| Builder Guidelines |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Matt Kosater |
|
Choosing the builder of you new home is one of the most important decisions you will make. Most areas have many builders to choose from. From prefab to custom, there are many price and quality ranges. Below are some of the the things that you may want to consider in choosing the best builder for your new home. Price Price plays a big part in the new home decision. Customer builders will be on the high side of the price range. As pre-fab builders will be towards the lower end. With many variables involved it is tough to compare apples to apples when checking on price. Try to use some common factors when comparing. Factors like location, common upgrades and types of fixtures. Location If builders are building in the same location they are typically very similar in price and quality. Certain types of builders will only build in certain areas (upscale vs. lower priced). They typically provide the cost of the lot in with the house. Other builders will build where ever you can purchase land and that is zoned residential. You handle the land purchase separate from picking a floor plan and negotiating a price with the builder. There isn't really any more gotchas in this category because good or bad location is relative the home buyer. It you plan on moving soon after you build (around 5 years) you may want to stay clear of "booming" communities. These communities may have many years of growth which could make selling your home difficult. Quality This is really up to you! Quality is kind of a relative thing. You will need to decide what makes a "quality" home and ask questions. Some builders will use wood window versus vinyl. Some may use more trim in the rooms. This doesn't mean the home is built bad if it doesn't have these features. Some may measure quality as to how straight the walls are or the amount of insulation. References Check em all! Check with the BBB and the local Builders Association. See if they have any complaints on file. Talk to people that have experience with the builder. I also found talking to Realtors and Mortgage lenders was helpful. If you talk to either of these make sure that they are not affiliated with the builder. |
| Last Updated on Sunday, 25 November 2007 23:12 |