Backhoe For Sale

Posts Tagged ‘home’

Many people do not think about it until it is too late, but your heavy equipment should be insured just like your automobiles or your boats. There are a lot of things that can go wrong with heavy equipment and when you insure them you help to protect yourself from loss related to the equipment. Many people are not fond of insuring their heavy equipment for their home improvement projects because the price of such insurance has steadily increased over the years, but it is better to have the insurance and not need it than to need it and not have it.

The Importance of Insuring Your Heavy Equipment

Whether your heavy equipment includes a tractor, backhoe, dump truck, trailer or anything of the sort you will find that insuring your equipment allows for you to rest much more easily at night. In the past few years the theft of such equipment has been on the rise. What would you do if you went out to use your equipment or went to a worksite where the equipment was left overnight to find that it was gone? How about if the equipment was vandalized? If you don’t insure the heavy equipment you are at a total loss and in many instances the equipment will never be recovered.

There are many different companies that will help you insure your heavy equipment. You should be sure that you shop around a bit before you buy a policy with one insurer over the other. You may find that there is a big price differential from one to the next that will allow you to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the insurance each year.

The cost of your heavy equipment insurance will vary depending on what sort of equipment you are using and how it is used. If you are the only one using the equipment the coverage may be more affordable than if you are using the equipment as part of a business. In addition, you may be able to receive discounts if you are insuring more than one piece of equipment with the insurance provider.

You may go years at a time paying for your heavy equipment insurance without ever having to make a claim. At this point you may be tempted to drop the insurance coverage, assuming that you will never have a claim. Remember, it is always better to have the coverage when you need it than to find yourself without it. Recovering a loss is expensive, probably more expensive than your insurance coverage will ever be.

Don’t pay a contractor? – Build your own home

You’ve heard the stories before…

The contractor made 100 grand on the job and I never saw him!

The job took a year longer than planned…

The job cost twice as much as the original budget…Where are my sub contractors?

Why not cut out the contractor and keep all the money for yourself? Good idea but can you handle the truth

One of the primary jobs of the general contractor (GC) or homebuilder is to manage the sub contractors. A sub contractor (see partial list below) is defined as someone who contracts with the GC – like a plumber – while the general contractor contracts with the owner. Therefore, the GC’s contract with the owner is the main contract and the GC’s contract with the plumber is a “sub” contract. A typical custom home can easily have over 100 sub contractors, and one of the primary jobs of a contractor is to oversee all of these independent businesses.

So what makes a good homebuilder?

Relationships

A good homebuilder has strong relationships with sub contractors and suppliers that may have evolved over many years. That relationship involves a level of trust, understanding and expectation. Have you ever hired someone for any kind of work? It takes a while to figure out that person’s strengths and weaknesses. The same is true for homebuilders. Managing multiple sub contractors means coordinating the schedule, overseeing the proper materials and installation, contracting, and paying each sub contractor.

Expertise

Sure, a “non-professional” can hire sub contractors and buy materials but it’s going to be harder for someone to comprehend all the aspects of the construction process the same way a professional does.

I could probably learn how to do brain surgery too! But I’m not sure you would want to be my first patient!!!

According to Dr. K. Anders Ericsson, a Conradi Eminent Scholar and Professor of Psychology at Florida State University who is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading theoretical and experimental researchers on expertise, it takes about 10,000 hours of practice to reach the level of expert.

Expert – 10,000 hours – that means 250 weeks @ 40 hours or 5 years.

Technician – 5,000 hours to be very accomplished

Advanced – 2,000 hours you become pretty good

Layperson – has little or no practice in a field

And we are not just talking about expertise in hundreds of different construction trades and techniques, but also the Building Code, local rules and regulations, human relations, management, legal issues, safety, and political savvy.

Flow of work

Have you heard of a construction job that took longer than it was supposed to?? Unfortunately it seems to be the practice not the exception… Did you see the movie “The Money Pit” (a must see if you haven’t!)? “Two weeks” is the answer to every question about how long it will take. Obviously, some smarmy contractors are at fault here. However, the client also has a responsibility to bear. The number one reason jobs slow down (assuming an attentive and professional builder is running them) is lack of appropriate information. The plans aren’t specified properly. The owner hasn’t finalized a decision.

