5 Mistakes to Avoid While Choosing a Custom Home Design Builder

Are you looking for an ideal custom home builder for your home? In that case, you must identify a contractor who is very cognizant about your choices and preferences, is very responsive, has a high market eminence, and is well-experienced.

When you have zeroed in on a suitable contractor, you must have a transparent and clear dialogue with your builder right from the start. Let us take a look at a few known problems that are likely to surface through the initial phases of the process at the time of engaging a custom home design builder. It is easy to avert these problems. All you need to do is be mindful of the likely downsides and do all it takes to stay clear of them.

1. Refrain from seeking Square Foot Quotes

Often building firms float deceptive advertisements in an effort to pull in new customers. For example, a marketing material ad may say…“We build your new custom home at under $100 per square foot!” When you select a builder for partial or whole house renovation, it is imperative to be clear about every aspect. Builders who depend on such ads are only trying to get a contract. Once done, the disparity between what is advertised and the real cost shows up.

Each custom home is different from the other, in terms of hallmark and layout. For example, a 2500 square foot home having 3.5 baths costs more than a 2500 square foot home that has 2.5 baths. A one-floor farmstead will be priced differently from a two-floor settlement. Add-ons like spacious kitchens spread out garages and completed understructures change the ultimate costs.

Simply put, a contractor with a commendable repute cannot practically publicize the amount per square foot for your custom home. A builder who makes such commitments has based your business liaison with a deception which surely is not the right note to start a home building process.

2. Never Pick a Custom Home Builder with Restricted Referrals

Experience matters a lot. Builder references give a birds-eye view of the previous projects. It also allows you to review customer service, workmanship, business ethics, and troubleshooting abilities. Custom home builders who only have two or three references are to watch out for.

If they are repeating two or three references, they are avoiding complete research of their business. This may be a sign of their discontent about their past projects, or inability to account for your construction process. It is wise to pick a custom builder who has plenty of demonstrable client referrals. Both, fresh and older testimonials matter a lot. While the latest references talk about the builder’s recent work ethics, past references indicate if the home that was built will put up with the ravages of time.

3. Examine References Upfront

At the time of validating references, ask pointed questions that offer an extensive view of the customer’s experience. Yes and no answers do not serve much of the purpose. Queries must ask for clarity on timelines, hygiene means of communication, and post-construction service. A few of the common queries may be:

When did the construction take place?
Were the start and end dates adhered to, as committed? If not, why not?
Which problems arose throughout the construction? How were these problems dealt with, by the builder?
What was the highlight of this project, or what were the builder’s best features?
Where did the builder not do well?
If given the need to create your custom home again, would you re-hire this builder? If not, why not?
Would you recommend this builder to friends and family?
Was your budget adhered to? If it was not, what were the causes of additional expenses?
Were the contractor’s communication skills good?

4. Skip a Builder with Bad Communication Skills

It is annoying to have a custom home builder who doesn’t respond. You have a wrong builder if there are long gaps in communication.

Builders should be within easy reach via cell phones and you need not have encountered a receptionist or answering machine. Good builders are usually busy and may not always be available on phone, they should appoint a single point of contact for you, and this contact must be easy to reach.

Huge businesses organized in a way that requires you to go through an intermediary to reach your builder are prone to communication problems. These problems extend throughout the building process. The point of contact must be someone who is empowered and capable to resolve your issues.

5. Stay Away from Lowest Price Offers

Always prioritize value above price while picking a custom home builder. Quite a few home buyers are enticed to hire builders who offer the lowest quote. Low prices may mean:

Insufficient or flawed proposition
Intentionally confusing assessments
Builder ignorant and unaware of actual costs
Substandard materials
Untrained workforce or subcontractors exhibiting inferior work
Contractor on the way to bankruptcy

Any way you see it, it could result in you spending much more to restore the property after the building, in case you hire a contractor who gives you the cheapest quotes. Hire a builder who fits your budget, but never compromise quality or skill over price. If hiring a quality builder for whole house renovation is not within your budget, then maybe you should wait a bit.

Final Word

Experienced custom home design builders know their job inside out. Many customers do not deliberately put across all their requirements for their new homes, on the table. The reason for this often is they believe it does not matter, but temptations heighten later during the building process.

The other reason for customers to do this is that they feel if the Agreement doesn’t have the feature, they can add it without having to pay extra. This is a bad strategy to reduce costs, moreover if you’ve always wanted these features in your custom home. A straightforward and transparent discussion is a win-win situation for you, as well as your builder.