Custom Home Building Guide
I. Contact a reputable builder.
How do you determine this? There are several
ways to choose which builder you want to talk with.
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Look at
some the homebuilder’s product. Look at the detail in the builder’s
homes. This should help you decide which builder you would like to talk
with.
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Is the
builder registered with the State of Texas through the TRCC? Laws were
passed by the Texas Legislature requiring all builders and remodeling
contractors to register with the State. It is illegal for someone to
build your home who is not registered with the State of Texas.
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Ask for
references. References are a builder’s best advertising, and they
should be proud to share these with you. Previous customers and their
experiences can give you information about how the builder operates and
interacts with the customer during the homebuilding process.
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Is the
builder committed to building homes on a full time basis or are they
involved in other business ventures that will take time away from
building your new home?
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How
well does the builder handle punch and warranty items?
II. Plan design, does the builder offer this service?
This service is not essential but is a plus.
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If the
builder offers plan design, this is an advantage in both time savings
and getting a design exactly as you wish it to be in a shorter amount of
time.
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Is the
builder on top of changes in building codes? Since these change
continuously, the builder can direct decisions that can result in cost
savings to you that are related to planning and design.
III. Specifications
Does the builder put your specifications in
writing? This is an extremely important aspect of the custom homebuilding
process for several reasons.
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First,
written specifications help determine an accurate price to build the
home. Within the specs, allowances for certain items will be
established such as fixtures, appliances, flooring, etc.
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Second,
written specifications help avoid surprises. Again costs come into
play. If the homeowner expectations differ from the builder’s and the
cost was not included this can cause un-needed conflict and stress.
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Specifications will help speed the building process because they allow
for better planning. They will allow you to know in advance what is
planned and help relieve some of the stress that naturally comes with
building a home.
