The Two Questions You Have to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a Seattle-area Builder
Once you’ve decided to build a new home in the Seattle area you still have a big decision ahead of you. Chances are pretty good that you’re not going to pick up your hammer and saw and start construction yourself. So just who is going to actually build your dream house for you? Choosing the right builder is a really big deal. Many homeowners would say that who builds your house is just as big a decision as if you’re going to build, or what plan you chose.
The good news is that there are only two questions you need to ask in order to reach the right conclusion—but they’re BIG ones.
1. Does your builder have the skill to deliver the quality of design, construction, and finishing you demand at the price you can afford? OK. In the spirit of full disclosure, that question raises a bunch of other questions. How long has this builder been in business? What is his reputation? What kind of projects has he completed? Has he done projects similar to the one you want to do? Does the builder have a list of references that you can contact? Have you seen his work?
There are also a number of helpful, independent resources available to you that will make answering this question more manageable. The National Association of Home Builders, for instance, has an online article on How to Choose a Builder. And there are many other sources out there that can help you evaluate potential builders. The bad news is that it does take some work. The good news is that the information is out there and if you put the work into it you’ll end up with a highly qualified builder.
2. Do you feel comfortable with your builder? While the first question gets after hard data and facts, this question is much more subjective. But it’s just as important. It’s critical that you feel comfortable with your builder because you are going to be spending a lot of time together. You may not be going to ice cream socials together, but you want to be able to discuss things honestly and openly. You both need to be able to ask hard questions of one another—without feeling ignored or threatened. Building a home really is a team effort. You need someone who will really listen to you, and give you honest answers—and not just the answers you want to hear. And there may be times when you and your builder may have to compromise. If you’re not comfortable with your builder, those things won’t happen.
You only have to worry about two questions. They’re simple—but not easy to answer. But you’ll be glad you did!
Do you have other, specific questions about choosing a builder?
