COMMON QUESTIONS

Kaiser Construction serves north of Spokane, including Deer Park, Chattaroy, Elk, and the surrounding areas.

HOW FAR ARE YOU BOOKED OUT?

It depends on the time of year. If you want to guarantee a place on my schedule, I would recommend contacting me 6-12 months before your preferred start date. The larger the project, the earlier you need to start calling and planning. It can be frustrating to hear that the builder you want is booked out for months, but it's better to compromise on schedule than quality--don't let yourself feel pressured into choosing a builder you don't trust just because they are the only builder that can start next week. Waiting for the right builder can be the difference between paying for a building that stands for 20 years vs a building that stands for 100 years.

I WANT A POLE BARN, BUT WHERE DO I START?

The first step is writing down a general idea of what you want out of a newly built structure (e.g. "a big shop to work on my truck out of the weather, space for my spouse's hobby, and a covered lean-to where I can park my camper"). Drawings, sketches, or pictures help too.

The second step is determining your budget--both what you would like to pay, and what your max budget is. You don't need to share this information if you don't want to, but it does save a lot of time in the design phase if you do. If your budget is $50k and we design a building that quotes out at $120k, it can be a frustrating experience.

The third step is reaching out to a couple builders like myself, and determining if there's one you would like to work with. Consider past work, communication, and trust. Not all builders are right for all clients.

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If you've chosen Kaiser Construction, the process will go a little like this: I'll collect information about your build and budget over the phone and schedule a day and time to come meet you at the build location. We'll meet and go over the proposed structure, timeline, and build process. Then I'll either draw custom plans or help you find stock plans, and provide a quote based on those plans. From there we sign contract documents, schedule the work, and build!

I WANT TO BUILD A CUSTOM HOME, BUT WHERE DO I START?

The first step is writing down a "wants and needs" list. This list can be as long as you want. You might decide that you need 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a garage, and that you want a kitchen with a southern view, a large master bath, an office, and a large covered patio. Home design is a balancing act between budget and desires, and there's always some compromise.

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The second step is laying out your financials. What is your budget? What is the maximum you could afford, and what is the amount you'd prefer to end up at? Will you be financing? If so, have you been pre-approved? If you've been pre-approved, are there limitations on the house you can build or the builder you can choose? Will you need to sell your current house prior to building? These are all important things to have figured out before contacting a builder or designer.

The third step is finding a local designer, architect, or builder to help guide you through the rest of the process. It's important to involve local professionals early in the process to make sure your plans stay aligned with your budget. The last thing you want is to pay $2,500 for a set of plans online only to find out that the cost to build them is out of your budget. When selecting a designer or builder, consider past work, current style, and most importantly trust and communication. I cannot emphasize enough how important those last two are. Not every builder or designer is right for every client--find one that works for you and your project. This can be a long and arduous task, but it will be the most important part of your home build.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL WORK ON MY PROJECT?

I run one crew of anywhere from 1 to 4 people depending on the scope of the project. For certain specialty scopes of work we will also involve subcontractors, such as electrical, plumbing, flatwork, and a few others. I vet and manage all of my subcontractors, and you won't have to worry about dealing with anyone other than Kaiser Construction for the duration of your project. I prefer to do as much of the work as possible with my crew, which allows me to maintain high quality work and reduces the number of strange workers roaming around your project site.

THE OTHER GUY IS CHEAPER, WHAT GIVES?

There's always somebody's uncle that can do it cheaper, but usually cheap work is just that--cheap. Honest, quality work takes time and effort. Cheap work has its place, but not in structural work. If you want a structure that will last long enough for your grandchildren to inherit, build it right. A well built structure is always more cost effective in the long run. If you've got two quotes from quality builders that are vastly different, make sure they both fully understand the scope of work. Did one of them think they were doing parts A, B & C, and the other only quoted part A?

SHOULD I GET A PERMIT FOR MY PROJECT?

Yes! If a permit is required for your project, you should absolutely comply. Inspections protect you and provide additional accountability for your contractor. There are certainly exceptions, but they are few and far between. If you hire a licensed general contractor, that contractor will often deal with the permitting.

ARE YOU HIRING?

I'm always looking for good carpenters. What makes a good carpenter? Honesty, integrity, strong work ethic, and a curious mind. Notice that skill level isn't on the list? If you think those four things describe you, reach out.

ARE YOU KAISER? WHO IS KAISER?

Kaiser is my dog, and you're welcome to meet him if you'd like. He usually stays at home because he's too lazy to get off the porch. He's in a few of the gallery pictures, too.