The pre-construction meeting marks an important milestone for a homebuyer: work on the home is finally about to start. At this meeting, you can create a solid and friendly working relationship with a customer who's looking forward to the excitement of a new home. A second priority is to make sure that the home in the customer's head, the one they think they're buying, is the same as the home described in the builder's paperwork at a point when mistakes can be corrected more easily. It's also important to set the ground rules for working with the homebuyer during the construction process.
At the pre-construction meeting, talk to your customers about the following areas:
Site: Review how the home will be oriented on its lot, whether it will be built per plan or reverse, and whether the garage is located left or right. You should also talk about where driveways, sidewalks, and other concrete flatwork will be located. This discussion should also cover features of the lot, including slope and grading, location of trees, and drainage. Point out to the customer the location of the lot's corners, any easements that affect the lot, and where any fences will be located.
Exterior: Review the home type that the customer has chosen and its exterior features, such as bricking, masonry, siding, and trim. Go over any structural options they've selected, such as bay windows or bonus rooms.
Mechanical: Review with the customer the major mechanical systems that are included in the home, including HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. At this point you should also go over any accessories or upgrades, such as attic fans or air cleaners, that the customer has ordered.
Interior: Reviewing the customer's interior choices is an important part of the pre-construction meeting. It is important to find mistakes in the paperwork at a point when it is easier to fix problems than it will be later in the construction process.
More information can be found in our related article, "Managing Customer Expectations through Construction Meetings." Also, BuildIQ University offers these related online training courses:
