You’ve decided to build your dream home. You’ve been spending hours looking at floor plans, picking out home decor, and pouring over websites like HOUZZ and HGTV. Now it’s time to find the team that is going to make your vision a reality.
While some would caution you against talking to a custom home builder too early in the process, it’s really never too early to talk to a builder. By talking to a custom home builder earlier on in the process, you can gain a better understanding of expectations and what it’s like to actually build a custom home. Instead of picking out all of the details for your home before you’ve even broken ground, it makes more sense to hire a builder. But, how exactly do you hire a custom home builder? What should you be on the lookout for?
Here are tips on how to hire a custom home builder and what you need to look for.
Look for a custom home builder with experience to build your dream home.
Not every custom home builder comes to the table with the same type of experience. And, while it’s true that you have to start somewhere, you don’t want to hire a custom home builder who has never taken on a full home building project. A seasoned custom home builder has more understanding of what really goes into this type of endeavor. They’ll be able to budget costs, create more accurate timelines, and have vetted subcontractors who perform quality work. Hiring an inexperienced custom home builder can result in project delays, unexpected costs, and a home that you don’t absolutely love. Remember, you’re looking to build your dream home. Hiring just any custom home builder doesn’t make sense. Instead, hire one that has the experience you need.
Make sure you understand the builder’s process from starting the project to handing over the keys.
Every home builder has a different approach to the custom home building process. Some look for your involvement during every single step of the process. Others prefer their clients to stand back and simply watch as their house comes to life. While neither process is right or wrong, you want to make sure it matches what you’re looking for. Before hiring a custom home builder, make sure you ask about their building process. If you want to visit the construction site on a daily basis, then you should be able to. If you want a phone call every time a decision about the home needs to be made, then you should get one. Ask about these types of things when hiring a custom home builder. It’s really the only way you can make sure your builder’s process matches with your needs and wants.
Find a builder that will work with the plans you have or have suggestions for your home layout.
Some custom home builders only work with a set number of plans. If that works for you, then great! There’s certainly nothing wrong with that method, but for a truly custom home you’ll probably already have plans in mind when you contact a custom home builder. It’s important to find a builder who is willing to work with the plans you have to create that custom look. If you have multiple floor plans in mind and can’t decide between them, then you’ll want to find a builder who can design plans you love. They’ll ask what you specifically like and don’t like about each set of plans and then take those ideas to the drawing board. The result is a unique, custom home that fits your needs, styles, and personality.
Understand how change orders are handled before you sign a contract with the builder.
While in the process of building your custom home, you’ll likely change your mind about one or multiple details. Maybe you picked out a style of cabinet early on in the process, but as your kitchen is coming together, you decide that those cabinets just aren’t right. So, you go looking for new cabinets and find some that are absolutely perfect. Here’s the catch, though: they’re more expensive. The new cabinets, since they cost more, are going to require a change order. This is something that almost every custom home builder deals with, but you need to understand how they deal with it before hiring. Asking a question like, “if I decide on different kitchen cabinets after seeing my kitchen, what’s the process like for switching them out?”. The builder should explain if there will be a time delay, cost associated with the change, and how the change is handled.
Be sure to clarify the timeline of your custom home building project.
Timelines are tricky when building a custom home. While some aspects of the project are easy to estimate other aspects are more difficult. Typically speaking, a custom home builder works with subcontractors to complete a project, so they have to estimate the time it will take for crews to begin work and much of the process can’t be started until another part of the process is complete. All of this, not to mention weather conditions, make estimating a timeline difficult and tedious. When you ask about the timeline, be sure the the home builder you hire explains their process for building out the timeline and make sure they provide you with a reasonable timeline that fits your expectations. If the timeline seems too short or too long, ask why that’s the case and what happens if it takes longer than they are projecting.
Hire a custom home builder who is willing to work with your design team to complete the project.
If you have a home designer or interior designer you’re working with, then you’ll want to make sure you hire a custom home builder who works with their customer’s design teams. Some builders have their own design team, so they won’t actually work with outside design firms. If this is an issue for you, then you’ll want to make sure you hire a builder who will work with your team. If it’s not an issue, then take full advantage of the builder’s internal design team. Whichever route you choose, you’ll still end up with the custom home of your dreams. It really just comes down to what you’re looking for in terms of the design process.
Hiring a custom home builder isn’t a task that you should undertake lightly. It’s a big decision because they’re going to be building your dream home. You need to make sure the builder you hire explains their process, includes you in what you want to be included in, and partners with you to create your dream home.
If you’re ready to sit down with custom home builders and talk about your ideas and inspiration, then the builders at Hamilton Homes would love to talk! Contact us and we’ll schedule a meeting.
