When to Visit Your New Home's Construction Site
Visiting the home construction site for your new Maryland custom home is exciting! It's another reminder that you will be in your new home in the future. Use site visits to see our work, as OYL Homes support your home's construction.
At which milestones should you visit your Maryland new home site? Scott Hare of On Your Lot Homes shares when and how to plan a successful site visit.
Before Your Home Site Visit, Request an Appointment First
If you plan to visit your new home site, the first step is to talk to OYL Homes. Then, the next step is to schedule an appointment. We need to know in advance if there is major work going on with workers and equipment to keep everyone safe.
Showing up unannounced for a site visit also creates liability. Do not put yourself in the middle of hazardous construction activity. An appointment is the best way to ensure everyone involved is safe and aware of what is happening.
Plan New Home Site Construction Visits Based on Low Activity
Ideally, you should visit when there is little to no construction activity taking place. This is to ensure that you do not slow down the workers. It keeps you and the construction workers safe. It also reduces the chances that an accident occurs.
Daytime Is the Best Time of Day to Visit Your New Home Site
When is the best time of day to visit your home construction site? The best time of day to visit your home site is when there is natural light. This will make it possible for you to review the progress made.
In the early stages of construction, the home will not have electricity or lighting. As a result, it is best to visit your new home during daylight hours during early construction.
Safety is another reason to visit your new home site in the daytime. Traveling to your home site during the day is easier to avoid hazards than in the dark. It is especially dangerous if your home is in a new development or has limited road access. Construction sites are hazardous even during the day. You do not want to risk an accident while traveling to or from the site.
Avoid a Site Visit During These 3 Times
Sometimes, you should avoid visiting your home’s construction site. Namely, these reasons are due to safety. Here are the 3 most important times to avoid a visit:
1. When Framing is In-Progress, Avoid Your Home Site
If the framing of your home is still going up, this is a busy time when many workers are present. There are also many dangerous objects and tools on the construction site. Some examples are wood, nails, hammers, and nail guns, which could lead to an accident.
The use of power tools, such as saws, and carrying heavy loads and materials is constant. During framing, it is also likely to be crowded and loud during this stage. Avoid visiting the site to avoid getting in the way.
2. Drywall Installation Is a Hazardous Time to Visit a New Home Site
Avoid visiting your home site while workers are installing drywall. The home construction site is crowded with workers. Workers need to operate power tools that are very loud and dangerous to use. Workers also carry around heavy pieces of sheetrock.
The air is also not safe to breathe. Drywall installation generates a lot of dust that can irritate your lungs. Workers need to focus on the job, and most likely, you will be in the way and slow them down.
3. Exterior Work-In-Progress? Not a Good Time to Visit Your New Home
You need to pay close attention when exterior work is in progress at your home site. This is another time when avoiding visiting your home site is safer. Watch all entrances when you visit to ensure no one is working overhead or on the roof.
Best Times to Visit Your New Home Construction Site
We recommend that you visit not once but several times to see how things are progressing. Here are the best times to visit your new home site:
When you are not pressed for time. Some homeowners want to visit multiple times a week, but this is not an ideal way to see progress. Instead, go when you are not pressed for time or after a significant milestone to see progress. Then, you can evaluate the work that has been completed.
Before plumbing and electrical. You should visit several times before the drywall goes up and before the plumbing and electrical are installed.
To check interiors, fixtures, and appliances. Visit once interior features such as appliances, bathroom fixtures, and counters are added. You want to make sure the work is done right. You can come more frequently when these items are installed.
To track progress. Schedule your visits around the progress schedule to understand how things come together. This helps ensure that your home will be ready as planned. Keep up with progress to avoid running into issues with selling your old house or moving.
Pre-closing walkthrough. Before the closing is a good time to discuss any final touches, your construction manager will be there during the site visit. He will confirm with you that all of your requested features and finishes are present.
You should contact OYL Homes for further assistance if you find any issues. Do not bother the workers on the site, as it may not be their responsibility. Also, the workers are not permitted to take work instructions from you.
How Often Should You Visit Your Maryland New Home Site?
We welcome you to set your own schedule for visiting your home construction site. This way, you can plan ahead for site visits based on your interest, travel distance, and personal schedule. This is part of the flexibility and fun of building your own custom home!
As you plan your site visit, make sure to:
Prepare a "building a house checklist." This will ensure that you ask OYL Homes any questions you may have.
Dress appropriately. Visit your home site with proper clothing and footwear to avoid injury. Wear closed-toe shoes, bring a flashlight and measuring tape, and wear unimportant clothes.
Document the visit. Keep track of the progress made with dates, measurements, and photos as a keepsake.
For the best time to visit your new home site during construction, OYL Homes will guide you through the process. The milestones of your home construction will be provided to you so that you know exactly when it is safe to visit.
Custom Home Design Services in Columbia, Maryland
At On Your Lot Homes, we are a top local Maryland home building firm. With so many considerations for creating your custom luxury home, we are here to help. On Your Lot Homes is here to walk you through the custom build process with a personalized approach.
Get answers to your home building questions here. Reach us at OYL Homes by phone at (833) 289-6954 or reach us via email at build@oylhomes.com.
