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How to Evaluate a Home Builder
When you’re in the market for a new home, you may find yourself overwhelmed with the options. It’s a big decision and you want to be as informed as possible. You want to be sure that you are buying a quality home from a professional builder.
This may be the biggest financial decision of your life. There is no reason to settle for a builder that won’t give you the best home buying experience.
Questions to Ask When Evaluating a Home Builder
You may have a list of potential builders you are considering for your home. Now is when you start asking lots of questions to the potential builder.
- Will the builder provide references of recent buyers?
- What are the options for the different types of floor plans?
- Can the basement be left unfinished?
- What can be customized beyond the standard options?
- Are there any additional fees for the home or neighborhood?
- Is there an HOA fee?
- Is there a warranty program with the house? What type of warranty?
- Does the price include landscaping?
- What are the estimated property taxes?
- Are there any restrictive covenants?
- Can appliances be upgraded?
- Are there any major developments planned or big changes in the pipeline for the area in the next five years?
If you can get the answer to your question in writing, that is even better. An experienced home builder should be ready to answer every tricky question clearly.
By talking to previous customers, you will get a good idea of how the home builder treated them. You can drive by the builder’s subdivision and ask a property owner outside about their experience with the builder. You can tell them you’re considering buying from the builder. Ask them if they were to buy another home if they would use this builder. Ask them if they have any issues. You can also see customer reviews online if you don’t want to talk in person.
You’re Looking For A Builder Who Shares Your Vision
It’s important to find a builder with whom you feel like a partner. Someone who understands your vision and also gives you ideas and information to improve it. You want a builder who is invested in service with a personal touch.
If the builder is not interested in setting apart ample time to get to know you and to gain your trust, then they are not the builder for you. It’s important to meet with them and learn how they communicate and build that trust before hiring them to be your builder.
Look For Transparency
If a builder can’t answer your questions clearly, they’re not the team for the job. Every detail of the home and process should be transparent. This means you are educated on the quality of the materials as well as any third-party contractors that will work on the home.
You also need transparency on the timeline for when the home will be built. You should be given a reasonable timeline and what to expect at each step of the planning, developing, and building phase. Transparency is the key to making an informed decision.
Look For Quality
You are looking for the highest-quality home within your project budget. Homebuilders will sacrifice quality to keep their builder prices competitive. It’s important to shop for quality and value within your price range.
Some builders will use lower quality materials and less experienced construction crews. You have to look for these quality cuts when evaluating the quality of construction. You can be sure it won’t be advertised.
Look for a home builder with a good reputation for quality workmanship. If they have a reputation for quality they will be confident in whatever their clients would say about them.
When you are comparing bids from builders, make sure they have these things in common:
- level of finishes and selections quality
- quality materials and construction crews
- timeline for planning and construction
- accountability and responsibility that is required after the home is built
- predetermined work agreement
Look For Education
If you have never built a home before, it can be a confusing process. A professional home builder should be prepared to educate their clients on the whole building process. They should be confident and ready to explain in detail how their company will handle the project step by step. They should help you set realistic expectations and explain any cost changes that result from every decision.
Home Builder’s Warranty and Pricing Guarantee
If a company is confident in their work, they will provide a warranty. At Designer Homes, we also provide you with a pricing guarantee. Our quotes are an accurate price estimation. Once you have chosen your plan, we give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you won’t have any surprise changes in the cost.
Designer Homes takes you through the process and makes sure you understand the conditions surrounding the purchase price. We know that the more information we can give you, the more confident you will be while your home is being built.
BuilderTrend for Stress-Free Communication
We use the best software to help keep you informed and to put communication with a dedicated project manager all in one place. With BuilderTrend, there is less confusion and fewer questions left unanswered. We share daily and weekly progress with photos. You get a clear representation of where your home is in the building process. You also have access to all of the information on pricing so there aren’t any surprises at the end of the construction process.
We offer outstanding client service with a transparent client portfolio. We know that the building process is all about the people that we are building for. Reach out to us today so that we can talk to you about your vision. We just might be the perfect partner to bring it to life.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”View available lots awaiting your Dream Home!” color=”danger” align=”center” link=”url:%2Four-communities%2F|title:Our%20Communities||”][vc_btn title=”Back” color=”inverse” align=”center” link=”url:%2Fblog%2F|title:Designer%20Homes%20Blog||”][/vc_column][/vc_row]