There’s no debate–your dream home should be absolutely perfect! Making sure that your home turns out the way you envision requires a knowledgeable team of experts. Hiring the right architect and builder for the job is crucial to getting the results you want. With the right builder, your custom home project can run smoothly and efficiently. And since your home is an important, personal part of your life, it’s worthwhile to do some research before hiring a builder.
Certifications and Licenses to Look For
The licensing requirements for custom home builders differ from region to region, and some states do not require any formal licensing at all. Before choosing a builder to work with, be sure to familiarize yourself with local requirements for contractors. Whether or not your area requires specific licensing, hiring somebody with a contractor’s license ensures that they have undergone proper training and have experience working in the industry.
If your state does not require contractors to hold a specific license, you may still find professionals who have these and other qualifications. Just remember, a contractor who is licensed in one area of the country may not necessarily have the credentials required for work in another state. Before choosing a contractor to work with, make sure that they are qualified to work on your custom build project, no matter where you are located.
Research Builders in Your Area
A good start for your research is your state’s home builders association. State home builders associations are branches of the National Association of Home Builders, and should provide trustworthy information and resources about working with contractors. Their website will help you connect with qualified industry
professionals, provide relevant education, and share additional resources about the home building industry. You may be able to find a list of contractors working in your area and begin narrowing down your choices.
Starting with a broad list can be daunting, but there are some ways to narrow down your choices. Many contractors and build groups have websites with information about their past projects and how they work. A good way to learn about a builder’s work is to take a look at their professional portfolio. Reviewing photos of a contractor’s past projects reveals the style they typically build and the quality of their work. By researching past projects, you may even gain knowledge of how successfully their team works together.
If you come across a builder you are interested in, you can send them a message through their website contact form or reach out to them over the phone. This initial conversation allows you to see in real time how responsive the contractor is to client communications and feel out their overall attitude. You can also learn if the builder you want to work with will be willing and available to take on your project.
What to Ask Your Builder
As you get closer to making a decision, you may want to arrange for face-to-face meetings with your top candidates. Getting to know a builder is the key to successful construction. When it comes to your dream home, you want to know that you’re working with someone you can easily talk to and grow to trust. Throughout your custom build project, it’s important to maintain an open line of communication with your contractor and their team to ensure your project is executed properly.
To ensure you work with a knowledgeable and compatible builder, you may want to conduct a short interview with your top two or three choices. These interviews are your opportunity to ask the builder questions about their process, fee structures, and the feasibility of your vision for your dream home. Some examples of questions you may want to ask potential builders before settling on who you will hire are:
- How much control will I have over customizing standard features of the home?
- Is there flexibility in the floor plans they create?
- Does the builder offer a warranty on the work they do?
- Are there going to be any planned development changes to the area within the next 5 years?
- Will the builder give you testimonials of recent clients they have worked with?
Picking a Home Builder for Your Home
After chatting with each of your options and learning about their philosophies, styles, and seeing examples of their past work, you should be able to make a decision about who you would like to work with. Your custom home is a special project and an opportunity for you to control every detail of how your home will look, feel, and function.
Working with an experienced luxury custom home builder like the Anderson Studio of Architecture and Interior Design can improve your overall experience of building a custom home. Our knowledgeable and accomplished team puts the client’s preferences, inclinations, goals, and dreams at the center of every project to create personalized luxury homes. When you work with a professional builder group that you can trust, you’re sure to love the way your dream home is built!
