Keep these things in mind when looking:
When building a home you will be spending a ton of time with your custom home builder. Like any relationship you want it have the right ingredients that make it a positive experience from start to finish. Preparing to find a home builder is kind of like preparing for a dating relationship. Before you date someone it’s good to have a few things in mind. For example:
- You need to know what you are looking for.
- Have an understanding of their background.
- Determine if you compliment one another.
Know what you are looking for…basically.
When looking for that special someone to build your home, it’s a good idea to have a basic set of criteria or standard that you want to see from the person you enter into a relationship with.
- Take the time to really define what your needs are for your own home so that you can give your builder a better jumping off point to take your vision to the next level.
- Think about the size, style of home, location, price range, and anything else that is really important to you. For example, if you want a green home that will be a huge factor when looking for a builder.
- Think about the surrounding area for you home. What are schools like? What is the shopping like? Do you need certain amenities in the neighborhood?
Find out the builder’s background.
So you found someone you’re interested in! That’s great! The next natural step is to ask around about the person’s character, background, etc. You are essentially trying to see if you and the “object of your affection” have a chance of hitting it off, right? Do the same with your potential builder. Here are some things to look for when researching your builder:
- Find out if their past clients have been happy with their work.
- Get information about their warranty and service programs.
- Look for the history of resale values of their homes.
- Find out if the builder has filed for bankruptcy in the last year.
- Tour the homes of the builders you are interested in to get a feel of their style, construction and quality of what they make.
Go on a coffee date.
When you meet a person you are interested in getting to know more, you usually set up a casual coffee date before jumping into a more serious formal outing to just get a feel for how you get along. You can apply the same thought process with choosing a potential custom builder. When you find a builder you think you might work well with, set up an initial meeting or consultation. During the meeting here are questions you can ask yourself:
- How are you treated once you walk in?
- How do comfortable to you feel?
- Are you being listened to? REALLY listened to?
- Are you being forced into making decisions to fast?
- Do your personalities compliment one another?
- Do they seem not just knowledgeable and professional but do they offer practical wisdom to the situation?
- Do they “get” you? Or do you feel like you are just on two different wavelengths?
Building a custom home is an exciting experience but the process will take time and commitment. Hopefully these tips will get you pointed in the right direction for getting started on a beautiful new relationship with your custom home builder!
