How To Choose A Custom Home Builder – Down To Brass Tacks

Everyone expects to have a good, exciting and comfortable experience when building their new custom home. A good experience is subjective and you need to find a home builder that meets your definition of it. Choosing a bad custom home builder can be disastrous at worst. It is important to note that no one is going to tell you the truth if they offer bad quality service or have a bad reputation. You need to consider the following factors and decide for yourself.
References And Recommendations
Find out what kind of relationship different home builders have with their suppliers, their financiers, subcontractors and clients. If a company doesn’t have a good relationship with any of them, they are probably going to have a problem with you too. It is important to know what the cause of the bad relationship. If a company has the reputation of disappointing others, it will disappoint you too. Do not just rely on the reference customers that a company provides. They are obviously going to give you the good ones. Conduct your own research and read reviews. Word of mouth is probably the most reliable way of learning about a company. If you have friends or family in real estate professions, ask them for recommendations.
Warranty
Find out what warranty they offer, how specific it is, how fast do they respond and what it covers. Talk to your reference clients and find out what experience they had with their call-backs, service and warranty issues.
Quality
You are probably going to spend the rest of your life in your new home. Doesn’t it, then, make sense to ensure that it is the best quality? With good quality, you will not have to worry about structural repairs which may be difficult and costly. Your custom home builder should be able to assure you of a solid foundation and high quality products for everything including framing and countertops. They should not settle for low quality material just to cut on costs. Look at a few homes that they have built. You may also try to find out the experiences of other homeowners by asking them or reading online reviews. Pay attention to the features that are most important to you.
Transparency
You should always be able to ask questions and get honest, clear answers. They should not lie about timeline and estimate. If they lie about that or their relationship with contractors and suppliers, or they appear unwilling to answer, then they are not a good fit. A good builder should not only be willing and able to answer your questions. They should encourage you to seek clarifications. They should not set unrealistic timelines just to impress you. They should be able to explain how they intend to complete a project in the time the say they will.
Communication
The communication style of a builder determines whether or not you will be able to connect and work well together. A good builder should always go out of their way to hear you out. They should be able to understand your goals and answer any questions. They should not take too long to respond to your issues.
Accreditation
Find out the associations and accreditations of a home builder before settling for them. Ask if they have received any special accreditations and awards. You can always find good builders in your local associations.
Types Of Homes
Most custom home builders specialize in certain homes and locations for a specified price range. Look at the homes a company has built in the past and decide whether or not you like them. Even if you like them, make sure they are within your budget limits.