Sunday, February 22, 2009

Choosing the Right Builder for Your Prescott Home

By Bill Thompson

Building a custom home can be one of the most significant financial investments you will make. With so much at stake, you certainly don't want to encounter problems that could have been avoided by making the effort to adequately investigate the builder.

Choosing a good custom home builder is thus essential. You will want someone who is well-established and of high integrity, one with the appropriate knowledge and skills in constructing a new home. One of the key aspects of this is getting a contractor who is skilled at supervising the team of subcontractors required for building a well-made house.

Here are several important tips in choosing your home builder:

Don't ignore the importance of forming a strong relationship with your home builder. The ideal candidate is someone you belive you will like, trust and respect.

Ask for references and check their certification and qualification statements. Make certain the prospective contractor is insured and certified - you can avoid wasting time looking into builders if you're uncertain of their qualifications in the first place. Contact the state or local licensing body and the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been made against the contractor.

Review the records on file for former homes constructed by the builder. Obtain a list of previous projects and visit the local government office where records of inspections and permits are maintained. These are public records and should be easily accessed for viewing. In particular, look for failed inspections or permit infractions. Understand that even the best of builders will often have a few minor issues; however, repeat infractions or extensive failures should raise a red flag.

Find out how long the contractor has been constructing homes, especially in that specific area. Longevity is a significant indicator of quality workmanship and customer service.

Find a thorough builder's checklist and use it when interviewing potential builders. Requesting information like what locations, price ranges, and materials they specialize in allows you to evaluate the builder's expertise with respect to your specific needs.

Speaking of which, be sure to look for a contractor who builds the specific type of homes that you are looking to build. Builders will have different areas of competency - be sure to select someone with the proper experience.

Personal referrals is one of the best ways for finding good contractors. Ask satisfied homeowners in the area for contractors they would unreservedly recommend.

Be sure to speak with persons who are recent customers of the builder you are looking at. The input of actual homeowners can make all the difference.

When you are at last ready to sign the contract, make sure to read the contract carefully - make sure it is thorough and adequately addresses all facets discussed verbally. Also, be sure the builder offers a warranty with your new home. A warranty will help to protect your considerable investment.

Choosing the right contractor is possibly the most crucial step in building your new home. Following appropriate guidelines can help you find the right builder in your area and avoid the pitfalls of substandard workmanship. These tips will assist you in finding the home builder who is best-suited to build your dream home.

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