The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) will soon be launching a Home Builders Roadmap, which will provide a wide range of guidance for people as they build their homes.
Consumer Affairs Officer (ag) Rusante Perry noted that the initiative was started after discovering that substandard services affect many people during construction.
“It’s a house builders map to guide people on building processes, because a lot of people want to build but they literally have no idea what to do. Our roadmap quoted that you were acquiring land up to construction, ”DPI quoted Ms.
He added that the document could be kept easily accessible and will save people time and money while protecting them from poor work.
Ms Perry said the document contained six stages; acquiring the land, consulting an architect, approving the scheme, selecting a contractor, securing funding and the construction process.
“We will also provide tips in the construction process, what to look out for, how to ensure you receive value for money in the construction process and we have collaborated with GNBS (Guyana’s National Standards Office). So for building-related standards, we want it to be highlighted on the roadmap so that people can always refer to those standards to make sure that whatever they buy, it meets those criteria, ”said the consumer affairs officer.
He added that the large number of complaints received about poor work by contractors was the main reason why the road map had been developed.
“Because of a lack of information, people were being fooled,” said Ms. Perry.
The roadmap was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Water, the Guyana Institute of Architects, the Mayor and City Council, Neighborhood Democratic Councils and consultations with legitimate contractors, commercial banks and Insurance Companies.
The ‘Roadmap’ will be officially launched on December 29, and will be available on the Commission’s website at ccac.gov.gy or people can pick up a copy of the handbook at the ADEW office, Sophia Exhibition Complex.