The Pat Fay Method is a basic, straight forward, common sense approach to construction management as applied to the home construction process. It allows the homeowner to manage the 'process of construction' for their remodel or new home construction project, rather than turning all the responsibility and money over to a general contractor.
The cost savings are so great and the knowledge so useful that all home owners should have a copy of the Pat Fay Method book as a reference manual.
During construction the homeowner keeps their full-time job, and they hire subcontractors who are responsible for building different phases of the construction project. The homeowner monitors and inspects but it is the contractor who must perform.
The homeowner does need the ability to be organized, dedicated to goals, a good plan, and most importantly, a belief in what the Pat Fay Method teaches rather than what the contractors say should be done.
Instead of hiring one general contractor, the Pat Fay Method teaches the homeowner how to be the project manager -- hiring separate contractors who are experts in their field to build the different phases of the construction. Therefore, the homeowner does not need to know that much about construction itself but how to manage the process of construction.
General contractors charge too large a fee on top of the subcontractor charges. This results in home construction projects that are far too expensive. The homeowner can build or remodel for $100 per square foot or less without a general contractor. With a general contractor, the price is in the $200 to $300 per square foot range.
In addition, the general contractor typically asks for change orders for work that should be included in their original price. They also charge too much for legitimate change orders. This causes the homeowner much anxiety, unhappiness, and personal and financial stress.
There are risks in working with all contractors, and this book addresses those issues and provides advice on how to manage your subcontractors and the overall project. However, the financial savings are so great that the risks are offset by the amount of money that can be saved.
The most important rule in the Pat Fay Method is that the homeowner keeps their money in their own account, rather than turning over large sums of money to the contractor. A common practice by contractors is to tell the homeowner that they need to pay the contractor 50% of the money at the time the contract is signed. Why do this when the contractor has done no work? There is no law or rule that says this must be done. It is just a common and unfair practice that the Pat Fay Method intends to greatly reduce if not eliminate.
Paying the contractor before work is done is the root cause of the majority of problems found in home construction in America today. Every year, thousands of American homeowners pay some general contractor a large sum of money only to see the general contractor and their money leave town without accomplishing any work. Another common problem is that the general contractor will take the homeowner?s money and finish someone else?s project with it, which leaves no money for your project.
With the Pat Fay Method, the homeowner signs a contract, but no money changes hands until actual work is completed.
The following is a set of rules that define the Pat Fay Method. More detail is in the book.
The Pat Fay Method:
The homeowner (not the contractors) takes the role of the project manager and is in charge of their home construction project. The contractors work for the homeowner. The homeowner does not pay large sums of money to the contractor at the time the contract is signed.
The homeowner is responsible for planning and preliminary design.
The homeowner hires an architect or building designer to perform the final design and produce a construction and permit-ready set of construction documents.
The homeowner is the first point of contact with the permitting agency. The architect/building designer supports the homeowner in the permit process as needed.
The homeowner buys adequate liability insurance before construction begins.
The homeowner signs a contract that defines at a minimum what work is to be done by the contractor, when the work is to be started and finished, what quality of workmanship and materials is acceptable, how much the work will cost, and when payment is to be made.
The homeowner hires different contractors to do the different phases of construction without a general contractor. Each contractor is responsible for completing the work they contracted to do. The homeowner is responsible for paying the contractor when the work is completed, inspected, and when applicable, signed off by the building inspector. The contractor signs a lien release at the time payment is made.
The homeowner is responsible for daily inspection of the work. The homeowner inspects for quality workmanship, installation of correct materials, and that the work is being done according to the building plans.
The homeowner and contractor will use the services of a professional arbitrator to resolve disagreements.The homeowner and the contractor may agree to disagree on various aspects of the work, such as quality of workmanship, types of materials, adherence to the plans, cost, or any other general disagreement. The homeowner selects an arbitration firm before construction begins.
The homeowner pays top dollar for the work they contract out. In return they expect the contractor to use the best materials available and to install those materials with extraordinary workmanship.
There are no change orders allowed, unless defined in writing on the homeowner's no verbal changes form (NVC). The NVC must be made out at the time of the change with a description of the change with a defined cost. It is not acceptable for the contractor to ask for additional money for minor errors and omissions on the drawings or due to requirements of the building code or the building inspector. The contractors are hired because they are experts in their work, and they should know all the applicable rules, codes, and regulations that guide and govern their work.
The homeowner treats the contractor and their workers with respect.Likewise, the contractor and their workers treat the homeowner and the homeowner's property with respect. Both parties work toward a win-win relationship: the contractor does all the work they agreed to do at the price agreed to and the homeowner pays the contractor when that work is satisfactorily completed.
The Pat Fay Method empowers the homeowner to have the home remodel or construction done as they like, at the price they originally agreed upon, and to enjoy the process of getting there.
By following the Pat Fay Method, the homeowner can remodel or build a new home for approximately $100 per square foot -- not the $250-$350 per SF quoted by American general contractors and builders in 2008.
Here are just some of the "rules" that empower the homeowner to save money:
The homeowner is in charge of their own home construction project and takes the role of project manager. The homeowner avoids paying large sums of money when a contract is signed since the contractor works for the homeowner.
The homeowner is responsible for their own planning and preliminary design, hiring an architect or building designer. They finalize the design and produce a construction and permit-ready set of documents.
There are no change orders allowed, unless put in writing on the homeowner's no verbal change form. It isn't acceptable for the contractor to ask for more money for minor errors and omissions on the drawings, or due to requirements of the building code or inspector.
The Method helps the homeowner complete the remodel or construction as they like, at the price they originally agreed upon, and even allows them to enjoy the process of getting there.