5 Important Things to Consider when Choosing a Home Builder

Sasser HomesHome Builder

 

So, you’ve decided on building your next home versus buying an existing home. That home you’ve been dreaming of for years upon years, well, wake up, this is finally happening!  It can feel pretty overwhelming deciding what the next steps should be after making such a monumental decision.

Here are 5 important things to consider when choosing a home builder.

1. You have choices. Lots of choices.

First thing’s first: pick your budget, location, and home style. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s really important because all three of these decisions relate to one another.  Before you ever meet with your builder, it’s a good idea to discuss what your maximum budget will look like.  It never hurts to go ahead and get a pre-approval letter drafted from your lender and explore the type of loan that is right for you.  We can help you with this!  

  • Where would you like to live?
  • Which city/neighborhoods do you prefer?
  • Are you in the market for waterfront?

The good news about all of us here at Sasser, is that you are not required to purchase your lot from us, we are happy to build on your previously owned lot, wherever that may be.  Another choice you will have is to decide on whether you prefer to build a custom or semi-custom home. A custom home is one that is designed specifically according to your wants, needs and desires, from the ground up! A semi-custom home is one that has already been designed, but you do have options to choose from ranging from the model type, down to the lighting.  We offer an in house architect that takes the headache out of bringing your vision to life!  Ken Sedlacko, prides himself on drawing your home by hand, finalizing every detail before it ever makes it to the computer screen.  How’s that for “custom!”Custom Design

2. Bring on the questions.

 Ask the builder questions. No question is too big or too small!  We always suggest writing them down before your meeting. Consider these quick questions as a starting point:

  • Are you licensed and insured?
  • What is your warranty and service policy?
  • Does your style match what we’re looking for?
  • How many current projects do you have?
  • Do you have enough time to take on a new project?
  • What is your typical turnaround time?

Additionally, see how willing they are to let you in on their projects. Ask them if they have a recently finished homes you could tour or if one is being built that you could peek into. Personally, we love it when potential clients are prepared with questions!

3. Testimonials go a long way.

Chat with previous clients. You will learn quickly that being thorough is important in the home building process. Find out if there are any homeowners living in your potential home builder’s homes and see if they would be willing to chat with you.

Remember when we said to ask questions? Keep asking!

The internet is your FRIEND! We live in a reputation driven society, thanks to the world-wide-web. Humans LOVE to offer their opinions on the internet so do your research.  Check out popular sites for feedback and reviews such as: Facebook, Google and Houzz.

4. Evaluate quality over quantity.

Quality is key. This is a really great way to evaluate a potential home builder. You want a builder who is savvy in working with your budget, but you don’t want a penny pincher who will skimp out on safety. Even if you save some cash by cutting corners, you may end up dolling out more costs in the future due to shoddy work. On that topic, you should also make sure you invest in things that can’t be readily replaced. For example, even though you may want to totally splurge on those granite countertops, it may be wiser to put that cash towards a more energy-efficient HVAC system (unless you have the budget for both, in that case, get you that granite!) that will save you money in the long run.  A good builder will have already established relationships with local contractors that will save you time and money during this process.

5. Communication. Communication.

Do your communication styles match up? You want a homebuilder who is dedicated to you, not a homebuilder who is just cashing a check and building a box with a roof on top.  Are they really taking time to listen to you?  More importantly. Did they give you honest feedback? For example, if you asked them to build you a mansion on a shed-sized budget, would they respond with sincerity, even though they would have to tell you they couldn’t deliver what you wanted? Communicating clear expectations up front is absolutely key in the success of the finished product…your beautiful future home! That said, choose your builder wisely.

We know it’s a lot to think about, but trust us, when you’re actually sitting comfortably in your new home, (you know, the one you’ve envisioned in your dreams) you’ll be glad that you took the extra steps to make everything perfect. Plus, the relationship you’ve built (pun intended) with your home builder means that you can meet with them to review any aspect of your home building project at any time, and they will make sure that you’re satisfied. Finding the right home builder will make sure that your path to that home is as smooth and efficient as possible.

Want to know more? Reach our team here.