The Complete Guide to Hiring a Home Builder

There's no denying that building your ideal home is an exciting, alluring prospect. When you build your home, it becomes possible to craft exactly the home you want, personalized to your chosen tastes and preferred characteristics. Still, the easy part is usually dreaming up the home — actually bringing it into reality is a bit more challenging. Who do you hire to build a house in the precise way you envision it?

This article will outline some tips for hiring contractors, advice for hiring a builder and various questions to ask a home builder before hiring them. Here's your essential guide to hiring a home builder. 

Why Should You Hire a Builder?

A home building project takes plenty of money, time and effort. Many people who build their homes don't have the level of expertise needed to see the process through themselves. Plus, when your home is in the building stages, life continues — meaning you have a plate full of other responsibilities to manage.

Ultimately, hiring someone whose sole job is to build your home will be extremely helpful, offering the following benefits:

• Convenience: Many home builders oversee the entire construction process, from carpentry and tile work to security system installation. This comprehensiveness will make your life much easier, as you can put your home design into the hands of someone who has complete professional experience. While you'll still want to stay informed about each stage of the process, you won't have to make the build your entire schedule for months to come.
• Cost: If you're uncertain about the building process and lack the necessary experience, costs could start to run up as construction happens. With a home builder, you can get the assurance you need before building even begins — some builders will work with you on initial designs to make sure everything you want is realistic and within your budget. That way, you won't encounter any surprises during construction and can have confidence knowing your dream home is achievable.
• Information: A home builder's expertise in the field can give you something else that's valuable — information. Since you'll be communicating with the builder relatively often, you can get some insight into the process and find ways to make your home exactly the way you want. With an open line of communication, the process can become collaborative and you both can work together to bring your dream home to life. 

With all of the benefits of hiring a home builder, it's easy to see why most homeowners choose to hire one. Whether it be convenience, the ability to collaborate on designs or access to information, a home builder will be able to make the process much more stress-free and manageable.

How to Find the Right Builder

There are several different ways to figure out how to choose a contractor — having some actionable steps to help you through the process will be beneficial. 

1. Research 

Start your home builder search by going online — this is one of the best ways to see the options that are out there. In the early stages, you'll want to create a rough pool of potential builders.

You'll be looking for their level of experience and reliability. You can do this by checking reviews online and exploring the company's or contractor's website. On their website, you can look for various points of information that will give some insight into how they run their business:

• Gallery: An experienced company will likely have a gallery or portfolio showing off past work. This section will give you a good look at the quality of work they do and give you some knowledge about how many projects they've completed.
• Testimonials: Look for testimonials on the company's site. These will show you testaments from past customers who are happy with the work the company has completed.
• Transparency: A great company will have a transparent website — this will include things like an outline of their process from start to finish, descriptions of various warranties and information on any affiliations they have with professional organizations. The level of transparency a company has will be a significant indicator of how well they operate.

2. Inquire Locally 

Another great way to find the right home builder is to check locally. Your local home builders' association can help you figure out how to find a home builder in your area. Some companies may have already built a certain rapport within the community. These are often builders who you can trust to do a great job on your home.

You can also consult friends, family and neighbors who have recently had construction done — ask them who they used and if they were happy with the work. Getting some assurance from someone you trust is one of the best testimonials you can find.

When you're looking into how to find a builder in your area, inquiring locally with organizations and members of the community is an effective strategy.

3. Check for Reliability

Once you've narrowed down your options, it's vital to check the reliability of those companies. This is a key part of the process, as you'll want to ensure you're getting a qualified, experienced home builder who will get the job done the right way.

When you're hiring a home builder, you can check for reliability in a few different ways: 

• Experience: If a company has been in business a long time, you'll be more confident that they're financially stable and they can complete the vision you have for your new home. 
• Affiliations: Check if they're registered with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or other organizations that speak to their professionalism. Awards and accolades are great indicators of potential fitness for the job.
• Safety: How much do they emphasize safety? You want a home builder who has insurance and licenses to prove they work safely and efficiently.
• Warranties: Look for warranties and guarantees that will ensure you get the quality work you want. Strong warranties are a sign that the home builder is confident in their work and can deliver what you need.

