With so much to consider, where do you start your builder search? The simplest place to start is with pure aesthetics. First find a number of companies that have built homes that you love.  It’s a simple way to narrow down your list. If you gravitate towards a particular style, you may want to include builders that specialize in those areas, such as Craftsman, Prairie, Victorian, etc.

Research Your Style Preference - Make Your Short List

The best way to find builders is either online or through open houses.  You can use Redfin (which is my favorite) or other online services to find builders that have homes on the market. Use their advanced search options and filter on new construction or years. You can search classified ads to find open houses.

Six Questions You Should Ask Builders

Once you find your handful of builders, you should ask the following questions:

1. Do they have a standard specifications or materials list? Here is an example of ours. This is important because it gives you a way to compare builders and their relative pricing. Builder A may be more expensive than Builder B but Builder A’s home may be a much better value.

2. Do they have standard pricing or a range of pricing? If the answer is “no” or “let’s just start the project and see” then that is a red flag. A builder should be able to give you a reasonable estimate of cost.

3. Do they custom design or modify any of their plans? Many builders will not and you need to know that upfront.

4. Do they offer a warranty…if so what does it cover? It’s extremely important for the house to be covered by a warranty. Make sure the builder you choose offers one. If the builder offers a third party warranty you should research the third party company thoroughly. Many have terrible reviews.

5. Can you talk to past clients? This is a no brainer and you should do it before moving forward with any builder.

And the most important question!!!!!

6. Do you feel comfortable with your preferred builder? Building your own home is a long process, and probably the largest purchase you will ever make. You and your builder are essentially partners that need to work together to achieve the best possible outcome. You should feel you can have a good working relationship as you will be spending a lot of time together during the process.