Companies built for production work aren’t built for perfect work
On the surface, it’s easy to describe the difference between production and custom builders. The production builder follows the same basic home plans over and over, while the custom builder creates a unique home for each client.
Strict allowance policies benefit homeowners as much as builders.
Why do builders prefer that homeowners choose every item that will go into the house before they break ground? It’s not just for the builder’s convenience. Any later choice may end up being made when the homeowners are feeling a lot of construction stress. Decisions made under stress raise the chance of buyer remorse.
Builders need to navigate a maze of government regulations, but homeowners can help
A successful building process is a predictable one, with no unpleasant surprises. Predictability comes from good planning, as well-planned projects tend to stay on budget and on schedule. Good planning includes making sure the home will meet all code and zoning requirements.
Understanding the variables that impact the schedule
Many clients approach a builder with an idea about how long it should take to finish their new home. Some underestimate the time the project will require, and others expect it to take a lot longer.
When building a new home, controlling costs is the key to staying within budget
It’s safe to say no one likes cost overruns or unpleasant surprises on a project. New home construction is no exception. As a professional builder, we understand how critical it is to establish and maintain a budget that everyone can rely on from groundbreaking to the final walk-through.
Tested and proven work, products, and materials
As a professional builder, we understand the importance of meeting or exceeding the expectations of our homebuyers. We stay current with trends in residential design and construction. We offer choices that fit each client’s budget and lifestyle. At the same time, we commit to high quality standards—both for our work and for the components we use to build each new home—and to staying on schedule and within budget.
Partnering with your builder for the best results
Home-building has changed significantly over the last hundred years, especially since the 1950s, when the housing industry boomed after World War II. Building a home in a classic, hands-on way is far from standard practice these days, as home construction has evolved from a trade or craft to a systematized process with many moving parts.
How the best homebuilders insure homeowner satisfaction
Have you heard of a “punch list”? This is construction industry jargon for a checklist of things that need to be completed, repaired or replaced. It’s a quick and easy reference to the status of the work, as well as a useful way to communicate with our trade partners and clients. Most importantly, the punch list is a key tool to make sure our homes meet the high expectations of our custom home buyers.
For best results, narrow down the options up front
Allowances—that is, budgeting general costs for items before the specific items are chosen—are a fact of life on many projects. Some homeowners have trouble making decisions before work begins, most commonly for appliances, cabinets, floor coverings, and plumbing and electrical fixtures. In those cases, the builder can assign a dollar amount to each category and let the homeowners choose specific products later.
Post-contract changes need not be a problem, but they absolutely need a clear process
Professionals who build fantastic homes for satisfied customers share some important traits. One trait is an obsession with details, and another is clearly communicating those details to the homeowners. Great builders are great communicators, and part of being a great communicator is documenting every part of the job.