The Journey - Foundation Block Work Started & Forms Come Off - Episode 38 

No alcohol allowed on job site and that only opens up more problems or risks for some one falling on the job due to being intoxicated. Power tools and alcohol, don't mix either.

Thanks. You're still 2 videos behind though based on you're now only seeing this one :) At the time of typing this, latest video was at Episode 40

Advice is one of the few things, if you get the right kind, it could save you a whole lot of trouble in the long run or save you a ton of money too. I’m not sure where you are building or what kind of structure you’re working on but I’ll leave you with a few key pointers I learnt through-out the process and which have saved me a lot of money and time. 1) Don’t start without doing some kind of prep work yourself. If you have it in your means to hire people to do work for you, sure, you can go that route but they are not going to take into account what you really need at the end of the day. Have a list of stuff you sure you want onsite before you start if there is space there you can place it. You will waste a lot of time going to get or looking for stuff once the process starts; in some case, there may not be any available at that time so, plan ahead. Time is MONEY!! 2) If you are building on a hill, don’t remove any dirt off the site. You will need this dirt later so pile it up somewhere out of the way for later. You will need it. If your builder is insisting that you get rid of it, it will cost you money later buying some back if you don’t have anymore for backfilling later. 3) Don’t be afraid to fire someone if they are not meeting up to your expectation. I had to fire 2 persons at this stage after trying to find ways not to do it but in the long run, it was best for the project to move along without them. Follow your instinct but every situation is a little different. 4) Buy in bulk if you can at places like Home Depot (Puerto Rico have stores) or Lowe’s Pro Desk areas as they will give you the best prices. If you are exporting the items, there are no sales taxes and they will pack and deliver the items to your shipper. Focus on the large items like electrical conduits, plumbing pipes, lumber, plywood, nails, etc. Look at the local prices if you are in the Caribbean and then compare buying and shipping and see if the savings is there. Just as an example for myself, for my 1st set of buying 29 bundles of steel rebars, I saved $16k from not buying them locally. So, the extra efforts do work in your favor if you put the time into it. Another $14K was saved on buying electrical conduits and pluming pipes. Numbers do not lie!!! 5) Always be sure of what you want even if you have heard a convincing conversation that it should be different. Remember, this is your project and your money is being spent to have these folks build your dream. As long as you’re not making an unrealistic request, push on. 6) Renting verse buying. Here is an example: Initially I had rented some shore props to help with the cistern build after buying 60 of my own. I think there was another 120 or more rented on top of what I had. Now, they will tell you it just like $4 or $7 a day for each but you will have to do the math cause you need to keep these things at least 10 days to support the structure. Long story short, I went ahead and bought another 100 shore props to do my casting for the initial roof and I will save $3K for each floor just owning my own. With a total saving of over $12k by the time I hit the roof. It might be an upfront cost to spend $3K but the saving outperforms the cost and once you are done you could sell or rent them yourself. These items are always in demand used, or people trying to buy. 7) I got myself a bending machine (also with cutter) and also a separate rebar cutting machine. This saves a lot of time and effort cutting and shaping the steel rebar and the team is experiencing no physical effort other then moving the rebar. In fact, this is machine they praise all the time for having and what it will do is reduce have a workman on site just doing this kind of work. These devices paid for themselves on the 1st day and you can also sell or rent once you’re done with your project but again, there is an upfront cost. Renting will cost your more in the long run instead of owning it. Doing things the old school way bending by hand is going to slow things down and you will need a bigger crew. 8) Always be 4 steps ahead of your builder and keep in contact with this person to know what’s going on. Especially if they are having trouble finding stuff needed to continue the work. Remember, Time is MONEY!!

@@thejourney-buildinginthebv4981 These are invaluable pieces of advice that I will surely take. I appreciate you taking the time to do this. I am actually building on Tortola, two hills over from you. Spring Ghut, but towards the tail end of it over Parry side. My project is smaller than yours but the principles still apply. The tip about the dirt is so true I already had to do some backfilling and thank God I had enough material onsite. Once again thank you. PS. I wouldn't mind linking up and I can show you my project if you want to see the work site.

Glad I could help. I'm not on Tola full time but should be arriving shortly. When I'm there it's usually to do a walkthrough or that some stuff coming in that I want to make sure clears on time through customs properly or to handle myself. One of nephew is my person on the ground most of the time. As for my next arrival, still working out the logistics for my next onsite visit. The earliest is probably within the next month but I manage this whole project from Florida.

@@thejourney-buildinginthebv4981 OK cool. That must be a monumental task managing your project from Florida. I am willing to give you some drone footage for your videos the next you are back on island on the house for your great advice.

Project is not as hard to manage as you think from here but I do point out mistakes they make from looking from all the way up here. Already found 2 mistakes in the last big pour last week but they can be easily corrected. 30 pallets of blocks should be there this week; my source can't seem to confirm the exact date but they already have my $$. Anyway, another 22 pallets set to arrive 2 weeks after. Placing that order on Monday morning. Site can't hold everything so you have to delay when those should arrive. This is me being 4 steps ahead of the builder as they usually only tell you the very minute they need something. I have a drone here still in the box and will be walking with it on the next trip. This RU-vid thing is just a hobby when one of my nephew had dared me to do it. If you see a vehicle there on site on a weekend, it's most likely that is me (rental) there or my electrician doing some work.

Yes, if you can get your material from Puerto Rico or USA, get them. Puerto Rico didn't had them when I tried at the time so I got from Florida which was more expensive in shipping. Tropical doesn't let you know the cost until you actually deliver the items and they are enroute to the destination, thus, you can't change your mind. Bill of Quantity process in the BVI is a rip off but yes, some folks start at $1500. Most of them just copy and paste the stuff and don't do any calculations.

So let me ask do u have to travel to Puerto Rico to get materials an get them or can u do it online

I do not travel to Puerto Rico. I have my contacts in Puerto Rico for items if I need like lumber, steel rebar, plywood etc. and I do everything over the phone or with just a text. I usually get a quote in less than a hour of what I need and then decide if I want to buy then or later. Once you establishment a good payment history with them, the rest goes easy. Also since exporting , there is also no sales tax like the mainland USA. You can not buy anything without a credit card, copy of your license or ID the 1st time you make a purchase.

@@thejourney-buildinginthebv4981 so you can't use cash like debit if u have the money? Everything credit?

As far as getting proper documentation to receive you imported items where do you apply for that.. and can you apply online or do you have to go to the shipment place where you receive your shipment and apply