people off the premises who dont belong. Not only is fencing important for the safety of your property, its an important tool to avoid unnecessary liability claims due to personal injury.
Install Security Lighting. Most people know that vandals and thieves prefer to work in the night. One way to lower the chances of your property being vandalized is to put a spotlight on your property so that thieves choose a different target.
You can install lights that stay on all night long, or install motion detector lights that will only turn on when movement is detected on or around the premises.
Its Not Too Early For a Security System. You might think that its too early to invest in home security, but thats not true. A monitoring alarm system complete with security cameras is a great way to protect your house before it becomes your home.
During the construction phase, you should install a system thatll detect an intrusion attempt.
Remove Valuables. Contractors should know to remove their tools when theyre done with work for the day. While this is common sense, all too often individuals have their appliances installed before the property is fully secured.
Wait to install your high-tech appliances until the property is fully built. Todays Energy Star appliances are very energy efficient but they also represent a large investment in home equity which makes them attractive to crooks.
Purchase Adequate Homeowners Insurance. It is important to have enough standard dwelling and personal property insurance coverage early in the game; dont low-ball this.
It is also key to be sure that all contractors carry current workmans compensation insurance on all their workers. Why? Because if they dont and an injury occurs you might find yourself slapped with a mechanics lien.
Some Things to Consider Before Construction
As with everything else in life, planning pays off in spades. HVAC is a good example. Before giving your engineer or contractor carte blanche to install a system solely based on square footage, step back and tell him you want him to use the HVAC worksheets from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). This is much more accurate than the cookie-cutter model and will save you money down the road.
Place trees strategically. Trees on your property are not just for looks. They can provide you with (free) organic fruit and provide energy-saving shade for your home. Residential trees provide shade, fruit, privacy, and more.
Install the best windows you can afford. Windows may not be the sexiest part of your new home plan, but they can be one of the most important parts. Energy efficiency is important of course, but beefed-up models can also be part of your hurricane preparedness plan.
I certainly hope this how-to article on building a new home has inspired you to tackle the project yourself! If so, I would appreciate you sharing this page with your friends. Thanks for visiting!
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About the Webmaster:
Kelly R. Smith was a commercial carpenter for 20 years before returning to night school at the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science. After working at NASA for a few years, he went on to develop software for the transportation and financial and energy trading industries. He has been writing, in one capacity or another, since he could hold a pencil. As a freelance writer now, he specializes in producing articles and blog content for a variety of clients. His personal blog is at I Can Fix Up My Home Blog where he muses on many different topics.