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Outdoor construction, which is dependent on the vagaries of the weather,
will proceed more slowly in the winter. All construction will slow down
somewhat around the non-Jewish holiday season, as municipal inspections
are less available and many workers take off during that time.

To keep your project running smoothly:
‹ Be sure to keep in constant touch with your contractor. Asking for
regular updates and any changes in status can help avoid unpleasant
surprises down the road.
‹ Involve your builder in your decisions; for example, you may have your
heart set on a particular type of tile without realizing that it costs twice
as much to install. By helping you understand your budget and how much
is left, your contractor will be able to help you make your purchasing
decisions in a cost-conscious manner.
Cost-plus vs. Set Price

Construction insurance
A crucial investment during any home improvement project is construction
insurance. Sold in 30, 60, or 90-day increments, construction insurance
is relatively expensive – possibly as much as your annual home-owner’s
insurance premium — but it covers any accidental damage to the house. For
example, if a pipe bursts and floods part of the house, even away from the
construction area, the policy will cover the damage.

A contractor’s services can be engaged in one of two ways — cost-plus or set
price.
In the cost-plus model, the contractor will pass along all his expenses to the
customer, and then charge his own fee separately. For example, if the job
cost him $46,000 in materials and labor and the contractor fee is $7,000, the
customer pays $53,000.
Set price means that a price is negotiated at the start of the job and does not
change, regardless of any fluctuations or unexpected changes in the cost of
the work. The contractor does not detail his expenses to the customer. If the
price of materials were to rise during the course of the project, the contractor
might be left with only a small profit, but if prices dropped, he will have a
larger-than-anticipated profit.

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