General Contractor, Owner of J.A. Slaght Contracting

>> The job we're doing here, we took about a 1,500 square foot house and we had a second story on it. I think overall we added 2,300 square feet, so pretty much from start to finish, it's about a year long project. Made a straight line here because I'm going to extend this wall down so that, see so I'm going to have a wall like this here also. Because originally it was just, it was just stopping right where it is and that tub was pushed back. So we took the toilet out from there and moved it over to behind you and then this wall's going to come down further and have a bigger shower. On a job this size, you're pretty much going to be talking to the homeowner at least every other day or so. You've got to stay ahead on ordering stuff. I have a front door actually ordered now, but that took a while to figure out what they want and as soon as we get it drywalled and insulated, we'll look at hardwood floor finishes, we'll have to discuss, the homeowner and I, cabinets, countertops, tile, bathroom fixtures. So on something like this, this big, you're pretty much in contact with the homeowner almost every other day. >> Yeah, it's all new electric. It was all ragwire electric so, that was all torn out, almost all new plumbing. We had to keep three walls to still have it be a remodel and not an actual new home for permitting purposes. They had three bedrooms upstairs and I believe, I think we're on four full baths, so we added new kitchen, everything, and a 20 by 20 addition, two story. Getting the contract for a job like this, there's actually several steps before you ever even break ground. First would be several meetings with the homeowner, budgeting, what they like exactly and meeting with the architect and getting plans drawn out to submit for permit. After that, draw the permits, you need to break ground and start from the ground up. My ideal job would have to be probably just building decks, in the summertime. You're outside all day, you get in a good workout, and then in the wintertime, just moving to finishing basements. Don't get cold in the basement, finish basements all winter long. Those would be the two ideal ones. Bathrooms are too small. I'm here almost every day checking on guys, some of the subs that I have in there, like I have plumbers and electricians in there now, and I'll do other small jobs as I'm doing this job. We probably have like three more months on this job. We're close to closing in the outside with siding and everything and within the next week or so, we'll have all the inspections done for all the trades: HVAC, plumbing, electric, and my close-in. So we'll be able to go with insulation and drywall and then it's just all the finishes: your hardwood flooring, window, any trim, interior doors, kitchen finishes, bathroom finishes, and finish out from there, about three months. I mean, that makes me feel good, first off because I can see that I accomplished something. And then once the homeowner's happy, then everything's done and you're good. As long as the homeowner's happy, as a contractor, you should be happy, really.