Builder Qualifications Here are some questions to ask before selecting a custom builder: 1. Does the contractor provide a list of satisfied customers? You will be provided with a complete list of Fred Zumpano's past projects. You may contact any customer to discuss their satisfaction with their new home. 2. Does the contractor have experience in building the type of home you want? Has the contractor built a similar home of similar quality? A true custom builder is comfortable with unique designs, never to be duplicated. A production builder's model home, adjusted to fit your land, may not be a comfortable fit for you. High end, one of a kind custom homes are our specialty, and your best results are with a contractor who is familiar with the products and features of today's luxury homes. Fred Zumpano has selected, over many years, employees and subcontractors who are highly skilled and possess the ability to complete a finely crafted home. When choosing a custom builder, carefully match the type of home you desire to the type of home in which the company has expertise building. Fred Zumpano specializes in one type of home, and does not accept projects that do not meet our standards of quality. During the past decade, our clients' homes average 4,000 square feet. 3. What is the contractor's primary field of expertise? Does the contractor have the ability to assemble a quality group of tradespeople to work on your project? Are they experienced in working with architects, interior decorators, engineers and the like? This person will be your primary source of information during the life of your project. Select this professional as you would your family doctor or lawyer. 4. Is the contractor financially sound? How long has the contractor been in business under the same name? Are local banks familiar with the contractor? Does your bank's construction loan department have a good opinion of the contractor? Local building material suppliers often provide excellent information about area contractors. Fred Zumpano Design & Construction began building in 1956. Fred Zumpano's father built several hundred homes in the Greater Akron area during the next two decades and began a business that is still today financially secure and respected by area lenders and major building suppliers. We have been in our present offices since 1986, and have owned our own office, in the same neighborhood, since 1966. 5. How many homes per year does the contractor build? Will your home be one of a dozen, or two dozen? How busy is the contractor at the present time? Does the builder offer a weekly meeting, or do you become fast tracked across their schedule board? By limiting the number of homes per year, your project becomes an important part of Fred Zumpano's building enterprise. In busy building cycles, there are a limited number of quality tradespeople available. Too many projects will lead to decline in quality, or force a builder to seek out subs he is not familiar with. There may be a waiting period at the beginning, but several months is small time to wait in respect to decades of home ownership.

A cedar and stone A-Frame features an all-glass expanse of custom Pella windows, taking full advantage of one of the finest panoramic view in all of Portage Lakes. 6. Is the contractor a "quality" builder? There's never been a builder that advertises "poor" or "mediocre" quality. All builders, regardless of cost, represent themselves to be quality builders. How does a client differentiate what is true quality? We specify fine products, like Pella or Andersen windows. We use plywood, not composite or strand board, for our floors, walls and roofs. We use 2 x 12 for headers throughout the home (not just at the bearing walls) and specify douglas fir for floor joists. We try to use products that have stood the test of time. Foundations are backfilled with gravel and footings contain steel rebar. All of these items are above the typical standards found in homes that cost $500,000 and more. Your home will be built to give you many worry free years of ownership. Another quality indicator is a contractor's willingness to successfully construct complex features. We have included curved stairways, indoor swimming pools, hideaway rooms, radiant heating and other memorable features over the years. Perhaps the most important characteristic is the commitment to recognize mistakes during the building process, correct them, and stand behind any problems that happen at a later date. 7. With whom will I be in contact? The personality of the primary contact person is critical. You'll be spending a great deal of time with this person for many months. Is the person selling you the home the one you'll be dealing with on a daily basis? 8. How important is cost? Better building materials cost more--but last longer. Better subcontractors cost more--but you'll have fewer problems during the construction period and professionals who will be around to service your new home. Cost per square foot is dependent upon the size of the home (larger is usually less), the complexity of the home, the detailing and level of finishes, and site conditions. Every home should be individually and completely priced, not priced by the square foot. Before construction begins, you will be provided with a detailed cost report that clearly lists all of the costs for the complete home, from the blueprints to the final landscaping. Also included in this list is the profit and overhead for construction services. You will have complete control over the budget. In regards to allowances and suppliers, our builder's discounted price will be your price. Any rebates or discounts are passed along to you. 9. Can I make changes during construction? A true custom builder should be responsive to your wishes throughout the building process. A production, or semi-custom builder, will attempt to force you into a schedule that best accommodates the builder, not the homeowner. Our focus is to assist you in making good decisions while your home is being built. We schedule regular meetings to discuss upcoming construction events, and expect you to make changes during the process. You pay the difference in the actual cost of the item, and are not penalized by being unfairly charged for changing your mind.