When the flow of work is mismanaged or changed, it can have a devastating effect on a job. The longer a job takes the more it costs – interest cost, overhead and rental costs to name a few. A well run job requires a good “helmsman” steering the way. Changes are inevitable in a custom home but the fewer the better. Good planning helps a huge amount, but when there is a change, the contractor needs to steer the appropriate change through design, permitting (if necessary), pricing, scheduling and execution to get the job back on track.

Sub contractors work differently than general contractors and it is important to understand this relationship. A sub may have 5, 10 or 20 jobs going on at a time and if a job changes or isn’t ready when the sub is told to be there, it wastes time (time is money) for the sub. Inexperienced contractors fall into the trap of not having the job prepared or the appropriate specifications or materials available.

Quality

Aside of overseeing the flow of work, a good contractor has a solid understanding of all phases of construction and (hopefully) design. The contractor needs to know everything from what makes a good foundation installation – items such as clearance to rebar – to the particular type and quality of a piece of wood – quarter sawn, rift cut, hard or soft. What makes a quality tile installation or retaining wall waterproofing system. The practices change in different parts of the country and different climates.

The contractor must understand the ever-changing building codes and regulations. He also needs to maintain a safe job site and insure all sub contractors follow the same practices.

Certainly building a home is not brain surgery, but just like every other profession, it looks easier than it is. If you want to take on building your own home there are many good books available to help you get started. In addition, research other ways to build such as getting the assistance of a builder as a consultant or hiring an experienced building supervisor. Whichever way you go – learn what you can ahead of time. Even if you hire a contractor, you will still be heavily involved and making 1,000′s of decisions to get the custom home you want.

Good luck!

Partial List of Sub Contractors

Windows and Door Supply

Alarm

Archeologist

Asbestos Abatement

Backhoe and Bobcat

Bee’s Nest Removal

Cabinets

Carpet

Chimney Sweep

Concrete

Concrete Resurfacing

Concrete Coring

Concrete Pilings

Concrete Retaining Walls

Decking

Drainage

Drywall

Electricians

Engineers

Excavation

Framing Carpentry

Fencing

Finish Carpentry

Fireplace Masonry

Fire Sprinkler

Garage Doors

Geologist

Grading

Handyman – Repair

Hardwood Flooring

HVAC – Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning

Hot Tubs

Interior Design

Insulation

Fiberglass

Spray Foam

Kitchen Design

Lab Testing – Mold Testing

Landscaping

Landscape Maintenance

Landscape – Tree Service

Lumber Supplier

Low Voltage

Computer

Phone

Audio Visual

Alarm

House Control Systems

Masonry

Moving and Storage

Native American Monitor

Oil Tanks

Painting

Painting – Decorative

Pest Removal

Plumbing

Pools

Radon Gas

Railings

Retaining Walls

Roofing

Roof Trusses

Screening

Sealants

Seismic Retrofitting

Sewer

Sheet Metal

Siding

Specialty Items

Sauna

Secret Rooms

Wine Cellars

Sprinklers

Solar Electric

Solar Thermal

Stone Fabricators

Stucco

Surveyors

Trash and Hauling

Tile

Installation

Supply

Waterproofing

A while ago I wanted to design and build my own Mini Excavator. I had many requirements before I started going through the design process. Firstly was the size, it needed to be small enough to fit through a single doorway andlight enough to be lifted into the back of a large estate car or MPV People carrier. I wanted to keep away from petrol power due to the crazy rising costs of fuel and I wanted the machine to be able to run in enclosed spaces or even indoors. I also wanted it to be much more quiet than most machines that use a engine. The machine needed to also be able to run for long periods to be able complete the job. When doing the research before setting about designing and building the machine I found out that 99% of all excavators are either petrol or diesel powered. With the engine powered machines you cant run them indoors or in enclosed areas without proper exhaust extraction. The only electric machines that are available run from a 3-phase power supply making them costly and difficult to find a suitable power source. Having a battery-powered machine was soon ruled out due to the size and weight of the batteries needed to provide enough power. Here is the result. 240-volt mains powered super micro mini excavator. This machine only is 600mm wide and only 1000mm long excluding the arm so its small enough to fit through even the smallest doorway. It also only weighs approx. 100kg so 2 people can easily lift the machine into the boot of a large estate car, mpv …

