Deciding to build your own home can be an exciting time. It’s vital when bringing your dream home to life, to choose the right custom home builder for you. You’ll want to ensure you’re comfortable and confident with the people and their home building process. To determine the right builder for your project and to make sure that you’ll be able to rest easy during the building process, these are 6 essential questions to ask your custom home builder.
1) How Long Have You Been Building In Adelaide?
Be sure to look out for companies that have been in business at least 5 years or more in your city. Custom builders in Adelaide who’ve been in service for longer could indicate that they’re reputable and trustworthy. Not only that, home builders who have operated locally will have a better understanding of the weather and soil considerations, as well as local bylaws and local construction trends you need to look out for.
2) Who is my primary point of contact?
During your custom home build, you can expect a lot of people working on site. Your chosen home builder should provide you with a primary point of contact for any questions and updates you have. Be sure to ask a potential builder how they provide information on the progress of your home so you know what to expect when it comes to the actual build. Whether it’s email, phone, or an online project management system, staying on top of the relay of information is essential.
3) Can you provide references?
If they’re a reputable builder, they will gladly provide references and examples of previous work that they’re proud of. Before choosing a custom home builder, you’ll want to talk to people who have worked with them and know their experiences. It’s important to ask them specific questions about the builder’s work and professionalism, while also scouring the internet for any online reviews and testimonials for the contractor or company you’re considering.
Be sure to enquire as to whether they have any current projects that you could walk through. Visiting an active work site gives you the privilege of seeing them at actual work, which is a valuable insight into how the builder operates and how organised they are.
4) What’s the timeline?
Prior to choosing your custom home builder, you need reassurances that the timeline you’ve been quoted is realistic and honest. You should be wary of any overly optimistic timeline a builder may promise with the intent of landing the job. The last thing you want to do is to hire a builder that’s bitten off more than they can chew, resulting in delays and causing costs to spiral out of control.
From excavation to possession day, the timeline for building a custom home depends on the complexity of the building plan, the size of the home, as well as the weather.
Be sure to ask your builder for specifics as to how they keep things on schedule, as the best builders are usually the best schedulers.
5) How do you ensure we don’t exceed my budget?
It’s extremely important to keep your project within budget. A custom home builder should always be transparent and upfront about what is and isn’t included in your build. With regards to any changes to your original plan, a responsible home builder will always seek your approval before moving forward.
You’ll want to get a sense of how your chosen builder does their purchasing or subcontracting. Do they shop around for multiple quotes? How are changes estimated? Be sure to find out how your builder will go the extra mile to keep you within your budget for your own reassurance. You should be confident that any changes with the potential to impact your budget, will be clearly communicated to you.
6) What is and isn’t included?
Clearly outlining the full cost of a custom home build includes many components. When asking for the specifics on the timeline and a written breakdown of the costs, be sure to ask about the cost of things like surveying, demolition or tree removal services, insurance, permit fees and fencing. These are all items that must be factored into the full cost.
Building your dream home from scratch is one of the most exciting and rewarding decisions you’ll likely ever make. If you’re looking for custom home builders in Adelaide, Finch Constructions is the ideal solution for creating a home to suit your growing family or lifestyle. If you’re ready to build your home, contact us today and find out what we can do for you.
