How to Choose the Perfect Home Builder

Designing your home sweet home is a major decision, one that will have lifelong ramifications. While everyone wants to have the perfect place to raise a family, using a substandard builder can cause years of headaches and extra expenses. As such, it’s important to vet your home builder carefully. Today, we’ll explore the most important elements of choosing a home builder so that you can have the house of your dreams.

Use a Local Company

While soil and climate are not often considered when choosing a place to live, they have major ramifications for construction. Other factors, like building codes, will also play a role in how your home is built and on what timeline. As such, working with a local builder will ensure that you get the best possible experience.

For example, the soil around Kansas City contains a lot of clay, which can damage foundations if certain foundation types are used. A Kansas City home builder will be familiar with this and will choose the right foundation to protect your home for the long term. In other parts of the country, like Maine, the soil is well-drained and sandy, requiring different types of foundations and building materials to be secure.

Check Their Credentials

Every state has different licensing requirements for general contractors and home builders, so you should check to see what your state requires and then ensure that your home builder has the necessary license. They should also carry liability insurance, as this protects you in case anyone gets injured while the home is under construction.

The best contractors are also members of voluntary associations in the area, like the National Association of Home Builders. These organizations promote excellence in the industry, share tips, and promote standards across the country. Ask your contractor what associations they belong to, as this can tell you a lot about their passion for the work.

Talk About What Materials They Use

While you have likely reviewed their portfolio and examined their online reviews, you may not have stopped to think about what materials they will be using to construct your home. Are they using the cheapest wood possible, which could start cracking and splintering in only a few years, or are they using top-notch materials that will stand the test of time?

Ask the company what brands they use and how they source the material. Do your own research on the siding, shingles, lumber, insulation, and other materials that will make up your home to ensure that they are of the best quality. If they’re not forthcoming about what they use or why, then this may not be a good match for you.

Think About Customization Options

Everyone wants their ideal home to look exactly as they imagined it. However, some companies aren’t willing to go beyond their predetermined layouts or add the unique flourishes that will make your home special.

Before you start scheduling appointments with contractors, gather some inspiration pictures that you can share with them. For example, you may really love a certain facade or have an exact image of what your ideal kitchen should look like. Bring these along when you are speaking to contractors and ask whether they’re capable of fulfilling these requests. If they push back or suggest that you stick to their specific templates, then it may not be a good fit.

However, you should also keep an open mind. It’s entirely possible that their layouts will better suit your needs than you expected. Open a dialogue with the contractor and be willing to listen to their point of view before deciding.

Don’t Go With the Lowest Price or Fastest Timeline

Building a home can be very expensive and time-consuming, especially if you have to finance it all on your own because you weren’t able to get a construction loan. While it’s tempting to pick the lowest estimate, this can be a costly mistake. Contractors who submit low bids are likely to cut corners to get things done faster, and they won’t offer the best quality.

A home is an incredibly expensive investment that must be done right, so always choose a bid in the middle of the price range. You should also be wary of those who suggest they can complete the job much faster than their competitors; they may not necessarily be providing the best quality of work.

Thorough Research and Investigation Will Ensure a Great Home Building Experience

Whether you’re building a home in Kansas City, Mississippi, or Kennebunkport, Maine, it’s vital to do your research and think carefully about what you want from a home. A good general contractor is courteous, creative, and hardworking, willing to go the extra mile to ensure your satisfaction. Check out every aspect of their business and thoroughly review their credentials before signing anything, and soon enough, you’ll be picking up the keys to your fairytale home.