▪ If you are building a new house on a vacant lot, and you will be getting your water from the county or city water supply, then you will need to make arrangements with the municipality to hook into the water main. When the utilities contractor taps the water line for your lot, he will also install a water meter so that you can be charged for the amount of water that is used.

In my county, the home contractor or builder fills out a water meter application at the time of the building permit application. In Dekalb County, Georgia, it costs $1,000 to have the county install a tap and a water meter for a new house.

Here's the problem: the county subs out the water meter installation job to independent contractors who are out to save as much money as possible. This can lead them to cut corners.

The utility contractor who was to install my water meter wanted to use the gravel from my construction site to fill up the hole that he was going to dig. I paid a lot for that gravel, and I need it to line my construction entrance. Additionally, the contractor was going to tear up the sidewalk. He said that it was up to me to repair the sidewalk, but after I questioned him further and asked around, it turns out that it is the contractor's responsibility. This makes sense since the sidewalk is in the county's right of way - it is the county's sidewalk not mine!

Finally, the contractor wanted to leave extra debris left over from the job on my lot. No way! I demanded that he haul it way, so that I wouldn't incur that cost.

The lesson here is: stay on top of the county's independent contractors or they will cut corners at your expense!

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University