Building Records

Keeping Good Building Records Makes Your Job Easier

Good records make a job easier. A little bit of effort will ensure that important information is always at hand.

Some records are required. Others are just plain useful.

Subcontractor Records

I keep a current data form on every subcontractor I hire. You should too.

You’ll find commercially available manual or computerized forms.

Some of the types of information you should record are:

Mailing address
Physical address
Cell and office phone
Federal tax ID number
Social security number (if no federal ID number)

You’ll need this information for the 1099 tax form you will complete for each subcontractor that you employ. The forms are mailed to the government each January.

Don’t worry if you’re unfamiliar with 1099 forms. You can pick them up at any place that offers tax forms. Each can be filled out in about two minutes.

You can use the same subcontractor data form to record his bid, your payments to him, or anything else about the sub that you want to keep record of.

Construction Data Form

This form should include information about materials that go into the construction of the house. This is important. It is a virtual certainty that you will need some of this information in the future.

Here are some of the specifics I record on each house I build.

You may add to the list anything else you think is relevant.

Brick or siding: Manufacturer, style, color.
Mortar: Manufacturer, color.
Roofing: Manufacturer, style, color
Paint: Manufacturer, grade, color
Carpet, wood, tile, grout: Manufacturer, style, color
Cabinets: Manufacturer, style, color
Plumbing fixtures: Manufacturer, style, color