When choosing the right home builder, it is important to not just focus on the lowest price; rather, consider the overall value and quality of the builder’s work. Your builder should act as your advocate. They work closely with homeowners through the design process and to establish a budget. They build the team to construct the home and monitor the costs and process.

Below are questions you should consider when choosing the right builder for your new home.

There are several paths to start your search for the right home builder. Using word of mouth, internet searching, and looking up members of the local home builders association are a good place to start. Another great way is to visit with builders at your local parade or model home. If you already have a designer, they may have a list that they can recommend, as can local lenders, realtors or even contractors that you trust.  

 It is important to meet in person and interact with the builder. It is best if you are able to meet at a model home or one of their projects. One very important thing to look for in a builder is a true partner that takes the time to work with you and that you have a natural rapport with. You will be working together for several months, so the relationship requires trust, honest communication and personalities that work well together. 

The builder will likely ask questions such as:

• Where are you at in the process? Do you have a design? A lot?
• Where are you planning to build (rural or in town)?
• Do you have a budget? Financing in place?
• What are some must haves? square footage requirements? Number of bedrooms / bathrooms? 

Be sure to ASK QUESTIONS. Your builder should show passion for your project and take the time to answer your questions.

Look for builders with a strong track record in the local area, as they’ll be familiar with local regulations and building practices. A professional builder is familiar with the construction standards, proper materials, the process from start to finish, new technologies, and has a deep understanding of the minor details and various tools essential to constructing a quality home.  Ask to see photos or examples of their work.

Longevity suggests financial stability, which is necessary for the home builder to complete the job and still be available if problems arise after the job is finished. Relationships with the best contractors and vendors are VERY important and take time to build. Builders that have a history in the community and a good reputation have been able to secure quality contractors and suppliers and have negotiated the best possible prices.

Look at new homes whenever you can. Local parade of homes and open houses or model homes are good opportunities to explore homes constructed by builders in your community. Inspect the quality of the construction – both the materials and craftsmanship. 

Any high-quality builder should be ready to provide you with the names and phone numbers of satisfied customers. Reference questions you will want answered include:

• How well did the builder follow through with the initial plans?
• Did the builder meet expectations with the main features, build, budget, and timing?
• Would you hire the builder again if you could do it all over?  

You should feel confident that you can rely on your builder to perform with integrity.  Be sure to ask to see a sample of their contract.  In addition, ask the following questions:

• Is the builder licensed and insured?
• Are they a member of the local home builders association? 
• Do they have a preconstruction agreement? 
• Do they provide a detailed estimate? 
• What can you expect as far as communication during the process?
• How are expenses tracked and is the payment schedule clearly explained in the contract? 

Production builders often build larger developments, and offer limited floor plans. Because they do more volume they are often less expensive but you can seldom do ANY customization on any aspect of the home – colors, finishes, fixtures and certainly NO changes to floor plans.

Custom builders work with you on all selections, materials, design, but you may also need a separate architect or use a current builder floorplan.

Design / build companies are custom builders that offer an in-house design service to design the structure itself with your guidance. A primary benefit is that design criteria can be evaluated for constructability and cost impact during design, resulting in a more defined scope and less design / estimating revisions. 

PRK Williams Building Group is a design / build company creating custom homes; sometimes from just a sketch on a napkin. When someone thinks of a custom home, they often envision only high end options, but we offer custom homes at a wide variety of prices. We put the same care and quality into a custom home whether they are $300,000 or a million dollars. 

If there is something special that you want in a home, speak to  your potential builder about their knowledge or experience in that specialty. 

PRK Williams Building Group specializes in building certified healthy homes featuring cleaner air, water and surfaces/materials as well as a true zero entry / universal design which ensures that the home will be safe and accessible and offer the residents the opportunity to age in place.