Choosing Your Timber Frame Building Team

If you’ve ever been involved in building your own home (or have hired a contractor for any job), you know that a little preparation can save a ton of time and money.  This is especially true when choosing your timber frame building team, from the designer to the actual contractors hammering in the nails.

Following is a list of tried-but-true tips that will help you pick the best timber frame building team for your needs:

1. Take recommendations seriously.  If you know a friend or relative who has had a good experience with a timber frame home builder, add that company to your short list of people you want to talk to about designing your own timber frame home.
2. Get recommendations. As important as it is to talk to people you trust about timber frame home builders, it’s also important to make sure there’s a general consensus about a particular builder.  You don’t want your best friend to be the only person in the world who is happy with XYZ builder.  You’ll want to choose a timber frame builder who has a solid base of satisfied clients.
3. Be wary of complaints, but don’t let one unhappy client put you off from a builder, especially if you’re otherwise happy with what you’ve seen and heard.  No matter how good a builder is, there is going to be one person who can’t be pleased.  If the builder you’re considering has 100 positive reviews and one negative review, don’t weigh that negative review too heavily.  Or at least give the builder a chance to explain it.
4. Be wary of a defensive builder. A reputable builder understands that no matter how hard they try, they won’t necessarily please every client 100 percent of the time, though that’s surely the goal.  If you do have to ask a timber frame home builder about a bad review, pay close attention to their reaction.  If the builder is negative or badmouths the client, put up your radar.  A reputable builder will give you the facts of the case, explain what problem-resolution steps were taken, and let you decide if that action was adequate.
5. Make sure your timber frame home building team is insured, licensed and bonded. Do not let anyone begin working on your behalf without first seeing proof of insurance!
6. Find out how much of the builder’s team is contracted out. You don’t want a here today, gone tomorrow base of contractors.  What if something goes wrong a year from now? Will you be able to find the contractor?
7. Evaluate the building team’s experience with timber frame or log homes. Choose people who have worked with timber frames and logs before; they will know the advantages and disadvantages of the materials and can adequately prepare for those.
8. Choose a timber frame building team you like. You’ll be working very closely with these people over the next months, so being comfortable with them is a must.
9. Get everything in writing. From the estimated costs to the finish date to any guarantees, never take anything at face value.  Everything contained inside that piece of paper–your contract–will be what you AND the building team work from.  It serves as protection for both parties.