If you have been thinking about finally having your dream home but are not sure how to go about hiring a custom builder, then look no further. Building your custom dream house is a monumental investment so it’s important to find a builder that will meet your needs. In this article, we shall go step by step on how to get the perfect builder for your dream home.
1. Know What You Want
The first thing that you need to do is to have a clear vision in your head as to exactly what you want. It is impossible to explain to a builder what kind of home you want when you do not know yourself.
2. Research, Research, Research
The next step in the home-building process is to start performing research on local builders. This can range from asking your friends and family all the way to reading online reviews and asking in local online community groups.
3. Review Past Work
Once you have a short list of what contractors and companies you are interested in, you should then ask to see their portfolios and other examples of past work. This gives you an idea of where they are at skill- and experience-wise. It also lets you get a glimpse into whether your vision will gel with their capabilities.
4. Check References
As with many other things in life, having a custom home built is definitely a time when you will want to check the references of all parties involved. When you speak with past clients, you can more easily gauge how satisfied they were with the contractor.
5. Communication
Having a custom home built for you means that you will need to be in constant communication with the contractor. If they are lackluster in terms of responding to questions that you may have or providing details on the progress of the house, then you can be sure you will be facing problems at some point during or after the process.
6. Flexibility
Since the plans of a custom home are generally subject to change on the fly, you will definitely want a contractor who is flexible enough to respond to unexpected changes and can accommodate these requests.
7. Review All Contracts
You will want to review any contracts before you sign them to ensure that they are clear and concise. It may even be a smart idea to have them reviewed by an attorney beforehand. Ask about any warranties regarding materials and labor, and make sure to get these promises in writing.
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8. Ask About Their Network
Another thing to inquire about is what their network is like. By this, we mean any subcontractors that they use and even their supply chain for materials. The quality of this network can have a significant impact on the quality of work that is done, as well as the timeliness of the project.
As you can see, there are plenty of things to cross off your list before actually hiring a custom builder for your new home. However, it is definitely worth the extra effort to follow these tips to do so.
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