The idea of building your own home from scratch is an exciting one. No worries about compromising, or looking at countless houses, hoping to find one that meets as many of your wants and needs as possible. You can have whatever you want. Of the many important decisions you will make in this process, your choice of a builder is one of the first and most crucial. Here are just a few tips for helping you choose the best one for your needs.
What Do You Need?
The first thing to consider when choosing a home builder is your exact needs. Many builders often specialize in a certain style, type of home or price range. Some may specialize in starter homes while others focus on high end abodes for wealthier individuals. Defining the type of house you want will give you a good foundation to start your search.
Experience
Generally speaking, the longer a builder has been around, the better news for someone wanting to build a custom home. But, remember that every company, at one point, had zero houses under their belt. Also , many new companies are often started by people who have a lot of experience in the industry, and is full of seasoned pros. Bottom line, consider experience overall, and especially with the type of home you are looking to have built.
License and Insurance
Not all areas require home builders to be licensed, but it would be a good idea to set this as a base criteria—it just makes good sense. Also check on insurance and that the policies are up to date, when choosing your custom home builder.
Check the Portfolio to Ensure a Good Fit
You want a builder who has experience building the exact type of home you want. If you are after something modern and contemporary, a builder whose entire portfolio consists of traditional homes may not be the best bet to deliver exactly what you want. While the average builder has the knowledge and skills to build a home of any type, it is a good idea to go with one who has at least some experience with the kind of home you want.
Tour Homes
Once you have gathered your list of solid candidates, you need to start checking out their work ‘in the flesh.’ Nothing will help solidify your choice better than actually seeing the houses they built. This might be a model home, or a home built for a past buyer that you see on appointment. Pay close attention to everything you see. How does it look? Is the home made of quality materials? What sort of feel does it have? As you walk through, does it feel like a place you could call home, that feels right to you? Take note of anything that you particularly like and dislike, so you can discuss it with the builder.
This is a huge decision that can seem quite daunting, but if you know what to look for in a builder and what questions to ask, you can make your decision with confidence.
