Frequently Asked Questions

What questions should I be asking my contractor?

A few key questions to ask could be: “How long have you been in business?”  “Are you licensed?”  “Do you have insurance?” “Do you personally oversee the project or do you use someone else?”  With years of experience under our belt, Oakbrook Homes Inc. is happy to provide all of these answers and provide references upon request.

How close do you stay to timelines and budgets?

The budget and a reasonable timeframe are stated in the contract, which is signed by all parties with copies provided before breaking ground or starting any project. There is an Act of God provision in the contract. Construction during a hurricane is not only dangerous, but not likely to produce a good finished project, but check with our references and you can see for yourself (if it’s not due to nature or outside forces) that we do what we say, when we say it.

How and when are payments made?

These terms are broken down in the contract based on progress with a completion date included.  Typically, we take a deposit of 10% for materials and the rest of the payments are determined beforehand. Once the work is completed to a pre-determined point, a pre-determined payment is made, with final payment due upon completion.

How many of your customers come from repeat business or from referrals from existing or previous customers?

We are very blessed to say that over 50% of our customers come to us or are referred to us from customers we’ve performed for in the past. As you will see when you check our references, there’s a reason for such a loyal client base.

What about permits?

If a permit is required, we will obtain the permit, handle all inspections, make sure everything is built to code, and that the project and process satisfies all requirements to the letter of the law.

What about materials?

Important materials are specified in the contract. All materials are covered; however, as substitutions are sometimes unavoidable (lots of bricks run out, for example, colors of materials are sometimes discontinued), we make it clear that an equal substitution will be made but only upon your approval.  For items such as lighting fixtures or doorknobs that you have not chosen when the contract is signed, a budget is determined in the contract to cover exactly what will be spent on them.

What is a change order?

A change order is a written statement signed by the customer authorizing the contractor to do additional work not included in the original contract. The change order should be signed before the additional work is started, but often it is not in order to keep the project moving. Change orders will always be discussed with the customer. The amount specified is due when the change is agreed upon by both parties.

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