Around 2008 we bought and restored a home in Indiana that sat on an acre and a half of land. We had two small sons at the time. Our septic lines were hard to locate. Some woman from water co. came by and found them with set of dowsing rods. He kept them I assume. We located them! Rods worked. Few weeks prior or 3yr.old was playing army soldiers and continued saying “fire in the hole!” This went on for 2 wks. Friend came by a with backhoe dug up lot and found a cannon ball! It was a historic artifact from our town. Pictures we had taken from that day showed orbs all around hole cannon ball came from. Closet door in hall always seem to be open when you knew you had shut it! Things were moved to different areas alot of times. Son always heard a woman’s voice somewhere else in our house. I was never afraid but my ex seemed to become more and more anxiety ridden and compulsive. I tried to talk with him about it and he never listened. My sons now go their for visitation by court order. I need to know if the dowsing rods could have possibly conjeured up something evil to reside within the home now?

There are many possible noise and hassle issues that can effect a lot or piece of land you’re looking to buy. Here are just two to keep an eye out for…

Buying First in a Subdivision

Purchasing one of the first lots in a brand new subdivision often will get you a pretty good deal, as far as the cost of the lot goes. Before you get too far into the process, ask to see a complete plan of the entire subdivision’s intended build out. Very often, developers will release lots in phases (for example release 50 lots, and then 50 more in the next phase), and you want to see the entire plan, not just the plan for the first or current phase. What you are looking for is the total number of homes that will be built in the future in that entire subdivision. Your lot, and therefore your future home, will be one of the first in the neighborhood. Most likely, for the rest of the construction of that area, every dump truck, lumber yard truck, concrete truck, piece of heavy machinery and backhoe will drive past your driveway, or at least your street, day in and day out. Add to that every car and truck belonging to roofers, electricians, plumbers, framers, cabinet installers, tile guys, carpet guys, trim guys, landscapers, inspectors, future home owners, people looking at lots and homes for sale, real estate agents and a myriad of other subcontractors, and people directly or indirectly in the development process.

This never ending parade of construction traffic and noise may not be confined to a standard Monday to Friday week either. Construction in many developments can occur on Saturdays as well. And even with no construction on Sundays, expect lookers and Real Estate Agents to be driving around your neighborhood.

This is a pro and con type situation. If you find that the development will be somewhat small, and the build out will take a relatively short time, maybe this is something you can deal with. If your home will be one of the first of seven hundred homes, then you are in for a long haul of construction traffic. However, if your lot is removed from the main street in the neighborhood, perhaps you won’t be as affected. Then again, the price point of the lot may outweigh the possible hassle and disruption. A great deal on a good lot and or a new home can take the sting out of having to put up with construction traffic for a while. Consider also that if you hold a typical 9-5 job, you’ll only really have to deal with it first thing in the morning and on your return from work.

Speed Bumps and Stop Signs

While speed bumps and stop signs around your future home can be an advantage in the safety area, they can also be a real annoyance. With a speed bump close to your home site, you may quickly grow tired of the sound of tires bumping over that bump, squeaking brakes and general car noise. Also consider delivery and work trucks banging and clanging each time they go over it.

Stop signs can have the same effect. Each time a car approaches the sign, it’s got to slow down, come to a stop, and then get going again. Not a big deal; however, it does add to the noise level in the area of your home. There is always someone who feels the need to squeal their tires once in a while.

When you are looking at a piece of land you are looking to buy and build on take some time to look for the potential noise issues. Just because it’s quiet and peaceful at one time of the day means nothing!

Home built Northern Tool Wood Splitter. No hands wood splitting.

Recently I needed major work on my home sewer line, which involved digging up the yard with backhoes. Now that the work is done the exposed dirt is settling and we need to fill in some spots. It’ll probably be about one pickup-load of dirt. What’s the best way to find an inexpensive source of low-cost (or free) fill? Or, maybe more to the point, are there particular kinds of sources that I should avoid because of contamination?