Having your home built can be a very exciting time. You can decide how big to make the house and then how big to make each room in it. Everything will be up to you and what you want and need. However, the process is not always quick and easy, so you will need to find a custom home builder you are comfortable with to make sure you get what you want. Here are a few tips to make sure that you find the contractor that will best suit your needs.
References and Past Work
You need to be sure that the contractor you hire is going to be able to get your house down in a timely fashion and will use quality materials. The best way to do this is to meet with a few contractors to ask for references and to see some of the houses they have built. Make sure to follow through on this—do not just ask and then never go and meet with the people or see the houses. You should also ask to see the final inspections on all the houses so you can get a good idea of the quality of work done.
Ask About Subcontractors
Most custom home builders subcontract different portions of the job. This will usually involve them hiring plumbers, electricians, and perhaps people to do the drywall and interior finishing. Ask for a list of the subcontractors they work with and contact them each individually. When you talk with these people, make sure to ask them for references too. You should be able to request the subcontractors you want to work on your home, so make sure the general contractor will work with you on this.
Discuss Your Plans
Once you have limited the list of general contractors to two, take your plans to them. Go over exactly what it is you want and watch how they react. You want to work with a team that can envision the house you want and will be able to create it. The contractor should ask questions about the building. There should be a lot of back and forth at this meeting so you are both on the same page.
If at any point you do not feel comfortable with the professional, even if it is just something small, step back and talk with a different company. You do not want to get started and find out that you butt heads with the person building your home.
