5 Questions to Ask Potential Builders

by Tammy Crosby, CEO & Editor-In-Chief, for The House Designers®

You've made budget spreadsheets, product and finishing choices and have found the perfect house plan to meet your budget and needs. Now you'll need to find a qualified general contractor to build your new home. This task requires some homework, but here are a few tips to help you make this important decision. Be sure to include these five questions when interviewing potential builders to make sure you select the right professional to build your dream home.

1. How many years of home building experience do you have?

When interviewing a builder, don't hesitate to ask anything you feel is important. You're making a very important decision that aligns with one of the biggest investments for most people and a professional builder will address all of your questions and concerns.

2. What Types of Homes Do You Typically Build?

The type and style of house plan you plan to build can be a factor in selecting the right builder. You want to make sure that your builder has experience building similar styles of homes. Some builders have experience building many different styles and size ranges of homes. Just do your homework and find out what each builder's specialty and forte is.

3. Can you provide built homes I can drive by to see completed work?

Most builders should be able to provide current or built projects that you can drive by to see the quality of their work. Many times you can do an online search and find real estate listings with provided address that will show interior photos as well. Seeing potential builder projects is an important part of the interviewing and decision making process.

4. Can you help acquire necessary building permits?

Depending on the location of your build, your planning and zoning boards, banks, and other organizations may have different permit requirements. Ask potential builders if they can manage or assist with this process. Even if it seems like something you can do yourself, a builder's professional experience can be a huge resource to assist with acquiring possible permits.

5. Can you supply at least two customer referrals?

A builder with satisfied customers should have a few willing to share their successful new home building experiences. Ask prior clients to discuss how their building projects went and what they think about their finished homes. Also be sure to search for reviews on sites like Yelp or Houzz and be sure to checkout the builder's business Facebook page.

And As a Final Step

Research your builder’s references by checking with your local Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Home Builders Associations to make sure there aren't past customer complaints or issues. Remember organizations like the BBB won’t have records of every complaint because most builders issue a warranty that's honored and most disputes that arise are resolved directly with the builder.

For most people, their home is their most valuable asset and selecting the best builder to meet your needs and budget is crucial. The House Designers provides a complimentary Home Building Organizer with a plan purchase to help organize, plan and select the many products you'll need to build your new home. This Organizer breaks down the new home construction process and will help keep you in sync with your builder and subcontractors as they undertake the task of building your new home.