INTERVIEWING A HOME BUILDER - THE THREE THINGS I ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW
It’s SOO tempting to research builders online, look at their photo galleries, make a couple of phone calls, and then pick the one that seems to suit your aesthetic style. Right? I know, I’ve seen clients do this.
I’ve had clients call me to say that they’ve seen a specific builder’s homes on routine drive-bys and that’s who they “must have” because they fell in love curbside.
Welp, I’m here to tell ya … that’s not the best plan.
Let’s keep in mind that no one can be good at everything. A builder who is very analytical might not be the fastest on timeline. A builder who is in the field all the time with hands physically on the project might not be the best at communication. You might dig into their interview and discover that you prioritize one or more of these categories.
Building a home doesn’t have to be as stressful as the horror stories that you hear.
ONE - You want to select a builder with a solid reputation.
TWO - You want to be financially prepared.
THREE - You want to feel confident in your design decisions.
Let’s start with a few simple categories that you can focus on to guide you in the right direction when interviewing home builders! I have a simple framework that I use with all my buyer-clients.
If you remember these THREE P’s of interviewing home builders, then you’ll be able to dive into productive conversations with them! The Three P’s: Personality, Procedure, Priorities.
LET’S EXPAND:
Personality:
So this one is easy. Do your personalities match? Does this person have anything that peeves you instantly when in conversation? You want to make sure that the builder can effectively soothe your concerns and and values your opinions in conversation. Nothing you ask will be brushed off as silly, and your time is valued. Lastly, they LISTEN just as much as they talk (or sell….) .
Questions you might ask to gauge personality fit:
How to you prefer to communicate? How often will you communicate with me throughout the process?
Hiccups in the process are inevitable. What are some common hiccups you see, and what do you do to work through them?
How do you prefer that we schedule site visits?
Do you prefer to collaborate with us on the project throughout the duration? Or do you prefer to be left to your own devices? (Note from Brit on this: I’ve had buyers who want the builder to take the reigns entirely; my military clients are a great example of this type of experience).
Procedure:
Contrary to belief, this topic is one that buyers tend to overlook. They THINK that they have an understanding of the procedure by asking about timeline and price, but there’s a little more to consider.
Questions you might ask to discover the builder’s procedure:
What do you do to create your bid for the project? Do you run fresh estimates from the different trades? (This largely applies to a truly custom home; semi-custom homes will likely have fixed pricing)
What types of payment or financing do you accept?
Do you pay my real estate agent?
Do you have floor plans in your inventory that we can modify?
Will you let me know if I make a selection in the design that you wouldn’t recommend, that might lead to an appraisal issue or even a structural problem?
What happens if a line item in my contract has an estimate/cost increase after the contract?
What type of contract do you operate on? Research: “Cost-Plus” contracts versus “Fixed-Price” contracts with allowances.
How long do your projects typically take? How many extensions do you typically see?
Who watches over my project? Is there a project manager, construction manager, or someone else?
Priorities:
This one is my favorite. Builders all have different features of a home that they are proud of. An example of this would be if a builder (here on the coast!) would be very focused on water-resistance in a flood zone.
I really can get a good idea of a builder’s business mindset by asking some of the below questions:
What are some really special features about the homes you build?
What do you feel you do differently from other builders?
Depending on the flow of conversation, you should seek to discover whether the builder is more proud of their low price and fast build, or longer process and higher quality yield - meaning it might be more expensive.
Trust me, you’re not the only person asking these questions. ALSO - the builder can get a good idea whether you are a good fit for him/her!
This is a two way street, and both parties need to be comfortable with each other.
Builders are under an immense amount of pressure with recent price increases, tradesmen shortages, and material shortages. It is not fair for either party to expect perfect performance from the other in this journey.
Custom homes are just that…. a journey… and they take navigating, working together.
I’m here to walk the journey with ya!
Chat soon!
-Brittany
