Questions To Ask Your Potential Custom Home Builder

An estimated one-third of all first-time home buyers are looking for new builds. They have their advantages: nice new neighborhoods, no older and breaking down appliances, and the chance to make your home as you see fit.

Interviewing potential custom home builders is a bigger deal than shopping around individual contractors, but it's a similar process. Keep reading to learn some of the questions you should ask your potential custom home builder:

1) Can you work on a lot we've already bought? Many custom home builders do their projects by buying undeveloped or rezoned land and then partitioning out many lots to form new communities. However, you might also have found your own individual piece of land somewhere independently before choosing to build a home on it. If this is the case, make sure a potential custom home builder understands you're not looking to buy one of their models and lots.

2) Can we move the interior walls of your model unit? Even though a builder might say they do 'custom' homes, they might also have predetermined floor plans and units that they offer as base plans to select from with minor customization within. If the floor plans are not to your liking, but the size and number of floors are, see how much flexibility you have in changing up the layout.

3) Can we use our own architect? Some builders only go with their own designers or floor-plans in order to streamline their process and keep costs low, but those willing to make the most money should be willing to work with any qualified professional you bring to the table.

4) Do you have a good working relationship with our lender? In ideal circumstances, you'll be able to work with your mortgage officer to make the money you borrow head straight to the parties that need to get paid to build your home. Big lenders often know primary builders of an area from working with them before on many occasions.

5) How long is the construction process going to take? Labor shortages, supply scarcity, inspection delays, and weather all impact a timeline, so you shouldn't plan on moving in until a home is definitely ready, but it's good to have a general idea when it will happen, even a year or more in advance.

6) Is the neighborhood going to be done before anyone moves in? Some communities happen in phases, and while being in phase one means moving in faster, it also means living close to construction for another year or so.

7) How long have you been doing business in this area? The longer a builder has been in an area, the more in-tune they are with local consumer expectations and building regulations.

8) How many of the trees can be spared? Many builder projects are on undeveloped land that is often previously wooded. That makes lots look like great places to live, but not if everything is clear cut to make room for the construction. While some cutting has to take place to make room for the structures and concrete, it's good to see a full backyard of remaining trees, perhaps also with a natural area in the front.

These 8 questions certainly do not represent all the possible queries you can make of potential custom home builders, but they're good starting points to get conversation flowing as you interview the contenders.