How to Hire the Right Builder

tni_adm — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:42:56 +0000

If only making over the home or building a new single family home was as fantasy-like as depicted on the television show, “Extreme Makeovers.” The premise of the popular program is to transform an outdated home into a dream domicile. At the end of the show, the homeowner is so overwhelmed with joy that they cry.

In reality, home construction projects rarely conjure the same type of elation. Whether it’s the new room addition, a complete renovation or for the construction for a new home, finding a builder who has the expertise, artisanship and ethical acumen is the difference between sobbing for satisfaction versus shedding tears of emotional devastation.

Hiring the right builder to architect the schematics of your home floor plan is the most paramount aspect of the project’s undertaking. Best House Floor Plans compiled a short list for finding and hiring the right builder.

1) Begin the quest at Home Floor Plans and More. The home design site has a database of 17,000 home floor plans and hundreds of homebuilders throughout the nation.

2) Next, execute the following due diligence:

* Review the license.

* Conduct your own background check. Ask for references. The verification is a two-part process. First, ask to review photos of completed projects. Second, contact the builder’s previous clients to learn about the quality of the contractor’s craftsmanship. If possible, try to schedule a brief meeting with the homeowners to evaluate completed projects. Also, check with your local attorney general’s office to determine if there are any complaints or suits pending against the builder.

3) Ask the pertinent questions:

How many projects do you currently have in development?
If your builder is juggling multiple projects at a time, it could drag out your project’s completion date. A homebuilder with too many projects may be unable to complete your home on time.

What are your policies and procedures for purchasing building parts and labor?

4) Obtain bids from three different contractors. Be sure to peruse and compare the details of each quote.

5) Make sure you download a contract at the Home Floor Plans and More that indemnifies you from legal obligation to any of the builder’s vendors and contractors.

Share your best and worst home design project stories with us.

How to Find a Builder

Finding Builders and Architects

How to find a builder you can trust

How To Find a Good Builder

Best House Floor Plans » homebuilders

How to Hire the Right Builder