Building a new home is one of the most exciting times in your life, and
it also represents a big financial investment. There are hundreds of
home builders out there so how do you know which one to choose? And
since you are interested in choosing a custom home builder, your
decision is a bit different than that of someone who is selecting a spec
home builder. A good place to start the decision making process is to
define "What is a custom home builder?" Then once you are clear on what a
custom home builder can do for you, you can move forward in the
selection process.
A custom home builder is just what the name implies: A home construction
expert that specializes in building homes that are customized to your
specific requirements. You will have a lot of advantages working with a
custom home builder vs. buying a spec home that's already built. You
will get to select the floor plan and customize it to meet your needs,
right down to the countertops and the drawer pulls. Your custom home
builder will help you with site inspection and selection, choosing and
customizing your floor plan, and more. A reliable custom home builder is
a professional that you can count on to guide you through every stage
of the home building process right up until your move in day.
So how do you choose the right custom home builder for you? Consider
these tips to aid in your selection process:
- Ask real estate agents for recommendations. They will know builders in
your area and be able to steer you to trusted custom home builders.
- Check the builder's references. Marilyn Lewis"�� article "��8 Ways to
Check Up on Your Builder"�� on MSN Real Estate can help you get started
with which references to check so you can do a thorough background
investigation. This step in your decision process is really important.
Take the time to check with multiple references for each builder you are
interested in. Ideally try and find references that are recent and who
have a similar floor plan to the one you are selecting. Beyond selecting
a builder who you think is capable of building your home, ask each of
the references what kind of relationship they had with the builder. Was
the builder friendly, accessible and responsive to questions and
concerns? A builder who is easy to work with will help make the
homebuilding process go much more smoothly.
- Look for a proven track record.
- Get a comprehensive price quote. Make sure you get an itemized
estimate spelling out where every dollar is going to be spent and not
filled with a lot of "��allowances"�� for additional expenses.
- Be sure to ask a lot of questions. When you have narrowed down your
choices, don"��t be afraid to get all of your questions answered. One
important question you will want to ask is which parts of the home are
standard and which parts are customizable. It will vary from builder to
builder so get the answer to this question so you can make accurate
comparisons.
- Visit design centers to get a feel for how your builder handles the
home building process. Talk with builders' design specialists to see how
responsive they are to your needs. Some home builders offer online
house plan customization tools. Ask your builder if his website provides
this service and try it out to customize your home plan.
- Check on warranties. Ask about how the builder "makes it right" if you
find something wrong in your home's construction. Is there a specific
"total house" warranty? How long is it good for and what does it cover?
Ask about warranties for each of the homes' systems as well.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) encourages consumers to
ask questions when selecting a builder and offers a list of tips to
help you with your search:. The NAHB also recommends that you contact
your local home building association for more information on builders in
your area.
You may have waited years to finally be able to build the home of your
dreams. Your new custom home will be as unique as you are and it's
important to find the right custom home builder who can make your dreams
a reality. By taking a little time to ask questions, check references
and shop around you can help make the homebuilding process a positive
and pleasant experience.