BEFORE you select the builder for your home or one to help you with renovations it is important that you ask them a few questions to ensure that they are the right choice for you.
- Home builders’ track record
Find out how long a prospective contractor has been in business, whether they have a proven track record in your state and city and whether they’re a member of the relevant home builders associations. Other information to check out include the state of the contractor’s finances and credit standing. You can check with various independent credit agencies and local consumer protection organisations to find out about pending disputes and any filed complaints.
- Level of experience
Next, find out how many years the home builder has been constructing homes with specifications similar to what you want. Having a contractor who has built homes similar to the one you want is most definitely a great advantage. Again, their track record speaks volumes about their level of experience and whether they’re capable of providing the solution that meets your requirements.
Try to find builders with extensive experience who are able to incorporate the latest design and technology into the building process. The completed home should also meet all required building codes.
- Ability to build custom-designed homes
To ensure that everything goes according to your specifications, potential home builders must be flexible and accommodating. As with most endeavours, communication is vital. Your prospective builder should be upfront about their ability to meet your needs and work with you until they are able to turn your ideas into reality.
- Word of mouth recommendations
Without doubt, when choosing home builders, one of your criteria can be word of mouth recommendations. Friends, family, office associates or anyone you know can be a source of feedback regarding their experiences. In addition, you could ask to see the work done to get a first-hand glimpse into a builder’s workmanship. In case you cannot get any recommendations from people you know, visit websites that offer builders reviews.
- Local home builders associations
Many associations are reluctant to pit one builder against another. The most that they can do is hand you a list of builders they recommend. Although the associations don’t divulge a great deal, their recommendations help narrow down the search to a few selected ones.
- Do you guarantee your workmanship?
Investigate the details of whether the builder offers a guarantee and what that covers, and whether you need to follow certain procedures for a claim against it. Moreover, some guarantees do not cover labour-only agreement, but are applicable only under a full contract. A guarantee usually covers the following:
- When the builder fails to complete the work for some reason. Here, the insurance policy may provide for another builder to finish the project
- Defective or inferior materials
- Poor workmanship
Typically, reputable builders do all they can to fix problems whether a guarantee covers you or not. This is because they have a reputation to protect and are mindful about what clients may say about them.
- Can you provide me a fixed timeline?
Before signing the contract, make sure the home builder can provide a definite timeline indicating the home’s start and completion dates. This should account for time needed for the clean-up after the project’s completion.
During the course of the project, monitor the progress of your home from time to time.
- What are the payment terms?
Eventually, the discussion will turn to money. Always make sure you understand when you need to pay the deposit and exactly when you’re supposed to pay (or approve in the case of financing through a bank) the remaining payments.
