Can anyone give me some advice on what I should do with the builders "designer". I am building a home long distance and the so called designer is no help!! I have done all the research for the products that I want and when I email or phone her she never returns my messages. Even the salesperson has problems with her returning calls. I've been told that there would be a charge for changes after construction starts but I haven't been able to contact her. The funny thing is that she gets a percentage of my upgrades and she hasn't earned it. Should I call the builder and complain about this? Don't want to get anyone in trouble but, this is just frustrating...

This is your home. By all means, speak with the builder about the situtation. Maybe you can hire a designer near you that you can relate to and communicate with and forward the plans to the builder. The builder should give the designer the information he needs such as his normal standards and the like. You should not tolerate an unresponsive designer.

Don, Thanks for your advise. She finally called back... When I told her what I had decided she told me that ir would be a $350.00 change order fee. Now I tell you how can it be a change fee when the permits haven't been pulled yet.

Based on what you're telling us, it sounds like you need to take a cue from The Donald. Give your designer a call and simply say, "You're fired!"

Unfortunately, with this kind of slacker you'll probably need a lawyer to help make sure she doesn't try to stick you for the whole bill. Sounds kinda like she was planning on doing zero work for the money anyway.

You defintely need to have a talke with your Builder -- Unless you've signed a contract, you shouldn't be locked into an unresponsive designer- Is she doing your Specifications? Was this a case of a list of "standards" and anything else are "changes"? I wouldn't go a step further without the Builder knowing how I feel and the way you have been treated.--(from a Designer)-

I agree with Siber. Its so important to communicate with your builder. Im sure there are other clients of the builder being treated the same way. Its also possible that she just doesnt know how to handle long distance work and will simply not admit that this job is out of her league. Also by the sound of your post it seems as if there were no original selections made so how can there be a change order charge? It sounds like something was mis quoted and shes covering her.......umm you know what I mean.
Christy

If you have done the research and made your choices, why do you require the services of a designer?

New to this. Hired a Maricopa (Phoenix0 designer to build in Yavapai County (all my contractors from latter). He has intentionally not returned calls to our truss manufacturer who needs certain plan elements to complete truss design and have it stamped to meet compliance with county. Now I had to cancel pre-construction meet in AZ with contractors/suppliers and construction upsrart delaye maybe two months more! Am ready to move, now will delay. By the time construction starts will have to build under NEW code and need costly upgrade of plans to new code. Contract stated according to 2003 (old) code design criteria. Who should pay for dragging their feet when all the specifications were submitted and some contractors were ignored by designer?

Why does no one realize that the way to avoid such problems is to retain the services of an architect/home designer who will be working for YOU and ONLY you?