Phase 4
The process to the building permit
Last February I went down to Aruba and started the process of interviewing contractors just to sit and ask questions and to listen to what they had to say and not to say.
I met with no fewer than 5 contractors. I wanted to know do they have there own employees or is there business using more subs then there own work force. I felt that my experience here in the states was that a contractor that used or had there own work force would tend have more control over the project.
Also I wanted a contractor and be able to speak to the owner. I guess I just wanted a good line of communication.
On this trip I went and visited the major lumber yards, window suppliers and the Kitchen Cabinet suppliers on the island. I also went and spoke to my neighbors and just spoke about there experiences with the contractors that built there homes. Items they liked or didn't like in the construction of there home. The slowness of construction and lack of communications and windows were a few on the issues.
The final design was not yet complete. In fact I changed designers in the middle of this process.
This was just a personal decision. It was undecided as to the design we wanted. 1Floor or go with a 2 floor house. But as it was pointed out to me you are retiring do you want to have climb a flight of stairs to go bed every night. Plus there was no special view. Remember unless you have unlimited funds the Budget is the budget.
Next visit April.
On this visit we went back and visited the construction sites of the contractors that we interviewed just to ck on the progress of these homes.
We also finalized a design. We visited a neighbor that had just built a modified Cynthia design. My wife and I came to common ground and agreed on this style.
We met with the designer from B Homes and through Email we worked out our own design,
it came in at 124 Meter sq. This is were I would use some thought as if you look at the foot print of any house the covered Patio the front entrance that is not covered is counted in the sq Meter of your house.
It was during the design process that I made sure my window selection was put in block squareson the prints or maps as they call them.
Any thing you want special make sure it gets documented. I just like to see notes on the drawings.
After approx. 2-3month's back and forth with changes a final design was settled on.
The designer applied for the building Permit. At this time I sent out the packages to the contractors for Bid.
The building permit was ready to be picked up in 6-8 weeks. I payed the designer a fee to design the house and apply for the building permit. Well there is another fee that is bases on your Sq footage when you go to pickup the permit from the DPO. At this 4 of the 5 contractors returned there proposals.
The contractor that did not return did contacted me and said the reason that they weren't going to give me a Quotation was that they had taken on a large project and his crews were going to be very busy.
I was sorry he didn't bid as he would have been in the top 2or 3.I appreciated his honesty.

Let the Carnival Begin
Mr Norman Paperman