What Questions You Should Ask a Potential Home Builder

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As a Homebuyer who's chosen to have your home built for you, you're investing a significant amount of time and money into the process. So it's only natural that you have questions. During our 20+ years of new home construction experience, all of our clients have had a healthy interest in the building process. Because of that, they've had some common questions that always come up.

In this blog post, you'll get a comprehensive list of questions to ask a potential builder to set your expectations early and be confident with your final choice.

How many years have you been in business?

Of course, every home builder has to start somewhere. But you want a skilled, qualified builder to count on to get the results you're after. While they don't need to be fifth-generation builders, an experienced builder will have the knowledge and experience to keep customers happy and run a successful business. 

Look for a builder who's been in business for at least 5 years. An experienced home builder should have extensive knowledge about the area you plan to build in; with knowledge of utilities, building codes, and inspections.

This combined with their willingness to provide references should give you a good idea of the health of their business.

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How many homes have you built?

The answer to this question should give you an idea of their experience with home building. If you're looking for a particular home style to be built you should ask how many homes they've built in that style, as well. If the builder mostly specializes in log cabins, they may not be the first choice for a raised beachfront home or a tiny home if that's your thing.

Hiring a builder with experience building the style of home you want will make the process that much smoother. You'll avoid learning curves and other challenges they may face constructing your home.

What licenses and insurance do you have?

The state of South Carolina requires home builders to be licensed, but some states don't. Regardless, you should ask a potential home builder about their licensing. A reputable builder shouldn't hesitate to provide proof of insurance and licenses and it's even better if they display the information proudly on their website or in their office.

Hiring a builder that's not properly licensed and insured puts you and your new home at risk if they happen to get shut down. You could potentially lose your deposit and more. In addition, you're liable for any unlicensed workers on a property you own. So hiring a company that's properly insured and licensed to work in the state you're building in is crucial.

What type of home warranty do you offer? 

In theory, one of the benefits of building a brand new home is not worrying about repairs, right? Every inch of the home is brand new from the foundation, to the plumbing to the cabinets. But what if something does break? Who's responsible for the repairs or maintenance?

Ask your builder what type of warranty program they offer on their work. You want the peace of mind that they stand behind the quality of their work and that they'll make it right if something does happen to go wrong. Ask what's covered and what's not and what the warranty period is after completion of the work.

And always get the agreement in writing.

Can you provide references from previous home buyers? 

A quality home builder will happily tout their previous clients' satisfaction, right? Well, of course, a builder will say their clients are the happiest in the world! But how can you make sure you're comfortable with the claims?

You can start by doing a little homework on your own. Review the builder's website, online reviews, and social media to see what kind of opinion past clients have toward the builder. Next, ask the builder for a list of references or client testimonials you can see. Finally, ask if they have model homes you can tour.

Calling someone out of the blue can seem awkward and intrusive so don't be surprised if the builder wants to protect their past clients' privacy. However, if they have references willing to speak to you, there are a few questions we recommend asking them:

1. What was your experience like?
2. How did the builder handle construction delays?
3. Would you say you're satisfied clients?
4. Would you hire this builder again?

What sets you apart from other home builders?

Whether you're trying to choose between several builders or have your heart set on just one, this is an important question to understand who you'll be working with. Allow the builder to toot their own horn and display a bit more of their personality.

Ask the builder what it is about the company that truly sets them apart from the others in the area. This will give you insight into the type of people you'll be working with and help you decide if you'll enjoy the process of working with them. Not only that but the small details they mention and the pride in their work should be apparent.

What are the standard features included in your homes?

It's important to understand what is and is not included in the home you're considering. When planning your budget and preparing for your mortgage loan, you don't want any expensive surprises down the road. Discuss in detail with the builder what exactly is included in the base price of the home, what features would be extra, and how much each will be.

While one builder's base price may seem like a great deal, things that seem like necessities such as plumbing for appliances and electrical wiring may be additional. You must have a list of the features you want so you understand what costs to expect and request a complete estimate to include all these items for your reference.

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What are the options and upgrades I can choose from?

How "Custom" do you want your custom home? It's important to understand that one custom builder's definition of custom can be completely different from another. One builder's "Custom" only amounts to cosmetic changes such as paint colors, countertops, and light fixtures. While other builders' "Custom" options run the full gamut of adding extra bedrooms, altering the roofline, or increasing the room size.

While most homebuyers are looking for something somewhere in the middle, it's important you clearly understand your options to make the most informed decision.

Who will I communicate with during the home construction?

In our opinion, whether you're buying an existing home or having one built from the ground up, clear communication throughout the entire process is key. 

And clear communication should start from the get-go. Ask the builder how they plan to communicate with you and who the point of contact will be.

Do you want to decide on your home needs, sign off and only get updates at specific milestones?

Do you prefer frequent updates to keep your finger on the pulse of the entire process?

Let the builder know upfront.

It should also be clear exactly who will be your point of contact during the process. If the builder isn't clear with you who your contact will be, tell them you prefer a single point of contact. This ensures you're getting the most accurate and up-to-date information.

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How will you handle construction delays?

If you've ever completed a large project for work or a DIY project at home, you'll know that things happen. Problems arise, setbacks occur and there's always a chance that the original timeframe you started with can potentially change.

What mattered, in the end, is how those delays were dealt with, right? This is a great question to ask your builder to give you insight into how open and honest they're going to be and how they'll handle setbacks if they should occur.

photo by Ksenia Chernaya

What is the deadline for making changes to the construction plans?

The answers about their standard features, options, and upgrades should already give you some idea of what can and can't be done with your new home construction. It's also important to understand how long you have to make changes to the design before it's too late. 

Additionally, this will also give you some insight into how flexible your builder will be during the construction process.

What's the average time to complete construction?

Whenever something exciting is on the horizon, it's natural to want to know how soon it's going to happen. It's only natural to wonder how soon you'll be settling into your new home.

However, the answer depends on a few things such as how complex your home design is, the number of changes that are made during construction, and other decisions. But, they should be able to give you a general idea of the timeline for a home like yours.

And don't be afraid to ask! You need to plan your move, pack, and do other general planning as well.

Do I have to locate the land myself or can you help me find land for my new home?

If you haven't purchased a plot of land you're going to need to find a piece of property to build your new home on. Some builders can take the process off your hands by inspecting and purchasing the land on your behalf. This is a great service if available as the builder will know what type of land your home design requires, what the property values are, etc. 

If the builder doesn't offer this service, it's going to be your responsibility. You'll need to choose an architect or land surveyor yourself to confirm if the land you're interested in is capable of building your home on.

photo by tima miroshnichenko

The Bottom Line

While these may seem like a lot of questions, don't shy away from asking them. The more questions you ask, the more information at your disposal to make informed decisions during the selection process. This decision is one of the biggest investments you'll make - it's crucial you have the information you need so there are no surprises.

We at The Family Real Estate Group, for one, welcome these types of questions! We're committed to building exactly the home you want and ensuring you're completely satisfied with the process. If you have any additional questions about the home building process, don't hesitate to get in touch. 

And if you're reading this and thinking about building your dream home, why not give our free mortgage calculator a try to see how much home you could afford to build?

The Family Real Estate Group  |  843-609-5202  |  chris.sotiroglou@gmail.com