When you are ready to build a home, there are so many things to consider, it gets very overwhelming.
Where will you build, what type of home will you build, how many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need, what type of countertops and cabinets do you want, do you want or need a finished basement, what is your budget…the list is never ending. What’s the most important question though?
How do I choose the right homebuilder?
This is the most crucial step in the home building process because your homebuilder will be with you throughout the entire process. When you have concerns or questions, they will be who you turn to. You need to make sure you and your homebuilder will be a good fit — that they will listen to you, answer all your questions, allow you to change your mind and tailor plans to fit your needs and wants.
The home building process can take up to six months. You want to make sure there is trust in the hands of your home builder, their crew and their specialists so in the end, you are left with a beautiful, sound custom home.
Here are three more important questions to remember for how to choose a home builder in West Virginia.
FINANCING
Make sure the homebuilder has a financing plan set up. Can they provide you with contact information for different local lenders and information on different loan programs available to you? Every customer is different, and you will require a personalized packaged plan for your loan.
Direct lenders are who you need to see when financing a home. Banks and credit unions are considered direct lenders. They usually offer a more secure rate. Make sure to compare them all for the best financing solution. Your home builder should be able to give you recommendations.
There are many loan options available, but for a new construction home loan, you will typically want to focus on a construction loan.
Construction financing usually consists of more than one loan. One loan will pay for the construction itself, which often releases money to the builder in stages as processes are finished and then converts it to a mortgage once the home is completed.
Before you even consider building a new home, you need to make sure you have good credit to ensure you get good rates on your mortgage.
To learn more about financing a new custom home, read one of our other blogs here.
REPUTATION
What is the homebuilder’s reputation?
Ask their previous customers. They should be willing to give you names and contact information of previous home owners that they’ve built for. Better yet, do they have any video testimonials or written reviews on their website or their social media sites?
Reviews are a great way to check credibility. Be sure to look not only on their website and social media, but Google reviews as well. Are they known for their reliability?
What kind of materials do they use in their homes? Are they nationally, well-known brands? Research the building materials they use. Make sure you will be receiving top-notch quality.
What professional organizations are they affiliated with? How long have they been in business? How many homes have they built?
Your new home is a huge investment. You want to make sure the homebuilder you choose will ease your fears and make the home building process as easy as possible.
CUSTOM OR PRODUCTION
What kind of builder do you want? Custom homes or production homes?
- Custom builders may cost you more, but the houses can be tweaked to fit the customer’s needs and wants. Home layouts and designs can be changed, and extra square footage can usually be added to the living room or kitchen or where you and your family will be spending the most time. You will also have a lot more say on the features your home receives — from finishing’s, light fixtures, cabinets, countertops, to faucets, appliances and doors. Custom homes can also be built on land you own or land that you acquire.
- Production builders are typically more popular because they are usually more affordable and have faster turnaround times; however, you may be limited in the location of your home and how much the floor plan can be changed. Production builders offer home and land as a package, offer a range of house plans to choose from, allow buyers to select their favorite styles from a menu in many product categories and build homes for first-time, move-up and luxury buyers.
Asking yourself all of these questions will set you up to choose the best home builder for you.
To review, you need to make sure you are asking your potential builder the following questions:
- How long has your company been in business? How much experience do your employees have?
- Can you show me examples of previous work? Can you provide references from former clients?
- Are you licensed and insured? What type of warranty do you offer of your work?
- What sets you apart from other builders? Why should I select your company over others?
- What features are standard, and what can I customize?
- Who will supervise my project? Who will be my primary point of contact if I have questions?
- How long will this project take?
At Elite Custom Builders, we want to make this process as simple as possible for you. We want to thoroughly address your questions, provide you with frequent updates and have open communication.
Want to read more in-depth about what our home building process looks like? Read this blog with our eight steps.
Elite Custom Builders | Residential Contractor | Custom Home Builder
If you are ready to build a new custom home, we would love to sit down with you to see if we are a good fit.
We work throughout North Central West Virginia and have a combined 70+ years of experience and serve the North Central West Virginia area including:
- Morgantown
- Fairmont
- Cheat Lake
- Clarksburg
- Bridgeport
- Weston
- Elkins
- Davis
- Preston County
- Wheeling
- We also work in the Pittsburgh, Pa., area.
Elite Custom Builders. Reliable. Reputable. Trustworthy.
Schedule a consultation with us today so you can be one step closer to being in your dream home. When you select a contractor for your new custom home, whether in Morgantown, Fairmont, Clarksburg or beyond, you want to ensure you can trust your contractor. Transparency and honesty is the foundation of our customer relationship.
Ready to start your project? Contact us today.