Ask These Questions Before Hiring a Home Builder
You can always buy an existing home, but there’s simply nothing like building an entirely new house from the ground up. Sure, it takes a lot more effort, and it can get more complicated and stressful, but it’s incredibly gratifying to see your new home take shape right before your eyes.
Of course, you are going to need a reputable home builder to do it for you. So while you’re in the process of choosing one, you will have to ask candidates several questions before you hire them. Here are some of those questions.
Are you licensed and insured?
You want your home builder to be licensed because it’s an assurance that he or she is qualified to build homes. Insurance is a must as well, because if you hire a builder who doesn’t have insurance, you will, in effect, be the contractor, and will be liable for any injury or property injury that could happen at the construction site.
How long have you been building homes?
Experience should always be a factor when choosing home builders because the more years they have spent in the business, the better they know the ins and outs of building a new home. They also tend to listen better to the ideas of their clients, and will likely do their best to incorporate those ideas into their own work.
Can you show me some work samples?
Photos of their previous work are good, but it would be so much better if you can see in person the actual houses they built. That way, you can determine whether you like the quality of their work or not.
Do you offer a warranty for your work?
A one-year warranty is par for the course for most home builders. Some of them, however, offer a 10-year structural warranty.
Do you keep up with building codes?
Your home builder needs to be updated on any changes to local and state building codes because it would be such a waste if any finished structure is found to be violating them and must be taken down.
How are we going to communicate?
Many home builders will say they will communicate using the usual phone, email, or maybe Skype. What would be a plus, however, is a software-driven system that does more than just make communications easier. That system may also be capable of generating and sharing reports, among other things, and it would be great if your home builder has one in place.
Ask potential home builders these questions plus other concerns that might pop into your head, and you’re on the way to finding the right person for the job.
About The Author
Victoria Grace is the Content Specialist for Nucleus Construction, a Phoenix-based company that specializes in remodeling and building custom homes. When not writing, she enjoys reading books and riding her motorcycle.
Comment (1)
Thanks for mentioning how home builders will better understand the ins and outs of the process the longer they’ve been in the business. My aunt and uncle want to build a custom home for their family starting this summer. They need to hire a reliable home builder in the next few weeks, so I’ll make sure they find one with many years of experience in the industry.