Investing in a home can be intimidating, not to mention building one from the ground-up! At Hearthside Homes, our goal is to make this process as seamless and worry-free as possible. We have a team of experts and a set of in-depth processes that will ensure your home is built to last.
Of course, we would love for you to join our family of homeowners! Should you choose to a different path, we still care about the well-being of your household. Here are some questions you should ask before you hire a builder.
Experience
This might seem like an obvious question, but you’d be surprised at what a professional website and brochure can do. It’s important to know how long your contractor has been in business. There are so many moving parts to building a home, so it’s crucial that everything runs like a well-oiled machine. Less experienced builders may result in more headaches and delays than you can even imagine!
Protect Yourself
Make sure your builder is licensed and insured! A guy working out of the back of his truck might be able to write up a “better deal” on paper, but what quality of work are you getting?
Did you know if you hire someone to work on your property you are considered the general contractor? This means if someone gets hurt while working on your jobsite you could be liable. Do it right the first time! If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Warranty
Warranties are something homeowners often forget about. When you think about building a new house, you’re probably not expecting for something to break anytime soon.
Depending on the installer, and the settling of your soil, you may experience some small hiccups here and there. Good builders are prepared to offer a warranty through the first year of residence.
References
It’s highly important that you are able to know for certain that your builder is credible and skilled enough to complete your project. Just because someone can frame a house and put up drywall does NOT mean they necessarily understand the full extent of plumbing or electrical work.
Ask your builder if you can tour a few homes or talk to an existing customer. Quality builders are ready and EXCITED to show you their work!
Floor Plan
Not all builders have the same business model. Some will completely design a home from scratch, and others have set models for you to choose from. At Hearthside Homes, we have over fifty-floor plans for you to choose from! We’ve built each of these homes time and time again, so we know that each of them is functional.
It’s important to be well aware of the extent of the design you’ll be able to modify. Although an idea might seem great on paper, it may be impossible when it comes time to build.
Timeline
Have you ever heard of “contractor time?” If you’ve built before or have experienced a home improvement project, you probably understand this concept all too well!
At Hearthside Homes we pride ourselves on completing the project when we say we will. That doesn’t mean we don’t experience weather delays here and there, but we do stick to a tight schedule. When our clients choose to build a home with us, they are given a realistic timeline up front. We generally complete all of our homes within six months from start to finish!
HOA Dues
It’s important to consider HOA dues when picking your neighborhood. Often neighborhoods will have amenities such as a pool, tennis court or playground. All of these awesome features require maintenance that the community will have to share.
Standard Features vs. Upgrades
It’s very important you clarify standard features from upgrades. Do you know what’s included in the total cost of your home? This is a highly important question to ask before you sign a contract with a builder! After all, you don’t want any surprise expenses!
Access During Construction
Not all builders are as open to visitors as we are! Some builders don’t want you involved in the process until the renovation is complete.
At Hearthside Homes, we love including you in each aspect of the build process. This ensures that we understand your vision and that your expectations are being met. Not only do we schedule on-site visits throughout the duration of your project, we also have ongoing virtual communication! Our team will send you frequent updates, pictures and contact you if we ever need clarification.
Conclusion
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! You should feel completely comfortable and confident when you sign a contract with a builder!
As always, if you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team!