What Questions Should I Ask When Searching For A Builder?
Whether you are building a condo, a townhouse, a house in a subdivision or a custom-built house, you want to know that you are buying a good quality home from a reputable builder. Constructing a new house involves dozens of steps, so it’s important to find custom home builders you can trust to bring your vision to life, as well as keep the process under control from start to finish. And, a professional builder or sales representative should go above and beyond to answer questions that could potentially make you a happy and satisfied home owner.
What do new home custom home builders do?
The job of home builders who also act as developers begins much sooner than the start of construction. They rely heavily on local market research to determine the demand and price points of homesites in the market, as well as performing land surveys on which the house will be built to make sure it is suitable for construction. Custom builders are also required to purchase the necessary building permits.
In addition, a custom home builder must supervise subcontractors, stay abreast on county zoning regulations, building codes and other legalities, perform routine inspections to reduce problems along the way and oversee dozens of other important roles that are essential in building a quality house.
Lastly, builders are responsible for ensuring that the project stays on track as closely as possible to the timeline and approved budget. Being readily available and consistent about returning phone calls is a must. Home builders also need exceptional interpersonal skills to manage clients of all personality types. When it comes time to negotiate conflicts and resolve problems, you’ll want a home builder who maintains composure and acts professional at all times.
Besides the questions of “How much does it cost?,” and “When can we move in?,” here are some other questions you should ask:
How long have you been in the home building business?
Can you provide a list of references?
Are you and your employees licensed and insured?
What license(s) do you have?
How do you charge, and what does that include?
What common clauses are in your contracts?
How will I be charged for parts and materials?
What are the estimated taxes on the property?
Do you offer a warranty?
What is your policy for change orders?
What happens when the cost exceeds the budget?
What about changes to materials or labor pricing?
Are all of your homes six star energy efficient certified?
How much landscaping comes with each home you build?
