5 Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing A Builder

Posted by on Thursday, March 30th, 2017 at 11:26am.

Building your dream home or renovating your current home is such an exciting decision! Now the next important decision on your list is to pick a builder. There are so many horror stories of bad craftsmanship and blown-out budgets, and we want to make sure that doesn't happen to you! Check out our list of the most common mistakes people make when choosing a builder, so you can avoid costly and stressful problems in the future. 

1. Assuming the cheapest quote is the best option 

You’ve heard the saying, “You get what you pay for,” right? If a quote seems too good to be true, it probably is. A low quote does not a good builder make, and that isn’t the type of risk you want to take for a place you plan for you and your family to spend the next several years. If the builder is cutting corners to get the quote down, it can cause you many more costly problems in the future. 

2. Not researching a builder’s past work

So you find a quote you like. That’s a great first step, but that’s not all you should do before you choose a builder. Research their name and their business name to see if there are any reviews available online. You should also ask the builder for a list of their recent builds/renos and go look at them yourself. If you want to go the extra mile, consider door knocking or asking the builder for current clients’ contact information to talk with someone who has worked with or is now working with that builder. The people who have gone through it before will know best if the process was on budget, on time and a quality effort.

3. Choosing the wrong kind of builder

Are you renovating? Are you adding an extension to your home? Are you building from the ground up? These are all very different projects and require similar, but different skill sets. Choosing just any builder for your remodel isn’t the way to go. The best new home builder in town could be the worst choice for renovating your 1920s fixer upper, because those are kind of apples and oranges. Know what your needs are beforehand, and be sure to choose someone with experience that is specific to those needs. 

4. Falling in love with the spec home

Of course you love the spec home … it’s a spec home. The builder is pulling out all the stops with the most upgraded options to show you exactly what they can do. Keep in mind that all of the upgrades may not be within your price range. If you’re still convinced you need the home exactly as displayed, ask the builder for a fully itemized cost sheet so you can decide if that's an option for you as-is or if you need to work it down to a more feasible budget. 

5. Not pressing for comprehensive quotes

Sometimes people choose a builder based on quotes that have a lot of items missing. Regardless of how well-recommended a builder may come, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to request a completely comprehensive quote. Not only should you ask what is included in the quote, but you should ask what is NOT included. That way you can see if there are any hidden costs you might be racking up along the way. 

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