5 Tips For Finding Your Ideal Home Builder

Planning to design and construct your dream home? Choosing the right home builder is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the process. While a flooded market can make the perfect choice hard to discern, the extra effort will result in a home that stands out in the neighbourhood as unique and truly yours.

Bennefield Construction offers a wide range of custom homes and is one of the most trusted names in the industry. With an extensive portfolio of excellence and unwavering commitment to quality, we’re here to help you get the job done right. 

Let’s explore 5 of the best tips for finding your ideal home builder, and make sure your choice is both confident and informed.

Explore Each Builder’s Portfolio

Review the style and variety of previous homes that your prospective home builder has built. This is a great way to get insight into their capabilities and sense of design (allowing you the opportunity to figure out whether that aligns with the vision in your mind). Attention to detail is important—look for consistency across their different projects to ensure quality and craftsmanship.

How often is the builder finishing new homes? The volume a home builder is able to manage is indicative of streamlined, thought-through, and time-tested business practices that produce results. Longevity is also key here; a builder with years of experience is more likely to have the knowledge, the expertise, and the team to handle any issues or complex requests that may arise.

Home builders who have (and continue to) familiarize themselves with the latest construction standards, use of proper materials, and up-to-date technologies are more likely to build you a home that meets the highest benchmarks of safety, quality, and efficiency.

Verify Credentials and Certifications

Did you know that not all provinces in Canada require contractors to be licensed? Looking for licensed home builders is a quick way to separate the up-and-comers from the established professionals. Client peace of mind is a natural (and expected) result for a home builder who spends the time, money, and effort to be fully qualified.

A reputable builder will be able to provide copies of their business license, workers compensation, and liability insurance. These documents not only reflects the builder's commitment to professionalism, but also protects you from potential liabilities related to job site injuries or property damage.

Seek Evidence of Expertise and Experience

Building a custom home will quite possibly be the most significant investment you’ll ever make. With this in mind, it’s important that you interview potential home builders to screen for competence, capabilities, and compatibility.

Here are some of the most important questions you should ask:

• Does the builder offer in-house financing options?
• Are structural and appliance warranties included?
• Can the builder work with a privately chosen architect or design team?
• What is included in the bottom-line price, and what counts as upgrades?
• Is there a cost-escalation clause to address potential price increases and supply chain disruptions?
• What certifications and insurance coverage does the builder have?
• Who will supervise the project daily?
• What is the anticipated timeline for the project?

The answers to these questions will help you understand the process of each home builder you talk to, and whether their professionalism and abilities are sufficient enough to meet your needs.

Choose Builders Who Prioritize Transparency

Many people are weary of working with home builders and contractors in general. This is  because many of them do not emphasize transparency in their quotes and ongoing communication about the project. This is an important quality to look for when selecting a home builder.

Home builders who are open to third-party inspections, for example, are likely more committed to achieving the desired outcome of their clients as opposed to just “finishing the job”. In general, a good home builder is honest about their work and the terms under which they will design and build your home.

Ask For Home Builder References

It’s important to remember that even the most reputable builder may have some mixed reviews. People are highly attached to their homes, and for good reason—it’s the place they live and raise their families; they want it to be perfect. A good home builder should make every effort to satisfy their clients. Some mixed reviews are okay, but a stream of negative reviews are not.

Ask prospective home builders for references, and reach out to past clients about their project. 

Some questions to ask:

• How well did the home builder follow through on their initial plans?
• Were you satisfied with the main features of the project?some text
  • Build quality
  • Budget adherence
  • Timing
• The most important and final question should be: Would you hire this home builder again if you had to do the project over?

These conversations will help you understand what it might be like to work with this home builder, and what to expect in terms of communication and final product. The main features are what you should be most attentive to; keep a keen ear open for issues that might be expected, but could easily be resolved with the right partnership and willingness to resolve.

Selecting a home builder is a major decision—careful consideration of their profile, credentials, expertise, sense of style, transparency, and track record of positive customer reviews are all important factors to keep in mind. The likelihood that you’ll achieve the result you’re looking for will rise in concert with the thoroughness of your evaluation.

A successful construction project is when both the client and the builder win. If you’re looking for a trusted partner that delivers industry-leading results and client satisfaction, contact our experienced team here at Bennefield Construction. We look forward to earning your trust, and committing ourselves to building your dream home!

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