Selecting a builder

Building a home is a completely involving experience. It requires extensive time, energy and dedication—not only on your part, but also on the part of your home builder. A builder who values the quality and reputation of its houses can make your home building experience enjoyable and efficient, and can help ensure you’ll end up with a place you love to call home.

• Focus on Value. What a home costs is important—but how it’s built is vital. Keep in mind that the cheapest home available may also be cheaply built, and may cost you more in repairs over the long haul.
• Evaluate Your Needs. Before you begin the process of selecting a home builder, determine whether you need a custom home builder or a production home builder.
  • Custom home builders generally build one-of-a-kind, single-family houses on land you own. The builder constructs each home using a unique set of plans that have been designed with your lot in mind.
  • Production home builders usually build all types of housing—from single-family homes and condos to town homes and rental properties—on land that they own. While each project is generally built using stock designs, the buyer can often select from a variety of plan choices and options.
• Stay Close to Home. When selecting a builder, choose a company that has plenty of experience building in the area in which you want to live. Factors such as building codes and weather patterns can vary from locale to locale, so save yourself time and headaches by selecting a builder who knows the region.
• Ask Around. A builder’s reputation usually precedes them, so be sure to ask friends, family members and local realtors what they’ve heard about a particular company.
• Narrow It Down. Experts recommend interviewing at least three builders before making a final decision. Drive through some neighborhoods constructed by the builder and if you happen to see any owners outside, strike up a conversation. Ask if they have had problems with their home’s construction and about the service they have received from the builder since the sale.
• Check Out the Warranty. A builder who trusts the quality of its product should have no qualms in offering a comprehensive home warranty, usually covering the home’s first 10 years. Read over the warranty thoroughly to know what potential problems the builder will be required to take care of, and what issues will be your responsibility.
• Cook the Books. Before deciding on a builder, ask to review a copy of the company’s most recent annual report. Strong financials indicate that the company is probably providing a quality product and may be around over the next 10 years.
• Go With Your Gut. Finally, remember that your builder will be constructing your home—not just your house. If you have narrowed it down to two or three builders, go with the one with whom you have the best rapport. Doing so can help ensure that your home building experience is as pleasant as possible.