When considering building a new home, finding the right custom builder can be daunting. There are many factors to consider, like experience, communication style, and included vs. additional costs. But any new homeowner will tell you that it's critical to take care when selecting your builder because the costs of choosing poorly can be steep.
To help you make the right decision from the start, we're exploring several of these costs of choosing the wrong custom home builder, with tips to help you avoid them.
Custom-built homes allow a homeowner to make more decisions regarding the design, square footage, layout, fixtures, and unique features of their new home. This approach differs from developments owned by a production builder, who typically limits floor plans and design selections to streamline construction.
If you're looking for more design control and would prefer to have more say in your home's overall look and feel, consider choosing a development or community with custom home construction.
But not all custom home builders offer the same experiences, and the costs of getting it wrong can be high. Read on for six costs of selecting the wrong builder and how to avoid paying them.
Some delays during construction are common due to supply challenges, change orders, and availability of labor. These delays can cost you time and money, so the best custom home builders minimize these delays through excellent scheduling and project management skills.
A great custom home builder can adapt and move construction teams around so that progress is continually being made. They have relationships with multiple vendors and can sometimes source materials and work from other providers so they can minimize delays throughout the build.
Look for a builder with experience building in your community with a big enough team to devote the right amount of time to your project. If you're having trouble getting in touch during your initial conversations with a builder, this could mean they're stretched too thin and unable to devote the proper attention to your house.
Not knowing what's going on during your build can be stressful and frustrating, costing you peace of mind. You need to know how the custom home building process will work, how to submit change orders, and the impacts of those changes on the overall schedule, so that you can make informed decisions. But that can't happen when you're not being updated regularly.
When interviewing custom builders, get a sense of their communication style and a clear understanding of how often you will receive updates throughout the process. Be clear about what decisions your project manager needs to come to you about, and those that can be made without your approval.
Things move fast during a custom home build. What's the best way to contact you when they have quick questions? Are you free to talk during the day or do you prefer emails or texts? The better communication processes you establish early on, the easier it is to keep the job moving.
A budget is an essential part of any custom home build, and it needs to be accurate and consistently monitored. If you're considering multiple builders and you receive a quote much lower than the others, beware. A quote that's much lower than the others likely inaccurate, which can lead to a builder cutting corners during your job to increase profitability, or that you'll be subject to hefty overages later on when the actual work is complete.
The price per square foot will vary based on the layout, size, design, and the materials you select for things like tile, flooring, and so on. And, with current inflation and rising prices of materials and labor, even the most accurate estimate at the start may have some fluctuation. This is why it's so important that your builder communicate with you timely so that you can approve overages, request more money from your construction loan, or make changes to your design to save money elsewhere.
Not only is it important to have an accurate estimate so that your final price is in line with your expectations, but you also want to make sure that the contractor you choose has your best interests in mind.
There are many benefits to working with experienced custom home builders. Their relationships with local vendors and subcontractors often gives them buying power and cost savings that they can pass on to their clients throughout the course of the build. Ask what kind of commitment to cost savings your prospective builder offers and make sure you feel comfortable.
A great builder doesn’t just help you save money. They’ll also help find ways to add value to your home. You might be building the dream home your family will never want to leave. But chances are, you'll want to sell your house at some point. Experienced builders can review your house plans and layout during construction and offer you design or feature tweaks that can increase your home's functionality or aesthetic appeal, which can help earn you more when it's time to sell.
Rework can be costly, so you need to know that your builder will make every effort to complete each step of your home construction correctly from the start. Many homeowners, though, may not want to contact an architect to make changes to a plan once they've purchased it because it can be more expensive and take time. Consider choosing a builder with an architect on staff and easy access to structural engineering services when needed, so they're prepared from the start.
You can't afford to make the wrong choice when building your custom home. The right builder will make you feel comfortable throughout the process, managing every detail while updating you often. And a great relationship like that is priceless.
Choose Tennessee Custom Homes, the premier builder in Tennessee National.
