Questions to Ask Your Home Builder & Tips for a Successful Project

Posted on October 26, 2020October 22, 2020 by Jason Somers

If you’re thinking about buying a new home, one option available to you is having a custom home built to your exact specifications. When building a custom home, you will need to hire a home builder who will be able to manage the entire project. The builder you hire will be able to turn all of the plans and ideas that you have into a fully realized home that you can call your own.

The type of home builder you hire depends entirely on what tasks they will need to complete. If the home still needs to be designed, you can find home builders who are able to handle the design and construction of the property in question. In the event that you already have a floor plan that you want the builder to follow, you can hire a builder who solely handles the construction phase of the project.

Keep in mind that home builders are different from general contractors. A general contractor is an individual who is required to manage various subcontractors to complete a construction project. On the other hand, home builders focus specifically on creating custom homes and can handle every facet of the project. A good home builder is someone who is trustworthy, experienced, responsive, and organized. The builder you choose should also have a sterling reputation. Once you hire the builder, they will be able to handle the entire permitting process in an efficient manner, which should keep your project from being delayed. This article goes into depth about the most important questions to ask the home builder you’re thinking about hiring.

Key Takeaways:

• When hiring a home builder it is essential that you understand they are different from general contractors because they manage the entire project.
• There are numerous questions you should ask your home builder to make sure they are the perfect person for the job. We discuss the most vital ones below.
• Some tips we explain when hiring a home builder include: determine your needs, gather testimonials, pick quality over quantity, and communication is key.

Questions To Ask A Home Builder

There are many questions that you should ask a home builder before the construction process begins, which should help you better prepare for this process and all that it entails. The most vital questions that you should ask include:

• How long will the construction process take?
  
• Will you handle all of the building permits and approvals?
  
• Is the cost for the land included?
  
• What are the basic finishes that are used in a construction project?
  
• Are warranties automatically provided with a custom home build?
  
• Do you provide landscaping?
  
• Can I purchase my own materials and appliances?
  
• Are credits provided if I purchase my own materials and appliances?
  
• Is a cost escalation clause included within the contract?
  
• Are there any HOA guidelines that apply to the project at hand?
  
• Do I get any financial incentives for going with your preferred lender?
  
• Can you provide me with a construction timeline before the project begins?
  

It’s important to ask these specific questions because the answers should provide you with everything you need to know before the construction process begins. Since you’re designing your dream home, you’ll likely want to clarify that you can purchase your own materials if they aren’t ones that the builder typically uses. It’s also essential that credits are offered for these purchases so that you don’t need to pay more than is necessary for the project.

Some of the other questions on this list focus on the expenses and features that are included when you hire a builder. For instance, landscaping can cost thousands of dollars if you want your yard and the exteriors of your home to match the quality of the home itself. It’s possible for these expenses to be factored into the purchase of a custom home, which is something you should ask about before hiring a builder.

Asking these questions can also help you gauge the responsiveness of the builder. If this individual is evasive and doesn’t provide answers to all of your questions, you might want to continue your search until you find a builder who will work closely with you throughout the entirety of the construction process. Every component of the project should be approved by you. If the builder that you select doesn’t accommodate your requests and needs, the entire construction process may not go as smoothly as you anticipate.

Make sure that the home builder you partner with is able to provide you with a relatively accurate estimate of when the construction process will be completed. While delays are inevitable and occur with nearly all construction projects, it’s still important that you’re aware of the general time-frame for this type of project.

Tips for Choosing a Home Builder

When you’re thinking about building a custom home, it’s important that you follow some basic tips and guidelines that will help you select the right home builder for the job. While the questions mentioned previously should help you prepare for the construction project, the following tips will allow you to zero in on a home builder. These tips include:

• Determine your needs
  
• Testimonials
  
• Quality vs. quantity
  
• Communication is key
  

1. Determine Your Needs

Before you start your search for a home builder, the first thing you should do is determine what your needs are for a home. The custom home can be designed exactly as you see fit, which means that every element of the home can match your desires. However, it’s likely that you have a budget that you will want to stay under. In this situation, some features of the home will be more important than others. If you make your own meals on a regular basis and like to cook for guests, you might want to purchase high-end materials for the kitchen. Make sure that the builder you choose can accommodate your needs and is able to work with any materials you select.

After you obtain a pre-approval letter from a lender, you can better focus on where you want to live, the type of setting you prefer, and the kind of community you would like to live in. For instance, would you like your home to be a waterfront property? You should also ask yourself if you prefer living in the city or in a neighborhood. The answers to these questions will allow you to identify where you want to live and the kind of home you would like to construct. With these answers in hand, you should be able to find the right builder for your home.

2. Testimonials

Testimonials are among the most important aspects of the selection process for a home builder. Any builder you consider should be able to provide you with multiple testimonials from past customers. By speaking with past clients, you can learn a lot about what occurs during the home building process and how the builder handles any hurdles that occur along the way. These individuals are a wonderful resource when you want to learn what it’s like to work with the builder in question.

It’s also possible and highly recommended to look on the internet for reviews. Many customers want people to know about their experience with a company, brand, or builder, which is why they will go out of their way to post reviews and comments on a wide variety of websites. When searching for reviews of any home builders you’re considering, look towards such websites as Houzz, Facebook, and Google. While you should be able to trust the average rating that you see for a home builder, it can be more difficult to determine if an individual reviewer is legitimate. To mitigate this problem, make sure that you obtain testimonials.

3. Quality Vs. Quantity

Quality is essential when you’re trying to find the best home builder for your project. Ask yourself which you prefer, a good job or a quick job. Some home builders focus on completing projects very quickly, which heightens the possibility that they cut corners. While these builders may be able to advertise that they have constructed dozens of homes, the quality of these custom homes may not meet your standards. Instead, focus on quality.

You should choose a builder who understands how to work with any budget while also making sure that all materials are considered to be safe and high-quality. Make sure that your investment goes towards appliances that won’t need to be replaced in a short period of time. For instance, modern HVAC systems that are energy-efficient should last as much as 25 years and should provide you with low energy bills. The choices you make now can help you save money in the years to come.

4. Communication is Key

As touched upon previously, communication is among the most important aspects of choosing the right home builder. You want to choose a builder who is interested in working with you and doesn’t just get to work without spending time going over the particulars of the project. They should also provide you with feedback after you tell them what you want from a home. Reputable home builders will know when an idea of yours should be altered, which means that they will speak up and provide suggestions.

If you don’t have enough budget for the type of home that you request, the builder should be honest with you at the beginning. To be fully satisfied with the work that the builder provides, make sure that you communicate what your expectations are before work begins. When a firm relationship has been built between you and the builder, the project itself should be completed in a smooth and efficient manner. By clearly communicating what you want from the project, you can trust that the builder will be able to turn your vision into reality.

Building a custom home is a wonderful opportunity that allows you to have a say in the design and construction of every component of the home itself. However, it’s important that you hire the best home builder for the job. These individuals will be tasked with managing the entire project, which is why you should take your time to research multiple builders before selecting the one who will be able to deliver on your vision.