How To Choose A Home Builder

Building your dream home is something you have always, well, dreamed of. You might even have some of your own sketches along with detailed lists of things you need, things you want and some stuff you would love to incorporate if logistics and budget allow.

But when it comes to building a new home, perhaps the most important thing to think about is the person you hire to build it. So, when it comes to building a new home, how do you choose a home builder?

When you are searching for a home builder, remember to take your time and sort through the many potential candidates. Do your homework so you know the right questions to ask when interviewing potential builders. Choose a builder who also has a professional and reliable staff. Read previous client reviews and feedback. Select a builder who is communicative, transparent and willing to accept feedback and inspections throughout the process.

Don’t let your excitement about building a new home force you into rushing a decision. Before you choose a builder, it is important to take a bit of time to know what is most important.

Additionally, you have to remember there are often lots of builders to choose from, and this can take some time. Below, we have laid out some tips and qualities to consider when you are figuring out how to choose a home builder.

Arguably the most important thing to remember when choosing a home builder is that there are many options out there. Almost everywhere in the world there are a variety of builders to choose from. Take your time to read through the potential candidates before you even pick up the phone. This helps prevent you from being overcharged.

You should reach out to your home builder’s association, as they should be able to provide you with a fairly detailed list of home builders near you. Do your online research as well, to see what building companies are around and respected. Ask friends, families, or even someone you know whose house you love. After all, the best reference you can get is from someone who has a perfect new home.

A person’s word is one thing, but evidence is another. Make sure you are able to get a list of references and some recently completed projects. Visit some of the builder’s recent home builds. Maybe you can even go on a weekend and see one of the previous customers in their yard to ask a question or two.

Positive references, great previous work and good online reviews are all things you should look for when hiring a builder. Negative reviews, bad feedback or lackluster previous construction are all major red flags.

You want to make sure your home builder is a good communicator and good to his or her word. If you have a builder who doesn’t communicate, you can end up with all sorts of issues that you weren’t anticipating. You can also end up with hidden fees and a finished product that is not exactly what you were expecting.

Transparency is also important. Make sure you get what you can in writing. One promising sign is a builder who welcomes inspections throughout the building process. If a builder is happy to have walk-throughs during the process with different home inspectors, then you likely have a confident and transparent builder.

It is important to remember you are not just hiring a builder, but you are also hiring a team. A builder, after all, is only as great as the team he employs. In addition to researching the builder, you should also inquire about his team. This means asking those questions to previous clients and searching for that information in reviews.

You can also ask the builder about his team, and get a feel for whether the team is a random group or a tight knit crew. This is important because you want to make sure everyone working on your home is qualified to do so. You should also feel like you trust everyone who is participating in building the home.

Lastly, remember that you should be weighing cost and quality equally. This means while it is important to look at cost, the price tag cannot be the only thing on your mind when you choose a home builder. Character, quality and reliability are just as important.

Hidden costs are all too common, and usually more likely to occur when you hire someone who is less reliable and not transparent. As well, even if you spend more on a home, you might end up saving, since when you sell the home, you are going to yield more profit. Building a home is not just a project, it’s a major investment. So, make sure you treat it like one.

When you are searching for the perfect home builder, make sure you shop around and find lots of potential candidates. Next, do some homework, so you ask all the right questions and know what the right answers should be. Find out information on your potential builder’s previous projects, and inquire about his building staff. Make sure you choose a builder who is communicative and transparent. And when you are looking for the perfect home builder, remember to dwell not just on the price, but the quality of the work.