If you have worked hard for a couple of decades and you are finally in the position to build your dream home, we congratulate you; it isn’t every day that you get to design your living space. Finding the right builder is essential and with that in mind, here are a few tips to steer you in the right direction.
- Do some online research – Every building contractor should have an online presence and surfing the web should reveal a lot about the company. How long they have been in business and whether they are members of building federations and associations, while there are awards handed out to master builders of custom homes, so look for awards, which are a guarantee of customer satisfaction.
- In-house architect – A custom builder should have an in-house team of architects who love to work with the client, ensuring that your dream home is exactly as you imagined it would be. Nothing is too much trouble and it is prudent to examine all the options regarding home design. Energy conservation should be high on the list of priority, along with minimum maintenance and the architect works closely with you until you approve the completed blueprints.
- Visit previous projects – The best way to rate a builder’s work is to visit a previous project; most custom builders are more than happy to take you on a tour of a recently completed housing development. Of course, there are numerous custom home builders that create bespoke homes and by creating a list and going through the various contractors, you should end up with one or two and you can approach both and compare.
- Adequate resources – It is essential that the builder has the resources to complete the build according to the timeline and when you deal with an award-winning master builder, you can be sure that your project with proceed smoothly and the day will come when you are invited to inspect the finished property.
- Long warranty – A good builder who has a reputation in the local community would offer a long warranty on all projects. Snagging is a term for fixing minor issues, which is normal for a new build and this would typically be carried out 3-6 months after occupancy.
Minor issues such as tight doors, where there has been some movement and you would be invited to list the issues and a team would snag the property and fix all the issues.
