topic Re: Houses Under Construction in Community Chat

Houses Under Construction

lolakimono — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:10:15 GMT

I saw this topic posted in one of my FB groups.

The couple is building a house. When they went to "check up" on the progress of the build (still in early stages) they found clumps of mud and kid sized shoeprints throughout. It is in the stage where there are no doors, so there is nothing to lock up.

They were concerned because of liability due to the open floors (fall through to the basement) and the "vandalism" done to the property.

There seemed to be several camps on this:

contact the parents and the children should be disciplined
call the police- it's trespassing
"kids will be kids" and this is a "normal" part of childhood
the people building were also trespassing, as technically the builder owns the property until closing

What do you think?

Did you ever explore a house under construction as a kid?

Were you ever building a house and found out that others had been inside of your house?

Re: Houses Under Construction

Kachina624 — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:15:48 GMT

I'd find something else to worry about. There's real nothing the future homeowner can do about it. The police aren't going to come and guard the house. The future homeowners are not libel for anything that happens there; it's the builder's responsibility.

Re: Houses Under Construction

Desert Lily — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:18:26 GMT

I only looked at houses that were under construction for our family and never went in too early. When we were kids, my brother & his friend checked out a house under construction. His friend fell into the open basement. My brother ran home so my parents could call the fire department for help. His friend had a broken leg.

I was in an Architecture program before we had to move for my husband's job. We were also building a custom house at that time. The classes gave me a little more understanding of what our house would look like, but there's nothing like having a home completed. We sold it and never lived in it.

Re: Houses Under Construction

kaydee50 — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:13:23 GMT

I wouldn't be too concerned about it either. Until you take possession of the property it is the builder's responsibility. If he's reputable, he should have insurance to cover any eventualities.

Re: Houses Under Construction

Bri369 — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:22:10 GMT

Isn't construction fencing required for new builds?

Re: Houses Under Construction

Janey2 — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:28:09 GMT

in my area fencing is required for new builds.

Re: Houses Under Construction

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:31:41 GMT

At a residential building site about a mile from my home, the first thing that was erected was a tall (looks to be 8'), gated, padlocked chain-link fence on the perimeter of the property. Then the framing of the residence began. It looks to be quite a large house with an attached wing for 3 garages. I'm guessing the fence was temporarily installed to deter tresspassers during construction. There is a sign on the fence reading "Leased and installed by" a local fence company.

Re: Houses Under Construction

millieshops — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:36:38 GMT

If the builder gives the buyers permission to enter to follow the progress, I doubt a trespass charge would hold up.

Re: Houses Under Construction

jackthebear — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:37:03 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I'd find something else to worry about. There's real nothing the future homeowner can do about it. The police aren't going to come and guard the house. The future homeowners are not libel for anything that happens there; it's the builder's responsibility.

incumbent of the future homeowner to check with the builder not to ass u me

so I would be concerned

Re: Houses Under Construction

Kachina624 — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:38:37 GMT

Ive seen fencing around commercial builds, never around a residential property. What would the do if building a whole subdivision?

Re: Houses Under Construction

Bri369 — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:41:28 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Ive seen fencing around commercial builds, never around a residential property. What would the do if building a whole subdivision?

The whole site would be blocked off

Re: Houses Under Construction

Kachina624 — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:42:26 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
I'd find something else to worry about. There's real nothing the future homeowner can do about it. The police aren't going to come and guard the house. The future homeowners are not libel for anything that happens there; it's the builder's responsibility.
incumbent of the future homeowner to check with the builder not to ass u me
so I would be concerned

@jackthebear Since you don't own the property until the house is completed and you have closing, why be concerned about something someone else owns?

Re: Houses Under Construction

jackthebear — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:47:05 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:

@jackthebear wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
I'd find something else to worry about. There's real nothing the future homeowner can do about it. The police aren't going to come and guard the house. The future homeowners are not libel for anything that happens there; it's the builder's responsibility.
incumbent of the future homeowner to check with the builder not to ass u me
so I would be concerned
@jackthebear Since you don't own the property until the house is completed and you have closing, why be concerned about something someone else owns?

because people are litigious and if their darling gets a splinter they'd want to sue anyone on the paperwork

never mind if little darling is a terror

and this I would hope that my builder is attentive to safety and details which will show on my finished product

Re: Houses Under Construction

CelticCrafter — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:45:52 GMT

The only time I see fencing up around new construction is when it's a commercial build site. I never see it around residential building.

Re: Houses Under Construction

happycat — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:48:09 GMT

If I were the homeowner, I wouldn't like it a bit. I always lived in rural areas, we honestly never had any new homes being built anywhere where we lived.

I'd be worried if I were the homeowner because of personal liability if these kids get hurt.

Our home sits back off the road, and as soon as we bought the property where it sits, we kept the gate locked. We had a rent house close by and I'd run up here and unlock the gate when I knew we were going to have workers.

Re: Houses Under Construction

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:53:58 GMT

Not in my area.

Re: Houses Under Construction

Still Raining — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:44:47 GMT

Back in the day, no one seemed to notice kids 🤣

When they were moving in we did get in trouble for racing under the truck joint 😂

Good times!

Re: Houses Under Construction

Sooner — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:53:44 GMT

I would be concerned, I would check with the builder, and I might also give my lawyer a quick call. Actually, yes I would. Don't like the idea of kids roaming around the site.

In today's crazy world you simply cannot be to cautious or assume anything.

Re: Houses Under Construction

Desertdi — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:55:34 GMT

Didn't EVERYONE play at construction sites? I have plenty of scars....

Re: Houses Under Construction

proudlyfromNJ — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:59:33 GMT

@Desertdi wrote:
Didn't EVERYONE play at construction sites? I have plenty of scars....

@Desertdi No. I didn't live around any.