It’s always a good idea to prepare, if not over-prepare, for the custom home building process. This includes having thoughtful questions to ask your prospective builders before hiring them. The more developed your questions are ahead of time, the easier the entire process will be throughout. By asking informed questions you will have a clearer vision of the entire process than if you hadn’t asked at all. After all, the custom home builder works for YOU, and realizing the vision of your dream home together is important.
Licensing and Insurance
First things first, you’ll want to ensure that your custom home builder is insured and licensed to operate legally in your area. These should be a given, but it should be a necessary step in your interviewing process. The last thing you want is to have an illegally constructed home, or something go wrong and the builder not be insured.
Experience
Just as you wouldn’t ask an astronaut to perform brain surgery, or vice-versa, you shouldn’t have inexperienced or under-qualified home builders in charge of crafting your ideal, custom home. A great first question to ask is simply, “how long have you been building custom homes?” There’s no real threshold for answering this question, but if they reply “this is my first or second one”, that’s an indicator you may want to look elsewhere and avoid being their guinea pig. At Broadleaf Residential, our superintendent staff has more than 20 years of experience managing home building from start to finish. All of our subcontractors are interviewed, reference checked, and fully insured. Most of our subcontractors have been with us for more than 10 years. Our suppliers are among the top names in the industry and carry the most current products and selections.
Communication Style
Some home builders are happy to check in with you often and update you on every minutiae of the building process, while others may only want to give you key updates and dates as they happen or are about to happen. Neither of these are inherently better than the other, you’ll just need to determine which style you prefer.
Cost Transparency
A reputable builder not only does whatever is necessary to make your dream come alive, but they are also transparent about costs every step of the way. Ensure during your interviewing process that the foundation is laid for a clear budgeting plan, with room for fluctuation along the way.
Flexibility
Speaking of fluctuations, a good custom home builder should have the ability to be flexible throughout the entire process. It is completely normal for people who are creating their dream homes to realize that something either needs to be added, removed, or edited along the way. Ensure that during your screening process that your home builder can handle these kinds of changes without losing sight of the ultimate goal. That being said, know that whenever edits are made it generally means that there will be extra costs involved, especially depending on where you are in the building timeline.
Attention to Detail
It’s the little things that cumulatively add up during the home building process and can end up being some of the biggest factors. If you get an opportunity to visit a completed home or showroom, look for the little details. If the crown moulding doesn’t line up, the floorboards squeak or aren’t joined properly, the doors aren’t flush, the lighting fixtures don’t all work, etc. then you’re probably dealing with a home builder who prioritizes getting the job done quickly instead of correctly. This should extend to the design process as well, where they should guide you to make sure that everything you’re asking for not only cohesively fits your aesthetic goals, but structurally as well.
Time-Efficient
Big projects like building a custom home are going to take time, that’s just a fact. You also don’t want your builder being too quick about things either, leaving you to wonder about things that might have been skipped over or shortcuts that were taken to deliver it in such an immediate way. That being said, these kinds of projects shouldn’t take a lifetime either. Timelines will vary based on your own personal preferences, the things you prioritize, and of course certain delays such as storms. Part of the transparency process you should be looking for is having a clear vision of each step of the custom home building process, so that there are no time-related surprises in either direction.
Broadleaf Residential Delivers Quality Homes & Exceeds Expectations
At Broadleaf Residential, we prioritize you, the client / future homeowner. We understand the importance of experience, communication, transparency, flexibility, attention to detail, and efficiency. Schedule a meeting with us to start the consultation process, and don’t be afraid to ask the hard-hitting questions that give you peace of mind. While you’re visiting, come take a look at our expansive design center and find endless inspiration for every corner of your house. Once you’ve met with us and we have mapped out a plan of action, know that it will be our honor to construct your dream, custom home. Give us a call at 423.668.0007 to get started, and we look forward to seeing you!
