Congratulations! A lot of people can only dream about building a custom home, but you’re one of the lucky few that gets to make it a reality. You’ve probably already been researching different lots and floor plans and are just about ready to start making your dreams come true. All you need to officially set your plans in motion is a custom home builder.
You may have heard some nightmare stories about these types of construction projects, so you’re a little nervous about finding just the right builder for the job. That is completely fair – after all, a custom home is probably one of the biggest and most important investments you will ever make in your life. The wrong builder could mean a lot of stress and heartache, not to mention a ton of money down the drain.
If you want your custom home done right the first time, consider the following 3 tips when choosing your custom home builder.
If you really want to know what you’re getting into with a custom home builder, then be sure to check out examples of their previous jobs. Pictures can give you an idea of what to expect, but what you really want to do is see their work firsthand. Consider going to home shows and touring model homes to take a close look at the designs and quality of their completed jobs. You may even consider driving though communities they’ve worked in and asking homeowners to share their experiences. You can’t do too much research when it comes to a big project like this, so take the time to make sure the builder can deliver on your custom home.
There isn’t a particular template that must be followed when building a custom home, so be sure to ask your potential builders about their building process. You’ll want to know things like who they’ll be working with, how long each step is going to take, and perhaps most importantly, how much input you’ll be able to have in the project. If you’re happy to leave the whole thing in their hands then that’s fine, but you’ll likely want someone who is at least open to hearing your concerns and ideas.
Since you are likely going to be working closely with your potential home builder and their staff, you may want to get a feel for their personalities and styles and see if they’re compatible with yours. There will be so much to do and so many decisions to make during the building process that you don’t want to be butting heads the entire time. If the building process is mired by fighting and miscommunications, then things may not go according to plan.
You’re supposed to be partners in the home-building process, so it’s important to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Look for a custom home builder that you feel comfortable with, someone that’s easy to talk to and listens to your needs.
