| When clients come to their agent for advice | | | | contacting your on site sales representative |
| it's not uncommon for the client to ask the | | | | and Realtor as often as you like. The on-site |
| agent which builder is best or which builder | | | | agent and your agent are there to help and |
| builds the best homes and the like. Any agent | | | | make sure your purchase is smooth. Don't be |
| who gives the name of a builder as the answer | | | | afraid to engage them. |
| to this question is taking the easy way out | | | | |
| to answering a difficult question. As for | | | | - Set a time for a weekly update call with |
| qualifying a builder to enter the running | | | | the builder and your agent. Even if your |
| there are a number of items to address. | | | | call is 2 minutes on Monday morning and |
| | | | consists of a "Nothing has changed. We're |
| Which Builder Is The Best? | | | | still waiting on the permits from the city.", |
| | | | you'll know the latest and greatest. |
| When clients come to their agent for advice | | | | |
| it's not uncommon for the client to ask the | | | | - Get the building schedule and hold the |
| agent which builder is best or which builder | | | | builder to the schedule if time is important |
| builds the best homes and the like. Any agent | | | | to you. You may give here to get other places |
| who gives the name of a builder as the answer | | | | if timing is not critical in your situation. |
| to this question is taking the easy way out | | | | |
| to answering a difficult question. As for | | | | - Visit the site often and take photos. If |
| qualifying a builder to enter the running | | | | you see anything that looks odd or is not |
| there are a number of items to address. | | | | what you expected take a photo, document the |
| | | | question in email, and contact the builder |
| - Is the builder financially stable? How | | | | and your agent IMMEDIATELY. Waiting to see |
| would you like to end up with a half finished | | | | why the builder is clearing a section of the |
| house and a bankrupt builder? | | | | lot that you thought was going to be your |
| | | | treed hideaway may turn out poorly. |
| - Does the builder have reference clients? | | | | |
| Ask for references from several subdivisions | | | | - Hire an independent inspector to conduct |
| and ages of homes. You don't want to have a | | | | phase inspections. The builder should be |
| zillion problems 2 years after you move into | | | | notified before your inspector arrives. |
| the home. | | | | Ideally, the builder will notify the |
| | | | inspector a few days before each phase is |
| - What does the builder do in-house versus | | | | ready to be reviewed. The inspector typically |
| subcontracting? Who manages the home | | | | will come after the slab is poured, after |
| construction? Who does the actual work. | | | | framing is complete, after plumbing and |
| You'll want to know who the subcontractors | | | | electrical is installed, and after the home |
| are because they will be the ones building | | | | is completed. |
| the house for the most part. | | | | |
| | | | - Be detailed, but not unreasonable. If you |
| - How does the builder ensure quality | | | | notice something that is just plain sloppy or |
| construction? The answers to this vary widely | | | | that will cause you issues later, bring it up |
| and anything that sounds made up or contrived | | | | with the builder. A lot of times the agent or |
| should set off every alarm in the prospective | | | | superintendent may not have noticed what the |
| buyer.Take copious notes on the answers. Any | | | | subcontractor is doing or maybe a change |
| misleading or untruthful statements here may | | | | order was missed and you are the first to |
| be important to your cause later and could | | | | find out. You are buying a new home, NOT a |
| even trigger Texas' Deceptive Trade Practices | | | | perfect home. No home is perfect, but a new |
| statues should you need to play hardball | | | | home should be of high quality and to your |
| later. So long as you get satisfactory | | | | specifications. |
| answers to the questions above you can begin | | | | |
| to focus on ensuring the builder you selected | | | | Be Diligent |
| is building a safe and quality home for you | | | | |
| and your family. | | | | As you've discovered, your involvement in the |
| | | | building process can make all the difference. |
| You Are The Quality Control | | | | Stay on top of the ball and 9 out of 10 |
| | | | builders will meet your needs and build you a |
| As you may have already figured out there is | | | | quality home. Sometimes you'll even run |
| no best builder. The process of taking a | | | | across a builder that will build you a great |
| parcel of raw land and creating a family's | | | | home, nearly perfectly without your |
| home is long and can be complicated. As with | | | | involvement, but why take the chance? |
| all projects communication is key. As new | | | | |
| build clients you should feel comfortable | | | | Happy building! |