Five Questions to Ask Your Home Builder
Five Questions to Ask Your Home Builder
Buying a new home is never easy. That is probably why many new home buyers are too quick to sign on the dotted line if the process goes smoothly for them.
Often, buyers put down a deposit without even speaking to the home builder. But this is something important to keep in mind. As Bigham & Associates, LLC team of professionals points out, talking to your home builder can help you better understand the issues that could potentially arise as well as outline solutions beforehand as and when needed.
Here are five questions that all home buyers should ask their home builder:
1. How long have you been building homes?
This is the most basic question that you should ask your home builder. In general, you want to buy a home from a builder who has been in business for many years and has a solid reputation.
At the same time, you should ask the number of homes they have built, what year did they build them, and at what price did those properties sell. You can easily confirm these facts by doing an online search. But asking your home builder directly will make them understand that you are a serious client and that you know what you are looking for.
Also, it is always a good idea to check the online reviews of the builder and compare these testimonials and reviews with your impression after talking to them.
2. What are the types of homes you build?
This is a very important question, especially if you are very specific about what you want. If you want a modern freestanding home and the builder specializes in the traditional terrace or apartment-style homes or, they may not be the best home builders for you.
Try to match your requirements with the right type of builder, and the best way to find if it will be a good match between the two is by talking to them and asking them questions.
3. What is so different about the homes you build?
In general, you want to select a builder with a good reputation within the industry. Keep in mind that no home builder will highlight their negatives; or any problems they’ve incurred in the past.
Every builder will paint you a rosy picture, but by asking the right questions, you can determine what is true and what is not. Even if your home builder says that their homes are saleable, are durable, rarely have flaws, and are custom-designed to meet the needs of the buyer, you still need to ask them what makes them different.
What makes them stand out from other builders? What examples can they show you to demonstrate their edge over other builders? A reputable builder will have a portfolio of their accomplishments and provide you with images.
4. Who will be responsible for the paperwork and permits?
Permits are a major element when it comes to building a home. And most home buyers/builders do not know the local requirements when it comes to what they can and cannot do.
In most cases, if you decide to have a home built, the builder will obtain the permits for you. The builder will have knowledge about the local district laws on home building. But they will need you to sign forms and applications depending on the type of home you’re going to build.
You need to ask these questions, and you need to confirm that it is the builder who will take care of the process, the approvals for any permits that are needed.
5. When will the project finish and how often will I get updates?
Always get in writing the anticipated date of completion of the home. If the builder is unable to provide you with a date of completion, it is a major indicator that they might not be the right one for you.
You do not want to wait more than 18-24 months for the home to be completed. In addition, ask the builder how often they will keep you updated. Make sure you get everything in writing, including the estimated final cost of the home.
Any unforeseen expenses or issues must be run by you, and that is something you also need to communicate to the home builder before you begin working with them.
In most cases, builders are reputable professionals, but it is still your responsibility to do your homework, ask the right questions, conduct proper research, and then finalize the builder.
Remember, you don’t build a home every day. It is not a small job, and the expense involved is quite high. You don’t want to work with someone who does not have a good reputation or the right amount or the right type of experience. The better your builder, the better will be the final outcome.