Purchasing/Estimating
Are you comfortable with using an automated system to build homes?
What experience do you have in construction practices?
What is the most expensive component in a recently built home?
Over how many homes have you overseen the construction?
Do you have experience as a Field Manager?
In your most recent experience, what is the average cost per square feet have you estimated?
Do you have formal negotiating experience?
What is your technique to negotiate price with a vendor?
How important is the vendor in the homebuilding process?
What has been your experience in reviewing costing?
What is your typical timeframe to conduct full trade reviews (monthly, quarterly, yearly)?
Do you have signed contracts from the vendors you now use?
Do you have experience writing a vendor contract?
Do you have experience in conducting material takeoff reviews?
How should material shortages be handled?
What is a variance purchase order (VPO)?
What is a reasonable VPO percentage for a home?
How should VPOs be reviewed (weekly, monthly)?
When should a VPO become a plan take change?
Do you have experience creating individual trade takeoffs? Which trades?
Who should create takeoffs (vendor or homebuilder)?
What is a reasonable profit margin on options? Custom options margins?
Describe the difference between work orders (single bid price) and a purchase order (material takeoff list with individual prices)?
Is there a correlation between VPO and overall job cost?
Do you prefer work orders or purchase orders? Why?
