Building a New House? 9 Key Questions to Ask Home Builders

When it comes to custom home building, you are a big part of the process! Choosing the right home builder for you is an integral part of the process as well. Making sure you know what questions to ask home builders will help you choose the right one for you and your home vision.  It will also make the process more enjoyable. Here are nine key questions to ask each potential builder: 

Do You Deliver Homes On Time?

Most home builders have a checklist and strategies they use to stay organized and on time. Still, some parts of a custom home project, such as weather and outside suppliers, can cause delays. Learning about the efforts a builder makes to stay on track – and how they communicate changes to their clients – can help you get a good sense of how they run their day-to-day business. Things happen, but you don’t want to be left in the dark. 

How Customizable Are the Homes You Build?

Most new construction homes are customizable to varying degrees. In some instances, you will be able to choose from a handful of options for things like countertops in order for your project to stay within budget and on time. Other custom home builders will allow you to choose whatever you like that’s currently on the market, as long as you have the budget and, if necessary, the time to wait for delivery of that item. It’s also important to ask how customizable your home’s floor plan is and what other facets of the home you might be able to put your own stamp on. 

How Long Have You Been in the Business?

Choosing a reputable builder will help ensure the quality of your home and the efficiency in which it is built. The longer they’ve been in the business, the more skills they have likely acquired. The more conflicts they’ve dealt with and worked through, the more happy customers they’ve had that have kept their business thriving. By the way, the builders we’ve selected for Rivers Pointe Estates are all well-established, fully licensed and locally owned family businesses.  

What Differentiates You From Other Custom Home Builders?

What do they offer that other builders don’t or can’t?  What will they do that is above and beyond the others? Questions like this will help you learn how you will benefit from choosing a certain builder.

How Will You Communicate With Me Throughout the Process?

Building a custom home is a highly collaborative process between you and your builder and at the core of collaboration is communication. Find out how the builder intends to communicate with you whether it be via email, texts, calls, photos, etc. and how often. It’s important you know how they will keep you up to date with the construction of your new home. We bet that tracking the construction of your new home will be exciting for you and your family. 

When Will I Know the Final Price of My Home and How Is It Determined?

Do they intend to provide you with the total cost up front, or will they be adjusting the price throughout the process, or will they wait until the project is completed before giving you a final cost? A breakdown of costs ahead of time is always helpful; but keep in mind that changing your mind on your home’s design or its fixtures and finishes during construction can add to the bottom line.  

How Far Into The Process Can I Make Changes?

This will go hand in hand with how customizable your home is and how flexible your builder is. Naturally, things change, and you may decide you no longer want a certain floor tile or you may decide you want to add a bonus room. Your builder may have a set deadline for allowing changes or they might be more willing to work with you throughout the entire process. To make the project as streamlined as possible, it’s always best to carefully consider your wants and needs in the design selection phase, before construction starts. And once you’ve made decisions on things like carpets and cabinets, stick with them and look forward to the finished result.  

Have You Built the Style of Home I’m Looking For Before?

Although your custom builder will likely build any style you like, it may be helpful to know if they have experience building the style of home you are envisioning. Some custom home builders are known for a certain style of home even though they are capable of building any style. It’s important to find a builder that understands your vision, and has the experience to execute it.

Do You Offer Energy-Efficient Options?

You may not have thought about sustainability in your home before, but building a new home is a perfect time to evaluate your values. If it is important to you to have a home with energy-saving features, you’ll want to verify that your builder is capable of integrating them into your home design. Remember, making “green” choices, like with energy-saving appliances, can save you money on utilities month after month.  

Have More Questions to Ask Home Builders at Rivers Pointe?

At Rivers Pointe we have four premier custom home builders for you to choose from when designing your dream home. Request more information or schedule a personal tour with our developer today.