Once you make the decision to build a new home, your next step is to find someone to do it. Making this decision is perhaps the most daunting part of the process. Even after you have done all the right research, it still feels like a leap of faith to commit your hopes of a dream home to a builder. What if they get it wrong? Your job is to minimize the chances of disaster by finding a reputable homebuilder that you feel comfortable working with.

Type and Style

First, decide what type of home you want and how much you want to spend on it. Some builders with excellent reputations may specialize in a style of home that just isn’t what you have always dreamed of. For instance, if you have always wanted a colonial style, a builder that focuses on ultra-modern streamlined houses would likely not be a good fit for your needs. Instead, you should narrow your search down to builders who have experience in colonial-style construction and deliver homes within your price range.

Visit a Home

Perhaps the best way to truly learn about a prospective builder’s products is to see them. If you’re thinking of building in a community that’s currently under construction, there are likely model homes for you to tour. Or the builder or a realtor may be willing to provide you with references of homeowners who have bought a home constructed by the builder. Some of the things to watch for during a tour include:

• Details: Be sure to look at the cabinetry, decorative moldings, stair rails and even the paint. Are the cabinets and appliances installed correctly? Do decorative moldings enhance the room’s décor or do they look out of place? Is the paint applied evenly and cleanly? Remember that model homes are staged to provide maximum impact; try to look past that distraction and focus on the thousands of little details that actually matter.
• Quality of design: Does the house have good traffic patterns? And will they work for the way your family lives or will you always be bumping into each other? Where is the laundry area? If it’s adjacent to the great room where your family watches TV, will the noise be a problem? Is there ample storage space? Try to envision the storage you will need in five years rather than what you need right now.
• Energy efficiency: Check or ask about the energy ratings of the insulation, windows and appliances.

Warranties

Make sure that any builder you consider offers warranties on their work, and make sure you understand just what those warranties are. Your new home is probably the biggest investment you’ve made so far, so you want to make sure you’re protected if anything goes wrong during construction. Likewise, find out what the builder’s policy is regarding service in the period after your home is finished. You may find that in the confusion of sorting out hundreds of details, that the wrong faucets were installed in the master bath. Make sure that the builder is responsible for correcting this type of oversight. If you have the opportunity to speak to current owners, ask about the builder’s cooperation in providing such services.

When everything checks out to your satisfaction, your search for the right homebuilder is over.