Strategic Points Group: Buying Homes: Choosing your home builder

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When shopping for a builder for your new home you want to be very selective.

Whether you are buying a condo, a townhouse, a house in a subdivision, or a custom-home, you want to know that you are buying a good quality home from a reputable builder. No one wants the agony and nightmares associated with a cracked foundation or sagging roof 10 years down the road because an unsupervised contractor skimped on materials.

Once you have thought about the type of house you want, where should you look for a builder? Check with your local builders association to obtain a list of builders who construct homes in your area. Look in the local newspapers, telephone directory, and the Internet for builders and projects. Looking through the these different sources and reading the articles can help you to learn which builders are active different areas, the types of homes they are building, and the prices you can expect to pay. Make a list of builder contact information for the type of home you're looking for in your price range.

Local realtors and lenders may also be able to help you in your search. Ask friends and relatives for suggestions. Ask about homebuilders they have dealt with directly, or ask them for names of someone who has recently had good experiences with builders.

Search through thousands of professionally designed house plans from North America's top architects and designers.

Do some homework
Once you have a list of homebuilders, now you can find out about their reputations and the quality of their work. One of the best ways to learn about builders is to visit homes they have built and talk with the owners.

Contact builders on your list for the addresses of their recently built homes and subdivisions. Builders may even be able to provide names of some home owners who would be willing to talk with you.

Drive by on a weekend morning when home owners may be outside doing their chores or errands. Introduce yourself and say you are thinking about having the builder who built their home construct one for you. Talk to several homeowners, and try to get a good random sample of opinions. The more people you visit with, the more accurate an impression of the builder you are likely to get. At the very least, go by and see if the homes are structurally sound and visually appealing.

When you talk to builders and home owners, take good notes on your personal impressions about builders and homes. Doing so helps you to make good comparisons later. Some questions you could ask people include: Are you pleased with your home? If you had any problems, were they fixed timely and properly? Would you recommend this builder?

Usually, people tell you if they are happy with their homes. And if they are not, they'll probably want to tell you about it.

Get quality and value
Look at new homes and research them on the internet whenever you can. Home shows and open houses are good opportunities to look at homes. Model homes displayed in home shows are often furnished to give you ideas for using the space. You may also ask a builder or representative to see unfurnished homes.

When examining homes, look at the quality of features and craftsmanship. Inspect the cabinetry, carpeting, trimwork, concrete and paint. Ask a lot of questions and get as many specifics as possible. What seems like an insignificant question might yield important answers.

Always keep value in mind when looking. Just because a home is less expensive than similar home does not mean it is a better value. Likewise, a more expensive home does not guarantee higher quality.

Another aspect that can be important to home value is design quality. When you examine homes, determine whether they will suit your lifestyle needs. Is there ample kitchen and storage space? Are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms? Will you have room to accommodate special interests or hobbies such as a home office or exercise room? Consider the amount of upkeep required both indoors and out. Is the location of the property convenient to transportation, shopping, schools or other places of interest to you?

Ask questions
An important consideration for selecting a builder is the warranty provided on the home. Most builders today offer some form of written warranty. Typically, they back their own warranties on workmanship and materials for one year. Ask to see a copy of the builder's warranty and ask questions about the coverage. Don't wait to read it until after you move in and a problem arises.

Also, find out what kind of service you can expect after the sale. For emergencies, the builder should be able to send someone to your home right away.

Question suggestions

How long has the company been in business?

How do you handle customer service after the sale? Are requests to be in writing?

Who is responsible for correcting problems with major appliances?

Does the builder belong to the local builders association (affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders?)

Does the builder use energy conservation features? Equipment, insulation, design, and landscaping can all affect a home's energy efficiency ratings.

Try these other related FAQ sections:


			New Mortgage

			Refinance

			Home Equity

			Debt Consolidation

			Construction

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