Checklist: Choosing a Northern Kentucky Custom Home Builder

As the spring and summer seasons come to an end, autumn is the perfect time to get started on a new construction home. If you’re in the process of choosing a Northern Kentucky custom home builder, here are a few tips on how to kick off the new project and make the best decision for you and your family.

Follow these steps and share your vision with the builder and community of your choice. That way, they can better understand your needs.

• Create your vision. When choosing a Northern Kentucky custom home builder, it’s important to include your team. Talk to your family members who will live in the home and make a list of far-fetched wishes, “must have” amenities and “wow” factor extras. You can prioritize these items later. What size home do you want? How many rooms do you need? What spaces will it include?

• Consider location. Do you prefer urban or rural settings? Would you want an established neighborhood with shared amenities, like a pool or clubhouse? Or do you prefer a private site with more acreage? How close do you want to be to work, schools, restaurants, public parks or shopping areas? It’s important to narrow your location down to a few specific areas.

• Decide on your budget. Putting together a financial plan is one of the most important steps in the process of choosing a Northern Kentucky custom home builder. Schedule a meeting with a lender or talk to your financial advisor to calculate what you can spend on a new construction home.
• Contact candidates. Surf the web for potential Northern Kentucky custom home builders, but don’t stop there — talk to friends, family members, coworkers and neighbors about their experiences with new home construction in the area.

• Make appointments. After you reach out to potential builders, make appointments to tour available lots with a real estate agent or the builder candidates. The space you choose will influence both the cost and design of your future house. After meeting with agents and builder contenders, you can pick and purchase your dream lot before confirming the design of your new home.

• Schedule tours. After you’ve met a few potential builders, tour a few of their previously built homes. Use the excursion to get a sense of the builder’s personality and the overall vibe of their work. Look at the quality, use of space and layout. Can you picture yourself living there? Inquire about the home design process and how much input you would be able to have.

• Request bids. Ask for bids from two or three builders. The total cost of your home building project will vary, so review each bid carefully to confirm you know what you’re getting. The most expensive bid may actually be a better value than a lower-priced one.

• Check references. Be sure to double-check references for each builder you are seriously considering.   

• Finalize your home plan. After you purchase your dream lot, work with your builder, architect or designer to create the perfect design for your new home.

• Review important documents. Review your builder’s final bids and proposals carefully. Ask questions about allowances and the level of finishes your contract specifies. Make sure you understand the payment process and construction timeline.  

• Sign your contract. Sign the contract and get excited to work with your new Northern Kentucky custom home builder.

The Best Northern Kentucky Custom Home BuildersAt Rivers Pointe Estates, we’ve hand-picked four top local builders to create homes with incredible variety and price points in our new master-planned community. You can find more information about each here. If you have further questions or would like to tour the community, contact John Toebben at (859) 512-2426 for a personal tour of all that Rivers Pointe has to offer.