4. Reach out to a Few Candidates

If you've weaned out your options to a few home builders, it's time to reach out and gather a bit more information so you can make your decision. There are three key ways to figure out if a home builder is right for you:

• Ask for references: Ask for the contact information of past clients or references that can attest to the quality of work the home builder has done. If they're quick to give you those references, it can give you some confidence knowing they're proud of the work they've done in the past.
• Communication: While you reach out for additional information, keep an eye on how the communication process goes. Are they easy to contact? Are they considerate of your questions? This communication is crucial during the actual building process, so getting a feel for how they operate early on will give you a glimpse into how things will go in the future. A home builder that's easy to get in contact with and communicates effectively is a positive sign of a competent home builder.
• Bid price: The amount of money a home builder charges can give you some information, too. Be cautious of unusually low bids, as this might point to the builder not being able to pay for quality materials. You can get estimates from various builders and see which one makes sense for your situation.

Questions to Ask a Builder

Even when you think you've finally found your choice, there are several important questions to ask a home builder before hiring them. It's always better to be on the safe side when you're building a home, so getting the clarification you need will be beneficial. Asking the right questions will give you that boost of confidence that tells you this is the home builder for you.

Here's what to ask a builder before hiring them. 

Do You Guarantee Your Work? 

Make sure you find out how you can guarantee quality work from your home builder. Ask about warranties and gain the confidence you need to know that you're getting the kind of work you envision. Great companies will be ready to offer strong warranties and guarantees because they know they can deliver quality construction.

What Materials Do You Use?

The materials home builders use are one of the most important aspects of the process. You'll want to construct a home that looks aesthetically pleasing, is durable and matches your desired tastes — a home builder that uses the right materials can help you achieve this. 

What Licenses Do You Have? 

Double-check their reliability and fitness for the job by asking your home builder about licensing they have and any affiliations with professional organizations. This will help you get a clearer picture of how experienced they are and how much credibility they have in the business.

How Do You Determine Your Budget? 

It's a good idea to get a rough outline of how your home builder calculates costs. They should be able to give you a relatively transparent rundown of the factors that go into their budgeting. With an outline of how they formulate their budget, you'll have a better idea of where your money is going.

Can I Get That in Writing?

For all of the specifics involving home building, you'll want to make sure it's in the contract. Your home builder should lay out any warranties and guarantees clearly in the written contract so you have some assurances about the work they're doing. Be sure to read through the document carefully and ensure it's aligned with what you want. 

All of these questions are very important and are a great way to find out how your home builder will operate.

Considering Home Builder Costs

Cost is an essential area of interest when it comes to building a home. You want to bring the house you dream of to fruition, but you'll likely be looking to stay within a set budget, too. Getting a rough idea of the various factors involved in the building process will help you determine how much you'll be paying your home builder.

The cost of hiring a builder depends on several different factors:

• Size: The primary cost of your new home construction will correspond with the size of the project. How large will your home be? Expect to pay a certain amount of money per square foot.
• Design: After size, design is crucial when it comes to cost. The more involved your home design is, the more expensive it's likely to be, as greater attention to detail will increase operating costs and may require a longer timeline. A house with many hallways, closets and alcoves will cost more than a home with a relatively open and simple layout. 
• Materials: High-quality materials will likely raise the price, but they're also worth it to make your home look elegant and well-designed. You'll be investing in the durability and longevity of your home. Finishes on floors and countertops will also add to your budget, but you should keep their resale factor in mind.
• Appliances: The appliances you choose for your kitchen, bar and basement will add up.

It's smart to talk with your home builder during the design process to see how much your idea will cost and figure out some ways to reduce the budget if necessary. Solid communication between you and your home builder will make the process go smoothly.

Choose SK Builders

When you're looking for a home builder, you want a company that you can trust — a company that's been in the business for years and has the experience and the motivation to produce quality work. SK Builders can offer you all of that and more.

We've been in business for decades, catering to customers ranging from first-time homebuyers to retirees. Our company is large enough that we can offer great prices but small enough to give excellent customer service and effective communication. That size gives us a flexibility that many of our competitors can't match. 

Our whole team at SK Builders has a deep knowledge of the home-building process. Our agents can answer your questions while supervisors oversee the construction process. 

If you're looking for experienced, reliable home builders near you, we encourage you to reach out to us at SK Builders. Contact us today!