As one of the largest investments a person can make, building a new home can be an overwhelming process. But, it doesn’t have to be. After you find and purchase a plot of land, the next step is to find the right custom home builder to construct your new home. The person you hire as your custom home builder will be a part of your life for 9-18 months and you are trusting them with something very important and costly. Like any relationship, it is imperative to choose a company who prioritizes quality, integrity, and honest communication. But how do you find this type of trustworthy business? Here are some tips to hiring a reliable, custom home builder in Lubbock:

Start with Trusted Recommendations – Choosing a custom home builder in Lubbock is not much different than trying out a new restaurant. Although the building a home has a more at stake, you start off the same way: You ask your family and friends if they have been and what they think of it to see if it is worth your time. Start with recommendations from your family and friends – the people you trust have references that travel further than anything else.

Compile List of Holistic Questions – Whether you know exactly what you want or are looking for an expert opinion, it is important to have a list of questions ready for your potential home construction company. Get to know the company and their process by asking these questions over the phone to see if they are even worth meeting with. Here are some example questions:

  1. Are you a public or private company?
  2. What does your construction process look like: start to finish?
  3. How many other projects are happening currently?
  4. Are they willing to provide financial references (banks)?
  5. Can you give me references of previous home buyers?
  6. Who will oversee the construction of my home?
  7. How many other projects are going on at the same time?
  8. Do you have any model homes I can tour?

Customer Testimonials – If the home construction company is willing to provide a list of customer references, be sure that you take advantage of it. Give them a call to ask them about their experience and inquire if they would hire the construction company in Lubbock again.

Meet with Builders – Typically, you don’t marry someone before you meet them face to face. Get to know your home builder by meeting with them in person. A company can be much different than they portray over the phone.

Breakdown of Costs – When you get closer to choosing your home builder, ask the construction company for a breakdown of cost – materials, labor, profit margins, and other expenses. This will help give you an overall idea of what the project pricing will look like.

Payment Schedule– After you get a breakdown of costs and are ready to move forward, sit down with the custom home builder and create a payment schedule. According to an experienced contractor at This Old House, “a large project schedule usually starts with 10 percent at contract signing, three payments of 25 percent evenly spaced over the duration of the project and a check for the final 15 percent when you feel every item on the punch list has been completed.”

Don’t let price be your guide– Of course it’s important to have a budget, but an investment is a long-time commitment. Don’t be so driven by prices that you compromise comfort and end up skimping on something that could negatively affect your home in the long-run.