Many home buyers start their construction process since they believe that they want a custom home. However, they may take a different path due to all the confusion regarding which material to pick, or which design is suitable.
House hunting usually begins with buying a lot, hiring an architect or design firm, then approaching the builder. This is where it can go wrong; what buyers should do instead is to hire the builder first, and then buy a lot. By hiring a home builder, you will be relieved of all the complexities involved in the process, such as permits, building regulations, estimations, and so forth.
One thing all prospective homeowners should understand is that buying a home is a huge investment on your part. Your home is where your family will make memories of a lifetime, and you will need a sturdy construction to reside in, for years to come.
Choosing the right builder as well as the right process is crucial.
How to Choose a Home Builder
Instead of hiring a general contractor or a few contractors for individual works, choose a builder who can take care of everything and works with subcontractors. Choosing a builder who can help you navigate the construction process can be tricky, but here are a few tips you may consider:
Choose the Type of Builder
The first thing to do is determine which type of home you want to buy. There are production and custom home builders, whose process differ in many ways. With a production home builder, you get a home that is built on their lot, which is ready to move, albeit with limited design options.
On the other hand, a custom home builder works with you from the beginning. You can purchase a lot together, or they can work on your own lot, pick a layout, design, and choose the fixtures for the final product. For instance, a custom home builder has the industry knowledge and if you so prefer, they can explain to you the benefits of a gentle-sloped lot, rather than blindly insisting to purchase a flat lot.
Consider the Project Size
Depending on the scope of your project, you may choose the builder. For example, if this is a luxury project that has to be finished in a short span of time, you need a firm that is highly organized and employ sufficient people. Look for a well-organized building company that has a track record of delivering exceptionally high-quality finished products.
By contrast, you may want to finish building your dream home at a slow pace or make a few modifications, it may take a longer time. Even so, you will need a home builder who can cater to your ideas by working with their efficient team.
In either case, your best fit should have an appropriate balance of price, quality, and organization.
Check the Communication Style
Ideally, you will ask your friends and family, research for potential builders, look into their portfolios, and investigate their websites. But the builder also has to be willing to provide you with the information of their past clientele. Meet their past customers and ask if there are any structural issues. If there are any, you can bow out and look for another builder.
When you hire a builder, it is critical to choose someone whose communication is in sync with yours. As you work for a few months together, the builder should be open to your ideas and be transparent in his response. Communicating with the design team will give you an insight of the builder’s work process. However ridiculous your doubts may be, ask them right away until you get satisfactory answers.
The right builder is always accessible to you. However ridiculous your doubts may be, ask them right away until you get satisfactory answers.
Golden Key is a full-service firm with decades of residential building experience that offers custom home designing and building solutions. Our build firm has a qualified team of designers and contractors, all under one roof, and deliver quality homes that suit your lifestyle and budget. Call us today to have a look at our past projects.