Home Building in Lorain

by Kim Kinrade

According to the Lorain County Comprehensive Plan, demographic changes in Lorain County and Cuyahoga County are the drivers of development in the area. The plan estimates that nearly 31,000 new homes will need to be built by the year 2020 to sustain the demand for new housing. This is good news for general contractors but means that prospective home builders should be well-prepared before contacting a prospective builder.

Preparations Are Crucial

Building a home is more process than build. Gone are the days when you pick a plan and the ground is broken the next day. There are many steps to be taken before you can actually begin building, some of which seem archaic and time-wasting but are necessary for the welfare of the home builder, the contractor and, no less important, the homeowners in the development area.

Important Steps in Home Building

1. Numbers, Numbers, Numbers

As in everyday life, where the amount of money dictates your lifestyle, how much you can afford is the determining factor in what you can build. This is a crucial step and means the difference between a five-bedroom home on a lake and a minihome in a trailer park.

2. Type of Home

Now that you have numbers you can go for style. Even a modest home can be fit to meet your family requirements. There are any sites on the internet which can make this job easier. Your financing arrangements can be made during the process of the Step 1 and 2.

3. Hire the Contractor

There are reams of pamphlets and books written about how to hire the right contractor. This should be a process in itself, taking time between each interview to consider all the options. Remember, beside the fact that the building company has to be on budget and on-time with a quality build you have to live with this for between 6 and 12 months, depending on when they can get started on the project. Be sure that you and the contractor see eye-to-eye. It's better to find out now than after the excavation has begun. Also, make sure there is a warranty in place.

4. The Building Process

You don't have to micromanage the project but make sure you keep involved with every step of the project. Because even the best contractors, who might have several builds on the go, might miss bits and pieces of the project. In addition, some subtrades – who may also be busy – have minds of their own and might go astray with their own ideas. For example, a tiler may forget your diamond pattern because your project is the fifth one this week that his company has sent him. So, find out when each stage is to begin and make yourself available.

5. Finishing and Closing

Closing on your finished home construction is similar to buying one already built and lived-in. However, the banking arrangements and the final inspection is different. In some cases your lawyer will hold back a percentage of the cost to be paid after you move in and everything is up to your specifications. Take a list with you and write down the obvious flaws so that the contractor can direct the subtrade to fix it. In cases of paint blemishes or misses, a handy trick is to flag the area with strips of colored masking tape.

6. Move In

If there are any other flaws in your home you will find these within weeks of moving in. Again, make a list. Your happiness with your new home depends on it.

Lorain Building Information

For more information on building in Lorain contact:

City of Lorain Building Department

Or visit in person:

City of Lorain
Chief Building Official
200 West Erie Avenue
Lorain, Ohio 44052-1647
Phone: 440-204-2045