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An IBTS contractor talks with a homeowner while conducting a design consultation inside a storm-damaged home.

Before construction on your home begins, you will work closely with your case manager, designers, architects and contractors to ensure you are satisfied with the construction plan and that your home is safe, up to code and in compliance with the specific program requirements. Below are tips for what applicants repairing or rebuilding their homes can expect at different phases of the pre-construction process.

Land Surveys

• You do not need to be present during the land survey of your property, but make sure your dogs and other animals are kept inside during the survey.

Geo-Tech Inspection

• You don’t need to be present during the Geo-Tech inspection, but be cognizant that the process involves drilling on your property. Make sure you are fully committed to the rebuilding program at this point; the Geo-Tech can leave lasting damage to existing structures you may wish to keep if you drop out of the program.

Design Consultations

• It can be difficult to gather all of your thoughts about your interior and exterior design needs and wants at the time of the design consultation. If possible, have a written list of your design requests to present designers at the consultation and help gather your thoughts. Designers, along with an architect and contractor, will likely assess your home and ask for your input at the end of the consultation.
• Be flexible and open to suggestions from designers. Updated codes, program constraints and other factors often prevent renovations from returning your home to exactly the way it was before a disaster.

Construction Documents

• Before construction plans for your renovations or rebuild are approved by the city, you will have the chance to review them, ask questions and request changes. Take a day or two to review the carefully documents and make sure you are happy with the plan. If you have changes, ask now; after the plans are approved, you can still request changes but take note that they can slow the application process.