Finishing your building project is definitely time for celebration.
You’ve been through all the work, expense and emotion that any major project entails, so when the final nail has been hammered in and the last of the paint has dried, give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back.
But before you pop the champagne and move into your new building, there are a few final tasks you’ll need to take care of to make sure everything is as close to perfect as possible.
Inspections & Testing
Your contractor and architect will have done inspections as your project progressed, making sure each stage of construction has been completed to spec, but it’s important for you to do a final inspection on finishing your building project.
You’ll want to check that:
- Finishings (fixtures, paint, etc.) are as expected
- Surfaces are clean and intact – any paint problems, scratches or other defects should be noted for correction
- Plumbing, electricity, HVAC and other systems work properly
- Site is clean and debris and extra building supplies are cleared. Check for stray nails, half-empty cans of paint or stain and other items that could pose a hazard
Remedial Work
If everything has gone well, there should be little remedial work needed to make your project meet your expectations, but there may be small things that require some additional attention.
If your inspection has revealed any problems, bring them to the architect’s attention immediately so they can be addressed in a timely way.
Most states have statutory warranties against defects in licensed contractors’ work. California law provides three basic types of warranty for new construction and remodeling projects:
- One-year expressed limited warranty against defects in workmanship – addresses problems with the fit and finish of walls, cabinets, flooring, paint, trim, countertops and mirrors
- Four-year warranty against problems caused by defective installation of items – i.e., installations that don’t meet a manufacturer’s installation requirements or don’t comply with local building codes
- Ten-year warranty against structural defects related to engineering problems or errors that might affect the integrity of the building or site – examples include problems with site instability, foundation defects, retaining walls, building framing or roofing
Your contractor may also have included additional warranties in his or her contract, so if you discover any problems with your project, review your contract to see if they are covered.
Occupant Training
If there are any special systems in your project, make sure you and your family or employees know how to use them correctly and safely before moving in.
Your contractor or architect should make sure you understand the basics of how to operate all systems and how to maintain them. Manufacturers may also provide either formal, on-site training for some systems or documentation such as user manuals or online tutorials. Make sure you have access to these as you occupy your new space. Now is also a good time to set up a regular maintenance schedule to keep all your systems operating smoothly.
Payment
Depending on the details of your contract, you may be asked to make a final payment in full to the architect and contractor at the completion of the job, so it’s important to ensure any financial arrangements (loans, etc.) are in place before then.
About Liens
Around or after the completion of a job, a client may receive a preliminary notice of a mechanics lien. This is a legal action a contractor, subcontractor or materials supplier can file against your property if he or she has not been paid by the primary contractor. A lien against your property can cause problems when you try to sell or refinance your property.
Don’t panic if you receive a preliminary notice – it doesn’t mean a lien has been or will be filed – but save the notice. Because a subcontractor or supplier can’t file a lien without having sent a preliminary notice, they may send one if they believe there is a chance they won’t be paid.
The Contractors State License Board has extensive information on preventing liens, but the first step is to ensure your contract with your contractor spells out exactly how and when subcontractors and suppliers will be paid, and check with him or her to make sure those payments happen on time.
If you are concerned about potential liens, you can also pay with checks made out to both your general contractor and the supplier or subcontractor jointly. You may also request that your general contractor get signed release forms when each subcontractor or supplier is paid.
Feedback
Providing feedback is an important part of finishing your building project. Your feedback is crucial to your architect and contractor because it can help them both improve and build their business.
Let them know, from your perspective, what elements of the project went well and what could be improved. If you have a lot of feedback, consider requesting a meeting to review the project.
If you are pleased with your results, a letter of testimonial or a review of the architect or contractor on Yelp or Houzz will be much appreciated.
Referrals are an important source of business for most professionals, so if you have friends or colleagues who are considering projects you think would be a good fit for your architect or contractor, don’t hesitate to recommend their services.
This post first ran in 2019.