Having your own home built from the ground up is an exciting experience. You will have the opportunity to design everything per your specifications. If you want to be happy with the result, however, you must make sure you and the builder are on the same page in every area. In many cases, you’ll end up paying more than you expected. To prevent this from happening, make sure you ask your home builder the following questions.
What Is and Isn’t Included?
Don’t make assumptions, as this can prove to be very costly. The original estimate is often deceptive because homebuilders will often add upgrades to the model, which may add $20,000 to $100,000 to the total price. Walk through the model home and ask for clarification on exactly what’s included and what is an upgrade.
To prevent any misunderstandings, ask for a price list. The builder should provide you with a detailed list, with prices, for all the upgrades you’ve chosen. This way you’ll know the true cost of the home. You may decide to forego certain upgrades or go with another builder who includes them in the price.
What Kind of Warranty Do You Offer?
Just as you want to know what’s included in the price of your home, you should be very clear about what your warranty covers. Every homebuilder offers some type of warranty, but the specifics vary quite a bit from one company to the next. You don’t want to wait until something goes wrong to find out that a certain issue wasn’t covered in the warranty.
How Long Will Construction Take?
When you’re having a home built, you should have a good idea of when it will be completed. This will surely affect your plans, whether you’re currently renting or selling another home.
How do You Handle Change Orders?
During construction, you may change your mind about certain things. Ask the homebuilder about their policy regarding change orders. For example, what’s the time frame for informing them and do they impose any charges for this. If your request involves additional materials or labor, there will obviously be added costs. But the builder might also impose a fee simply for making a change request.
Do You Have Any References?
As with any service, it’s best to have references you can check. If the builder supplies you with references, call one or two of them and ask questions about the process. Were they satisfied with the overall result? Was the cost close to the estimate or did it turn out to be higher? Would they use this builder again?
The above questions are a good starting point to help you know about the builder’s policies. Before you choose a homebuilder, you have a right to know how every aspect of the process will be handled. Contact Covenant Homes for more information on our home building process!
