Check
their record. Has the organization achieved a consistent record
of successfully completing homes of the scale and complexity you are
planning?
Check
references. Have the builder's previous residential clients been
pleased with the quality, cost and duration of their projects?
Examine
support services. Does the builder offer all the support
services a homeowner requires? For example: excellent cost
accounting, timely financial reporting procedures and the professional
and supplier relationships that enable the owner to complete, without
excess stress, the selection of plumbing fixtures, cabinets, tile,
marble and granite, electrical fixtures, door hardware, bath
accessories, etc. Does the builder have in-house design
capabilities?
Visit
several construction sites. You should ask to see projects in
various stages of completion. The exterior and interior areas
should be orderly and well managed. This reflects the builder's
philosophy. A neat, clean job generates less waste and is safer.
Consider
chemistry. You should get along well with the builder.
Chemistry and trust are important. The builder must listen and
be sensitive to the owner's concerns. Building a home is a
once-in-a-lifetime experience and it should be a positive and
memorable one.
