Builders for your home

1 Introduction
2 Start a list of possible builders
3 Research your builder's reputation
4 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

[edit] Introduction

Once you have decided to build your own home, one of the most important decision you will make is the builder you hire to complete your project. Many of the advantages of building a new home versus purchasing an existing structure can be lost if your builder does not listen to your desires or have the ability to complete the project to your satisfaction.

Since many people who want to build a home have little experience, it can be a frightening process. You will have to evaluate builders and decide who is capable of handling the project, but you may not feel confident enough to ask appropriate questions. In order to start the search for your home builder, follow these tips.

[edit] Start a list of possible builders

Since you will be paying for the results for many years to come, you will want your builder to be experienced and reliable, but knowing where to find quality builders can be confusing. Although you will have to put a lot of thought into hiring your builder, here are a few tips to help get you started.

Contact the home builders' association in your area to compile a list of local builders. Although this listing will not give you any detail or depth about the prospective builders, finding names will help ensure you know all the choices available to you so you can make an informed choice.

Ask your local real estate agents if they have any experiences with local builders, positive or negative. Few people will know the local housing market like them, so any information they have will give you a better picture of who is actively building homes in your area.

For more information see: How to find a builder.

[edit] Research your builder's reputation

Once you have completed your list of potential builders, you will need to decide which one will be the best fit for your project. You will need to consider their price, reputation, and past experience in order to determine if you want them to work for you. Try to discover the details of their operation, such as whether or not they have a habit of finishing late or going over budget.

Request a list of recently completed projects so you can view their work in person. Reputable builders will be happy to show you what they have built, so any builder that does not give you a list of specific projects should raise a red flag.

Talk to as many home owners as possible who used the builder you are considering. Ask specific questions, such as how closely the builder listened to their desires, whether the project went smoothly, if there were many delays, etc. The more people you can reach, the clearer the picture you will develop of your proposed builder.

--Johnsbrickwork18