Now that you have sustained some type of damage to your home or business, whether it is a small water damage or a catastrophic fire, you are wondering what is going to happen? How long will it take to repair? Who do I call? Now What?????

If you are reading this it is because you’re Insurance Company or one of their representatives (adjuster) called us to help you. With Creative Construction Services Inc you will know that your insurance company or adjuster trust us with your home. That we are a reputable, professional, insured, and experienced with dealing with your type of loss.



Yes, even you can act as your own General contractor. But be prepared for problems that can slow down your job, increase the cost of the job or even bring it (and you) to a halt.

Today every city in southern California is faced with protecting its residents. New guidelines for repairs, reconstruction and code upgrades are becoming more stringent with all the earthquakes, mud slides, fires, etc. that occur in California. You want to make sure that any work done on your property is done with the safety of you and your family in mind.

These are but a few of the problems that the homeowner/builder must face when starting out on his/her own. Every city has its unique codes, planning commissions, and inspectors. Some are willing to work with the homeowner but, some are not.

Most building departments are understaffed and underpaid. Most are buried in the paper work of checking plans to determine the esthetic quality of the addition, the structural safety of the reconstruction, the energy saving measures that are designed into the plans. They would like to help the homeowner/builder but they prefer to deal with a contractor who knows what he is doing, this saves them a lot of time.

If you want to act as your own "General Contractor" called "Owner/Builder" here is some things you will need to consider.

• Using a building designer or architect. Will he or she spend time with you to determine your needs and wants and then put it on paper, with-out you paying a premium price? A good general contractor already has access to designers and architects that would be cost effective.
  
  
• If your plans involve a 2nd story, large open spaces, or beams, an engineer will be needed. A good engineer specializing in additions is hard to find. A Contractor already has them accessible, which will be more cost effective for you.
  
  
• As owner/builder, will your insurance company pay for all the improvements you want? How will you pay subs before the end of the job for any materials they might need? Where will I get the money to pay for any additional improvements? The contractor, which works with in the insurance field, is knowledgeable, and, works for both you and the adjuster.
  
  
• As owner/builder, you may need to also acquire energy calculations depending on the job size and the amount of glass included. Will you need a new FAU (heater), and/or air conditioner? Where do I find a qualified Company?
  
  
• The owner/builder must take time out of his/her day to put their plans into plan check - this can take up to two hours on the first visit, depending on the city and what the requirements are. I've seen some who just throw their hands in the air with despair over simple problems because they are not familiar with the terminology or requirements used in their city.
  
  
• Now that plan check is complete, the owner/builder must take out their building permits. In most cities, a building permit is only one of several permits required. The owner/builder must determine if they need a plumbing permit, electrical permit, or mechanical permit, plus a building permit. The various permits are sometimes confusing, and leave the homeowner (owner/builder) wondering, now what do I do?
  
  
• Where does the owner/builder turn to get a "lumber list"? The lumber list tells the lumberyard what materials to deliver to your construction site. The lumberyard will not make out this list for you. The contractor makes the complete list of materials and orders it all at one time, saving time and money. The events leading to the actual construction are as time consuming and confusing as the construction work itself for the owner/builder. You must be willing to spend a lot of time running around delivering plans or picking them up. You will need to know where to get several sets made for the building department and your subcontractors. You will need to do extensive research to find the engineers, subcontractors, and and the right job materials for your home or business. You must assume the responsibility of seeing that they all do their job correctly, and be able to take time off of work to oversee every aspect of the job. You must be ready to deal with delays such as bad weather, a subcontractor not showing up, or the wrong materials were delivered. You will need to have money available to cover all of the unexpected costs.

In contrast to the "DO IT YOURSELF" approach - most families opt for using a general contractor. The general contractor assumes the responsibility for complete and correct plans, a quality design, structural engineering, energy calculations, plan checks, permits, material pro-procurement and finally, construction. They also supervise and coordinate the subcontractors and schedule the different phases of the job and call for inspections. In short, they have the experience to get the job done as quickly as possible with very little effort from the homeowner.