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The best way to find a builder is to get a referral from a friend or colleague. You may also wish to check your local Homebuilder's Association for a list of builders. These builders will be members of this organization, and will thereby subscribe to their code of ethics.
To further narrow your list, contact the Better Business Bureau to research complaints filed against these builders. The most important part of this step is to see how the builder resolved any problems. Things are always bound to come up, and it is important to know that the builder you select will work with you to find solutions to any of these difficulties.
Make sure your builder has a license by contacting the Registrar of Contractors. Get their license number and investigate their reputation.
Find out who the builder sub-contracts with, and repeat the above steps to determine their qualifications and credibility. You will also want to meet your builder's team. Find out who will be directly supervising the construction of your home. See if you want to use the builder's architect, or perhaps someone else. If you want to use someone else, make sure the builder will work with another architect.
You will also want to research your builder's track record on completion dates. How much time will they set aside for your needs? Do they charge you for additional time, or is it included in the original price estimate?
This is the time to thoroughly discuss pricing. From start to finish, pricing will be a 6 - 12 month process. See if the builder honor's today's prices, or will be adjusting for inflation. Is adjustment included in the initial proposal?
You will probably wish to ensure that your builder is flexible, in case you change your mind about details. See if they have a set cut off date to consider changes.
Once you have selected your builder, it is time to find your property. |
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