The Importance of Finding a Local Builder with Great References Before Building Your Home
You have been thinking about and planning your new home construction for a while now and now your ready to do it. For me we have had to wait for the professional college student to finally get a place for herself, so it’s time now for our dream home. But deciding to start building your home is the easy part. The hard part is finding the right local builder who is trustworthy and capable.
We have all heard the stories of that nightmare home building project where they thought they hired a professional but really got the three stooges. The problem here is no one checked out the references and track record of the local builder. Sadly, many people don’t look beyond the the surface appearance of a local builder, a bag of tools and a pickup truck does’t make you a qualified home builder. You have to check the references!
Ask for Referrals
Word of mouth is hands down the most effective method to discover a competent pro to take on the project. Ask family members, good friends and next-door neighbors who they’ve had great experiences with.
And ask just what made things a great experience, how the builder dealt with complications and whether they would employ the builder in the future.
Take a look at References
With referrals in hand, do some initial investigation, whether it’s with a telephone call or a visit to the builder’s web site. Learn whether they hold all the mandated licenses from state and area communities, together with titles from any competent associations such as the National Association of Home builders, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Many people take more time into learning how to pick your kitchen appliances than looking into the references of a home builder.
Try to find professionals who have actually obtained course work and passed extensive tests to obtain certain accreditation’s. Also understand that not all accreditation’s are formulated alike. Do some research and learn the criteria.
Meeting Candidates
Limit the list of applicants and schedule appointments. Aim to keep it to 3 builders, since things can get complicated beyond that. How a builder responds to inquiries is truly relevant, yet interaction goes both ways. Prospects must ask lots of questions, too.
Look at Previous Work
Ask to see a few of the builders’ jobs. If you approve of them, ask for references and call the builders’ previous clients to inquire further. Ask specifically how the builders did at carrying out the work. Ask if they were on schedule and on budget?
Were the clients pleased with the results? Was there something that could have been done in a different way?
Keep in mind that when you’re choosing a builder, you are not purchasing a product but a service. Quality of service will decide the quality of the completed work.
Here are some things you’ll wish to check out and concerns you’ll wish to ask about when talking to a builder.
Business track record, management and experience.
- Does your builder have a mailing address, email address, fax number, and a mobile phone with voice mail.
- Ask for a copy of the builders liability insurance.
- Look into where the builder purchases building supplies and ask for references.
- Ask for a list of sub-contractors the builder works with for references.
Is it in writing?
- Your bid price and schedule of payments.
- A detailed description of work to be done.
- Construction drawings of all work to be done.
- Details of how to handle a change of work order.
- The warranty of work and materials.
- How to deal with disputes.
- A schedule of the “Release of Lien” from material suppliers and sub-contractors.
If you get this far and this detailed I believe you will not have any problems with your home construction. Seeking out competent builders like Ocala area construction company, Boutwell Built is a good place to start. The amounts of money involved and the seriousness of someone working on your most expensive asset requires you to take the time and care necessary for a successful outcome.
Category: Housing
