4 Sure-Fire Ways to Tell If a Home Builder is Right for You
How do I know I am buying a quality constructed home if I can’t see and walk it?
When I take clients out to shop for a new home or go community sightseeing, one of the most common questions I get is, “If the house isn’t built yet, how do I know the builder is going to build me a good-quality home?” It’s such a great question and very important one to investigate before partnering up with a building company for the next six months to a year that it will take to build.
Here are my four steps for determining if a builder is right for my client:
Firstly, we visit the neighborhood the builder is offering homes in, tour a model home or a home under construction, or see finished inventory if it’s available. Models are the builder’s showcase homes. If we walk in and see fit and finish issues, that’s a no-go. Look past the “eye candy” in the model home (upgrades) and study the included features in the base price. If you don’t like the design of their showcase home, we can look at their portfolio of house plans to see if anything else might work.
Secondly, I encourage all my clients to read online reviews and learn how the builder handles all the significant aspects of the build process, from start to finish. For example, how did a builder’s buyers enjoy the design selection process? Were they satisfied with the variety and pricing of the finishes and upgrades? Or did they find this part discouraging? Do they love their finished home? When they experienced construction issues, which are typical in any job, how was it handled? Make no mistake; you WILL have construction issues during your build. What is important is that the builder was accessible and worked to establish solutions to the problem where possible.
Thirdly, we look at the builder’s list of included features. What materials and brands are they using? Do the manufacturers they use offer extended warranties? Are their floorplans well thought out and fresh? Or are they offering dated styles and finishes? Is everything you really wanted an upgrade, thus increasing your overall cost? If so, what does that process look like, and what are those costs?
Lastly, we’ll take a drive around the neighborhood. Do we like the community layout and the lots available to buy? How well is the community maintained? We’ll check out the subcontractors on their job sites while out. I’ve got several little-known qualities I look for that are tell-tale signs a builder will offer you quality AND be a good partner for you, bearing your goals in mind, such as are the homes progressing in an orderly build manner or are homes being built out of sequence? Do homes seem to be sitting at a standstill, or is there a lot of construction activity in the neighborhood? Is there an on-site community project manager managing construction? And if so, what type of experience does he have?
Bottom Line: If you are considering buying or building a new home, you need a New Construction Buyer’s Agent to guide you. I’m a twenty-five-year veteran of the residential new construction industry. I’ve got all the connections inside the industry to help you master this complicated process and enjoy the heck out of it along the way! Reach out and let’s discuss your home-buying needs.
If you liked this video, check out: Homebuilding Costs and Timelines
