Searching for a Custom Home Builder
There are many good custom home builders out there, but what makes the great ones stand out? It’s the leadership and owners. When choosing a builder I suggest considering the following:
Meeting with custom home builders
After having a brief conversation with prospective builders a meeting should be set up at the builders office. Be sure to have a list of questions prepared and if you already have plans for your custom home, bring them along
Some Important information about the builder
- How long as the builder been in business?
- Will they be willing to provide a credit check?
- Are they licensed, and who is the license holder?
- Is the builder only building custom homes?
- Do they contract for any other types of projects?
Builder references
Be sure to ask for references and previously completed projects. Ask to view the projects or set up a meeting or a call with the owners of the referenced completed homes. The owners will relay important information about the way the builder works and if they were satisfied with the process. A great builder will have no trouble asking previous owners for a reference. In fact, most great builders have owners that will go out of their way to meet with you.
Quality Subcontractors
The subcontractors a custom home builder contracts with are highly skilled craftsman that solely focus on custom homes, just as the builder does. They are familiar with costs, quality and completion times. They are the builder’s hand picked team, and the work that you will see on previous projects will stand out. There are no cutting corners and the work is not done until its perfect. That is what custom builders seek out in their trade subcontractors as this directly reflects on them.
Organizational skills
The custom home builder should be highly effective at managing projects and extremely organized.
- Are they prepared for the meeting?
- Can they answer questions right away?
- Do they have written schedules for the projects?
- Is the office clean and organized?
Just like for any other business owner, these are the types of traits to look for. Project management doesn’t have to be difficult if the builder is organized.
Quantity of builds to organization size
A great custom home builder does not “bite of more than he/she can chew.” The builder should take on projects based on what they know they can complete without problems or delays and lack of quality
After getting the proposal
If you’ve narrowed your search down to two builders, which you should, then now its time to compare them. It is extremely important to make sure that each line item in the budget estimate is an “apples to apples” comparison. The builder should not provide a simple lump sum for a custom home. Each line item needs at least a brief description of what is to be provided. For example, the plumbing line item should be clear if the piping is to be PVC or copper.
Your most important decision
If pricing is similar between proposals, and the line items have been reviewed the most important part of the decision in choosing a custom home builder is the relationship that has been developed over the course of this process. It needs to be a good fit. You will be working with this person for up to two years or more in some cases. Make sure you like them, and trust them.
For more information about building your new custom home contact us here, call at 954-496-0762 or email Jared – jared@ubackconstruction.com
