Building a house is a big undertaking. For many homeowners, it could be one of the biggest things they ever do, especially when it’s a custom built home. With this in mind, it’s important to find the right builder for the job. When looking for custom home builders, you want to find the right fit… A builder that will expertly guide you through the process and deliver you a beautiful home that will stand the test of time.
So, how do you choose the right builder for your project? There are a few important things to consider ensuring you find the right fit for you and your project.
Skills and Experience
One of the first things you need to consider when interviewing custom home builders is the skills and experience they have. Some builders may have been in the industry for years, others may be just starting out or are transitioning into custom home builds from other areas of construction. When finding the right fit for you, it’s important that you are aware of the builder’s background and you are confident that they have the right amount of skills and experience to complete your project.
It’s also worthwhile considering the builder’s building style. Some builders are adept at handling any style of construction, while other builders like to stick to their own preferred style. For example, some builders are more experienced in modern homes while others prefer to build classic or period style homes. It may not work well if you are after a heritage look and feel to your home, but you’ve hired a builder that has more experience in building modern style homes.
When choosing your builder, be very clear and open as to the style, look and feel you want to achieve with your home. The team you ultimately choose as your custom home builders will need to get your vision and can confidently bring that vision to life.
Your Build Budget
Budget is always a high priority when choosing the right builder for your custom home build. Generally speaking, building a custom home can often cost more than an off-the-shelf design built by a volume builder. And with custom built homes, it can often be hard to even compare quotes on a pricing level, as there is simply no average.
When it comes to talking to builders about your plans for your home and the budget you have, it’s always good to be clear on what elements of your home are an absolute must and what other features you would like to incorporate, if your budget allows. And when the quotes come in, it’s a good idea not to just compare apples to apples, but consider what you are getting with each builder for your money alongside other factors outlined in this article such as communication, reputation, availability and so on.
Contract, Inclusions and Fine Details
Taking the tip above one step further, it’s not only important to always check what is included and what is not within the building quotes you receive, but also that this information is clearly outlined in the building contract before you sign on the bottom line.
Professional custom home builders will offer you a building contract that clearly outlines everything associated with the build from start to finish, and they should go through this thoroughly with you, so you are aware of all the details.
Your contract should include:
A full set of plans
Project specifications
Warranty information
Insurance information
Time variations, such as what happens if there are weather delays or events that can affect the schedule
Variations to the work, should you want to make changes while the home is under construction
Pricing, including a payment schedule which details the deposit and progress payment information
If you are not sure of any details in your contract, or you feel there is information missing, talk it through with the builder until you are satisfied all your concerns are answered.
Local Area Knowledge
It is always a good idea to select a builder who works within the local area you are building. If you are Building in Brisbane, then it’s more advantageous to engage a Brisbane custom builder over an out of area builder.
Local builders who have completed projects within the area will have more local area knowledge, they will be able to show you some local projects and give you advice and suggestions about your build. This may include some suggestions which you may not have thought about. `
Local area builders also have established relationships with other trades and suppliers in the area, which often translates to cost savings on your project and, as they have already built relationships with the local council and certifiers, it can make the whole building process a lot smoother.
Reputation and Reviews
Reputation is also something that should be considered. Going through reviews and references of the builders you are looking to engage will give you a good idea of what type of builder they are and what type of experience you are likely to have.
A good builder will answer all questions you have openly and will be able to show you examples of past projects.
Local certification companies may also be able to give you advice and feedback on the builder and provide an indication as to the quality of work the builder produces.
Communication
Communication is always important to the overall success of a project. With custom home builders, it’s imperative that they have good communication, transparency throughout the project and a personality that helps you build a good working relationship with them.
Communication can be the one element that can make or break a project. Good communication keeps everything flowing seamlessly with everyone on the same page. Difficult communication can cause hold-ups and costly misunderstandings. A good builder will have strong systems in place that ensures communication between all parties is easy and stress-free.
It’s important to spend a quality amount of time with your builder before you project kicks off so you can get a feel for their personality and communication style. During this time, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to feel confident that you are selecting the right builder.
If you are working with an Architect on the design of your home, it’s a good idea to get them involved when choosing a builder, so you know they are going to work well together.
Time Frames and Availability
Another factor to consider when choosing the best custom home builder for your project is the timeframe in which you want to build your home and the availability of the builder. Some builders can be booked out for months or even years depending on the projects they have in the pipeline, and If you are under time constraints then it may not be feasible to work with that builder.
It’s a good idea to ask builders upfront what their availability is like and if they have the capacity within their current and future workload to complete your project. There is no point in researching all other components if the time frames are simply not going to work.
Researching Custom Home Builders Takes Time
It can take a bit of time and effort to research custom home builders for your project, but that time and effort is well worth it when you find the right builder to bring your dream home to life. So, take your time, do your homework and when considering custom home builders, consider Line and Form Construction. We go above and beyond to ensure your custom home journey is as just as good as the beautiful home you end up with.
Call our office today on 07 3117 3766 and let’s talk about your new custom built home.
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