Building a new home is an exciting time in your life and not one to be rushed into. You have taken steps to get to this stage in the game, so it is imperative that you work with a builder that will get the job done. Not just thrown up and finished, either. You are looking for someone that will take pride in their work. A builder that will look at your house as if it were their own.
That sounds like it should be easy because a builder would not be in business if they did not offer all this and more. The truth is, though, that not all builders are the same, and they do not all construct the same quality of homes as each other. It is imperative to take your time and find the perfect builder for your specific project.
Let’s take a look at 6 factors to consider when choosing the right builder to ensure that your new home takes shape exactly the way you had it pictured in your head.
Right Style And Type Of Contractor
One of the first aspects of the building project you need to consider is the type of home you want. Every home builder will have their own style that they excel at. Some of them may even only specialize in one type, such as log home building. It would not benefit you in any way to hire a builder specializing in mansions when all you want is a two-bedroom cottage.
Research all the builders you are considering and see some of their work. If they claim to specialize in the type of home that you want to have built, and their examples show that they do an excellent job in the style you need, then they are at least worth talking to.
Location And Business License
The location of your new home will be within the boundaries of one specific area or town, so if the builder you are talking with wants the job, they will have to be registered and licensed to work in that area. This should not be a problem since you have completed your research and already checked into it, but it never hurts to ask the builder directly.
If they do not have the authority to build in the area you want the home to be in, they will either have to back out of doing the job or they will have to go through the process of getting licensed for the area. The choice will be between the two of you, but make sure you never sign a contract with a builder unless they can legally construct in the location that you have chosen to build in.
Business Insurance Of The Home Builder
You should ask for a copy of their insurance plan along with the business license. Business insurance is something that all legit builders will have, so if they refuse to show it to you, move on to the next option. When looking at the policy, you will want to ensure that it covers your specific build and location and that the maximum payout amounts are above the value of your completed home.
This is important because if something goes wrong, whether because of their work or one of their employees, you want to make sure that they will fix the problem. Most of the time, a builder will not want to file a claim, so if something is incorrect and you catch it early enough, they will fix it without any hassles.
Financial Aspects Of The Home Build
Whether you have gotten approved to build through a lender or you have a substantial amount of money saved up for the expenses, you will have a set budget. That budget will have to be followed exactly; otherwise, you may run out of money and not be able to finish construction.
You need to get some bids from several builders in the area and compare them. The first thing that you will need to do is throw the ones that are over your budget into a garbage pile. The ones under your budget will range from the high end of the curve to lower amounts. Never go with the lowest or highest bid; the one in the middle will almost always be your best bet. But do the research to make sure before finalizing a contract.
Reputation And Reviews
Take the time to go online and check out the builders on your list of possibilities. You want to go through some of the reviews posted on their personal website and ones that are scattered around the web. You can always bet that some customers will not be happy with the work they received but dig into the details of why. It may be something simple that the contractor had no control over, so do not immediately rule them out.
You also need to keep in mind that people can be paid to write good reviews, so the ones that are all praises may not be reliable sources for your research. The reviews that fall in the middle of the postings will usually be the most honest ones and the ones that you can use to base your decision on.
Personality And Professionalism
While going through the prospective builders and talking to them to find out more details, you should have noticed how professional they were. The other aspect of that is their personality. If they are happy, positive, and energetic, they will be a much better fit for your project than someone negative and unsure of themselves. If you have not talked to the actual builder, it is time to do that before signing on the dotted line.
The office people may be happy and professional, but that is what they are trained to do, so go ahead and continue chatting with them, but the builder is the one you will see every day, so make sure they fall in line with the type of person that you want to work with throughout the project.
Final Thoughts
There is nothing more important in your life than the place you live. Most people who build their own homes are planning on staying in it for the rest of their lives and even being able to pass it on to their children or relatives when they are gone. The only way this can happen is to work with a good, reputable home builder from the start. So do the legwork, find the perfect home builder for you and your project, and sit back and watch as your dream comes to life.