07/15/2020
How to choose the right Home Builder for you?
**In our own words and thoughts.
A new home will likely be the largest purchase of a lifetime, so choosing a builder can be a very stressful decision. No builder will meet every person's needs, so It is extremely important you choose the right builder for you. This post is intended to make that decision just a little easier!
Price, specifications, quality, build times, professionalism, trust and communication are the most important issues to discuss with a potential builder.
Price- Price is obviously one of the most important items on this list. Is the builder competitive? When comparing bids, The difficulty in most situations is to determine whether 2 or 3 builders are quoting the exact same product. Most will include their own set of specifications and these specs will vary form builder to builder. it is up to you to make sure the things included and the quality of product quoted, meets your expectations. The first thing you should ask a potential builder is "Do you have a written detailed list of your standard Specifications"?. This written list can then be modified to meet your individual requirements. One very important piece of advice is "Even at the quoting stage, this should never be a verbal list". It is very important the specification be written and before a contract is signed these specifications should be agreed upon and signed off. In 5 months it may be very difficult to remember what was agreed upon. "Get it in writing". This is extremely important, so ask questions, and if you are unclear ask more and more questions until you feel you have a very good understanding of exactly what is being quoted. Keep in mind, the base price of one builder may include many more features and upgrades than are include in another builders base price. Both builders should be able to modify their specifications and pricing to meet your requirements.
Quality- It is quite important that you’re able to view a show home or previous work. Specification may change but quality of the work should not. The best way to judge quality is to view past projects completed by each builder.
Build times- This is very important. Time is money. No one wants rent for longer than they need to and even more importantly you don't want to have to stay at your Mother in Laws house one day longer than you absolutely have to. You never want a rushed job, but you do want an organized job. An organized project should be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Trades should move in and out. The home should not sit for long without trade activity. There should be good communication between the builder, the client and the trades. An average 1200-1500 square foot bungalow should not take longer than 5 months to complete. We live in Canada so weather can certainly play a factor, but even the worst weather should not delay most house projects by more than a month. Only very complex custom homes should take longer than 6 or 7 months. Do your homework. Ask each builder their lead times but remember talk is cheap. Ask for, and check references. How long have past projects taken to complete.
Professionalism and Trust- Once you choose a builder, like it or not, you are in a year long relationship. I am not sure many buyers give this enough consideration. Some buyers find having a home built to be an extremely stressful time. I cannot stress how important it is to find a builder you have somewhat of a connection with. Are they someone you can approach easily? Can you talk to them? Do they communicate well? Do they have the proper character traits? Do they seem trustworthy? Find someone you can work with. There should be a good flow between you and the builder. It is very important you meet the person you will be dealing with on a day to day basis. You may like your salesperson but the site supervisor will be the person you deal with. Are they the decision makers? Meet the owners of the company. There are may things to consider. All I can really say is please do your research. You do not need to be, and probably should not be best friends, however it is a bonus when you can develop a good open relationship. Homes are built by humans. Despite trying for years, we are very sorry to say "Perfection is a fantasy". Mistakes will be made. This is one thing I can say for certain. We make them and every other builder will make them. What you want as a buyer, is a builder who will own their mistakes, quickly and efficiently make it right, then move forward.
Communication- I would say that most issues between purchaser and builder involve some sort of miscommunication. Proper paperwork, such as detailed specification sheets, clear concise drawings and a well written contract, are a must. This will alleviate many potential problems, however, It is also important you find a builder who will answer the phone and emails in a timely fashion. There is no excuse not to reply to a call or email within a 24hr period. Excellent communication can turn what could be a very stressful situation, into a positive enjoyable building experience.
We hope you have found this post helpful and enjoyable. In closing, we would like to summarize these few important points for your consideration.
- Insure proper and complete paper work. A detailed list of specifications is most crucial.
-Make sure when comparing quotes, they are apples to apples
-Decide if you want a larger sized builder or a small builder
-Look at previous projects completed by the builder
-Ask questions and check references
-You will be entering a relationship with your builder. Make sure you are comfortable with your choice.
When you are in the process of choosing a builder for your next project, we hope you will consider "Ryan Brothers Custom Homes". Until then, best of luck and stay safe :)
Cody and Terry
