In our last blog post, we focused on the four reasons not to build a custom home. This time REA Homes shares some advice for selecting the right builder.

Choosing the right builder is probably the most important decision you will make during the entire home building process. Your experience of building a custom home could be a highly satisfying experience, or a stressful nightmare depending on the builder you choose.

A good builder will walk you through every step of the way, making sure your project stays on time and within your budget.

So how do you know if you are choosing the right one? REA Homes suggests these five tips for choosing the right builder:

1) Talk to previous clients about their experience

The best builders will give you access to a list of completed homes and previous clients they have worked with. Call these clients and ask them about their experience. Here are a few questions you can ask to start the discussion:

  • Did you enjoy your overall experience of building a new home?
  • Did the builder make the process of building a new home easy for you?
  • Were they able to complete your home on time and within your budget?
  • If you ever decided to build another home, would you work with this builder again?

2) Take a tour of a spec home

Ask if a spec home is available to take a tour of. Some builders will have one available, others may not but might offer to show you an under-construction or previously purchased home. This is a good chance to get to know the builder and get a better understanding of the way they build homes. Ask them questions during the tour, such as:

  • What were some of the biggest challenges you faced building this home?
  • What would you do differently if you were to build the same home again?
  • What is your favorite thing about the home and why?

3) Ask the builder about their experience and credentials

Credentials are important, but experience is what truly separates the best home builders. Make sure the builder is experienced specifically with the type of home you are looking to build (traditional vs high performance) and has a good track record over at least 10-15+ years. Here are a few questions to ask about a builder’s experience:

  • How long have you been building homes and how many homes have you been directly involved with building during your career?
  • Are you a member of the National Association of Home Builders or other trade organizations?
  • What other credentials do you have and how do those benefit your building process?
  • How do you educate yourself to stay abreast on current trends and new technology?

4) Interview key trade partners and suppliers

The best builders should be willing to provide you access to trade partners (sub-contractors) and suppliers they work with on a regular basis. They can be a great source of information about the builder. Builders that have a good reputation with their partners and suppliers are usually able to get more value and productivity from them. Here are some questions you should ask them:

  • What is it like to work with this builder?
  • What is most important to them during the job?
  • Are they good at communicating with your company?
  • Have you ever had any problems with the builder?

5) Always trust your instincts This may seem obvious, but it is amazing how many times we have heard something like “It seemed too good to be true, but the price was right so we used this other company and it was a big mistake.” when speaking with clients about builders they have worked with in the past. It’s important to consider all the options, but don’t ignore it when you are speaking with a builder and you get the feeling that something is just not right about what they are telling you… you might regret it in the long run.

REA Homes builds high performance luxury homes with the customer’s entire well-being in mind. To learn more about our custom built homes visit our blog or Facebook page.