Although adding an extension to your home can be an exciting process, it’s not an easy feat; it’s a decision that affects your life and pockets significantly. Therefore, it’s imperative that you hire the right builder from the outset.

Hiring reputable and experienced custom home builders in Adelaide will ensure your extensions and renovations go as smoothly as possible and your stress levels and expenditure are minimised. However, finding good custom home builders isn’t as straightforward as you might think – builders vary drastically when it comes to skills and experience.

So, if you’re looking to hire a custom home builder for a home extension or home renovations in Adelaide, here are a few tips to help you select the right builder for you and your home.

Check the reviews

There’s no better way to choose a custom home builder than real-life reviews from their previous clients. Marketing and advertising may portray a contractor’s best business face, but there is no hiding the actual customer experience.

Ask your family, friends, acquaintances, or colleagues if they’ve ever engaged with that builder. Also, take the time to go through their Google reviews or social media comments before making your final decision.

While surveying the reviews, you should also keep an eye out for any new recommendations you may come across. This is an easy way to discover good quality, underrated contractors that you may have missed during your search on mainstream sites. It also provides some reassurance that you are picking the right builder since they are backed by numerous good reviews and high ratings.

Verify licensing and insurance

In your quest for an affordable custom home builder, you may stumble upon an unlicensed contractor that will quote you an attractive price. Although taking up that steep discount might be tempting, you must remind yourself that there is probably a reason for that.

Qualified builders would have undergone all the necessary training and certifications in order to become licensed home builders in South Australia. So, if you want a qualified home builder who is trained to carry out the job properly and legally, ensure that your custom home builder fulfills all the necessary licensing requirements.

While you’re at it, it’s also wise to ensure the custom home builder you choose has adequate insurance policies. Accidents can happen on a site, and the last thing you want is for it to happen when your contractor is uninsured. They should have workers’ compensation, general liability, and builder’s risk policy, among others, to protect themselves and your investment during construction.

Interview your choices

Yes, you should interview your top picks for a custom home builder before hiring them – you’re going to be working with them for a long time, and you need to feel comfortable with your builder and their team. So, although it is time-consuming, it’s crucial for you to schedule a face-to-face meeting with each builder you’ve chosen.

Through this physical meeting, you can get a feel of:

• How they organise their systems.
• Their efficiency in handling matters.
• Whether they are trustworthy and transparent.
• Their communication style.
• Their professionalism and responsiveness.
• And most importantly, whether you feel connected with them and their values.

Don’t be shy to ask all the necessary questions to help you determine if they are the right custom home builder. Here are a few must-ask questions you should consider when interviewing your contractor:

• Do you have experience building homes with the design and quality I want?
• What is and isn’t included in your quotation?
• What is the timeline of this project?
• How do you ensure we don’t exceed my budget?
• Who is my primary point of contact, and how will my questions and concerns be addressed during construction?
• In the event of design changes or unforeseen conditions that result in extra cost, what will you do?
• How do you service warranty issues after we move in?
• Can you provide me with a few references?

Sign a contract

Once you have decided which contractor to go with for your home extension project, it is imperative that you sign a contract with them before beginning any work. This will allow for clear communication and ensures everyone is on the same page from start to finish.

Typically, a contract between you and your custom home builder should include:

• A description of the work that you are looking to have done.
• A breakdown of all the costs, including payment of subcontractors.
• Cancellation clauses.
• Start and completion dates.
• A note of any changes from the original plan as the work is completed.

Building your new home extension from scratch is not easy, but it’s one of the most exhilarating and rewarding decisions you’ll ever make. These tips merely serve as a short, general guide to help you get started on picking the right contractor for your project. However, we know there are no one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to custom home building.

That is why at Finch Constructions, our highly skilled and licensed team of builders will work with you from start to finish to bring your vision to life. With over 40 years of experience in residential home building, we offer our clients only the best craftsmanship there is. Get in touch with us today to find out what we can do for you and your home.