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Selecting a Builder

Building a new home is a wonderful experience that can lead to the home of your dreams, but the process is challenging. There are many choices to be made along the way, and the relationship you have with your builder can impact the success of your new home. Here are some tips to consider for finding a reputable builder.

Make a list of builders who construct the type of home you want. I can help make recommendations, and you may also want to scan newspaper ads and ask friends and relatives for referrals.

Ask each of the builders for a list of their recently built homes. Drive by the homes or subdivision and take notes about the houses similar to what you want to build. Introduce yourself to the homeowners in the subdivision. Ask them to share their experiences with the builder, good and bad, and get as many opinions as you can to develop an accurate impression of the builder.

Carefully inspect the builder's model homes. What is the quality of construction? Look closely at the cabinetry, paint and trim. Does the home have enough bathrooms, bedrooms and storage to suit your needs? Does it have flexible spaces for "extras" such as a home office, exercise or hobby room?

Ask for a copy of the builder's typical warranty. Warranties vary depending on the local building codes, but at a minimum they should include information about coverage, service calls and emergency repair policies.

Finally, ask a lot of questions. Often, what seems to be a routine question leads to important information that could affect your buying decision. Developing a dialogue with a builder will help you assess whether or not you communicate well with the builder and will feel comfortable working with him/her. The more comfortable you are talking with your builder, the more confident you will be when making the numerous decisions that come with building your own home.

There are a number of very good homebuilders, both large and small, on the East coast. But unlike other industries, you can't pick up Consumer Reports to find out who the good ones are, so please use me as a resource. I can also help you through the process of locating and purchasing a newly constructed home, as well as help you with financing decisions on custom construction. I can also provide information about covenants and restrictions, homeowner’s association dues, school districts and other important information that you'll need in making decisions.

Please contact your CENTURY 21 Sweyer & Associates Agent for more information on selecting a builder.