Building a new home is an exciting venture! However, hiring the right custom home builder for the job can seem like a daunting task. Improve your chances of hiring the right custom home builder by asking some in-depth questions before you sign on the dotted line.
Below, we will explore all the topics you should discuss before the renovations start.
5 Questions To Ask Your Vancouver Washington Custom Home Builder
What Features and Services Come With The Price?
Any new building project has a base price. It is a good idea to find out what features or services will be included in that base price so that you can budget accordingly. Some features or services will be included, while others can be arranged by adding additional feature requests to your custom home renovation or building project.
Some builders may offer you a low base cost, but not include any of the features that are really important to you. Asking lots of questions and making sure the scope of work matches your expectations is the best way to prevent disappointment at the end of the project.
It’s a good idea to ask the custom home builder if they include the following finishes in the base price:
- HVAC
- Plumbing for appliances
- Cabinets
- Electrical
- Flooring
- Tiling
- Countertops
Can You Provide Testimonials?
Asking your builder for references from recent customers is always an option. But, a lot of people feel uncomfortable calling former customers. If you are comfortable doing this and love to make new acquaintances, then feel free to try this.
However, if you would prefer a more laid-back approach, then ask your builder for testimonials. This way, you still get all the information you want without any effort.
Furthermore, be sure to hire someone that has been in the building business for a considerable amount of time. We reckon that ample experience and great testimonials are both equally important when it comes to finding a builder that is worth their weight in gold.
How Often Will We Communicate During Construction?
When building a new home, it is important it establish open communication channels between the builder and the customer. Regular conversations and review meetings during the construction keeps the project moving along as expected and prevents any misunderstandings about expectations.
Using project management technology that is updated in real time makes it easy to keep everyone in loop of progress. This way the builder can easily keep you up to date as the building project evolves.
How Flexible Is The Custom Home Builder For Changes?
We all know that building a new home is all about customizing every detail. Which is why it is important to ask questions early in process as previously discussed.
If you want to build from scratch and later decide to expand on scope of work after construction has started, will you be allowed to do so? This can include expanding a room, adding an extra bathroom, rethinking the roofline, or adding a deck to round it all up.
Reasonable change requests are a common occurrence. Sometimes they can be easily accommodated, other times it can increase the cost of the project significantly.
What Home Warranty Do You Offer?
A custom home builders warranty policy typically offers limited coverage on materials and workmanship. This is something that you need to fully understand before you select a custom home builder. While these policies are broadly similar, each builder has their own terms and conditions. The warranty expiration dates on plumbing and electrical work differ from that of building materials and workmanship.
A great builder will go all out to make sure that they can meet all your expectations to ensure you are happy with the end result.
Final Thoughts
By asking great questions during pre-construction project meetings, you will definitely find the perfect home builder for every project you take on. Doing your homework will not only guarantee great results, but it can also save you time and resources.
