You have a vision for your new dream home. Now the challenge is to find a builder who will understand your vision and be able to deliver it.
It’s a good thing that it’s not a matter of chance, but carefully calculated steps. Follow these seven steps below and you will more than likely end up with your dream house and not a headache.
Choose a Home Builder in 7 Steps
#1: Ask for referrals from everyone that you know. Friends, acquaintances, business associates. Learn about their experiences and ask to see the builders work. Ask whether the house was completed on time, came in on budget, and met all their needs.
#2: Contact professional associations like the local builders’ association or the Chamber of Commerce and talk to people who keep tabs on the building industry and who are qualified to give you the names of trustworthy, reliable new home builders. Local building material companies and building supply outlets can also provide advice, including which builders might have had trouble with payments or materials. Call the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission; they should be able to tell you if complaints were filed as well.
#3: Visit neighbuorhoods you like or new developments and ask people who are in their gardens or washing their cars about their experiences. Find out if they are happy with their new homes and whether or not they would recommend their builder. New home owners are usually thrilled to share the excitement of building a new home with others. Display homes are good opportunities to judge workmanship and the quality of materials and products that the builder deems appropriate.
#4: Check the level of on-site supervision provided by the builder.
#5: Once you have a list of several builders be sure each one is a member of a professional organisation. Narrow your list to five candidates and request an interview with each one at their office.
#6: Ask for a sample copy of a contract. Find out how long they have been in operation and ask for a list of clients you can contact to arrange for a tour of their homes. Always ask to see the completed work. Tell them your needs, your time frame, and the budget you are working with. Discuss guarantees and ask for bank reference to ensure that they are in good financial standing.
Try to find out not only if the builder is a good match for you but also if you are a good match for the builder. If the builder regularly constructs million dollar homes and you are only planning to spend $250,000, you might be better off with someone else.
#7: Ask for a written quotation from the top three candidates. You will need to compare bids on an oranges-to-oranges basis, so give them copies of plans and materials. Expect that some builders will charge a fee to prepare a quote which will probably be deducted if they are given the contract. The process will take some time so don’t be surprised if your estimates are not ready for a few weeks.
Evaluate the completed estimates not only in the sense of final cost but also for their preparation and attention to detail. Don’t make the mistake of selecting the lowest bidder unless you are sure that they can deliver a high quality product on time, because you will be counting on this builder to make your dreams come true.
Indigo Homes, with years of experience and a professional team behind us, can help you to realise your dreams so contact us today.
