When undertaking a remodeling project or new home build, choosing your builder is one of the most important decisions you will make. A well thought out plan and specifications are critical, but without a good builder you can work with, the best plans can go awry quickly. Here are three important qualities to look for when choosing your builder.
TRUST: This is first on the list for a reason. Your remodeling project, addition, or new build may be one of the largest investments you make. If you don’t trust that your builder has your best interests in mind, then you have the wrong builder. Your builder should work on your behalf, not just looking out for their own interests. When you call with a question or a problem, you should feel confident that you will get a straight answer. Sometimes that answer may be “I don’t know” and that is ok, if you trust they will get back to you with an answer. When, not if, something goes wrong on the job site, you should trust your builder to make it right. Maintaining integrity is one of the core values at Custom Dwellings.
COMPETENCE: While trust is important, it is also critical to choose a competent builder. They should have the ability to see and execute the project from start to finish. In addition to having the knowledge and experience on-site, the builder should also have a design team to complement your tastes and preferences. A large office staff isn’t necessary, but there should be enough staff to politely and professionally respond to your needs and questions. In the field, there should be enough staff of competent managers to manage the construction process on a daily basis for all projects under construction. Personally, I check in jobs at least once every week, but have project managers manage the day to day activities. Each manager typically only has one or two projects to manage at a time so that they can devote the time and energy needed for a great outcome on every project.
FAIR PRICE: Price is important, but not as important as trust and competence. A fair price doesn’t mean the cheapest price, but rather a competitive price when compared to similar quality builders. If you feel your builder is charging you a fair price and they are trustworthy and competent, you’ve found a good builder for you. There is always someone cheaper and we don’t compete on price alone. We simply aren’t willing to sacrifice service and quality to lower our costs. When compared to similar companies however, we find our pricing to be competitive and fair.
At Custom Dwellings, I know we are trustworthy, I wouldn’t tolerate anything less. With 25 years of experience in the homebuilding and remodeling industry, I feel confident saying that we are competent. I still can’t afford that mansion with a Ferrari in the garage, so I’m pretty confident we are charging fair prices as well. If anything, we probably don’t charge enough for what we do. We’re confident we meet all three criteria listed above and would love to talk with you and see if you agree!