If you are considering building a custom home, then you are probably both excited and a bit nervous. Even if you’ve had work done on your house or even built a semi-custom home, building a completely custom home is a different ballgame. This can make it difficult to know where to start, including how to pick a custom home builder.
There are some basic guidelines that you can follow when it comes to choosing a custom home builder, and some common mistakes to avoid. You should always do your research, visit model homes, and take the time to ask plenty of questions before hiring a home builder. In Delaware, Carl Deputy and Son Builders will answer all of your questions and happily provide references so that you can rest assured that we will construct an amazing custom home for you.
For close to 40 years, we have built custom homes in Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We stand apart from other custom home builders in the area due to our commitment to the highest quality craftsmanship and materials, as well as our dedication to top-notch customer service. Contact us today to talk to our Delaware custom home building team about your new construction home.
Have questions about building a home or making home renovations? Sometimes talking directly to an expert is easier than reading a post. Speak with a builder at Carl Deputy & Son Builders > (302) 284-3041
How to Pick a Custom Home Builder
The decision to build a custom house is a big one! It is typically a substantial financial investment (although building a custom house can be very affordable!). You want to make sure that you are making the right choices. This includes the decision about what custom home builder to hire.
The right home builder for you will depend on multiple factors, including the style of houses that they build and the location where you want to build. That being said, there are some things that you can do to make sure that you hire a reputable builder that you can trust. Below, we list some of our top tips for choosing a Delaware custom home builder.
Ask for Recommendations
If you are considering building a custom house, the first step should always be to ask for recommendations from family and friends. If you know someone who built a custom house, talk to them about their builder. They can provide you with invaluable insight about the process and whether they would recommend their builder.
You might also ask for recommendations online through local groups on Facebook or on Reddit. Keep in mind that the people recommending certain builders might not have actually hired them. They could be the business owners or employees, or otherwise connected to the company. Use your judgment when it comes to taking recommendations online (which also applies to sites like Google and Yelp).
Do Your Research
While gathering recommendations, you should also do some research on custom home builders in your region. You can start by creating a list of all of the builders in your area through a simple Google search or by checking with the local home builders’ association.
Once you have a list, you can spend some time perusing their websites to see if they build the type and style of house that you want. If you have your heart set on a modern style home and a builder seems to focus mostly on modern farmhouses, then they probably aren’t the right choice for you. This can help you narrow down your list.
With a shorter list, you can start to do more in-depth research. You might start by checking each contractor’s license to make sure that they are registered with the state. You could also check the Better Business Bureau for complaints or even do a deep dive to check for court records if you want to make sure that the contractor doesn’t have a judgment against them.
This information can be useful when it comes to eliminating some custom home builders from your list. You should definitely not work with an unlicensed construction company, and you probably want to steer clear of any contractor with a lot of judgments against them. This can help you make a smarter decision when it comes to hiring a custom home builder.
Tour New Homes
One of the best ways to get a sense for the type of work that a builder does is by checking out their work. If you’re contemplating building a custom home, you should tour as many new houses in your area as you can. This can include visiting model homes as well as going to home shows and open houses.
While touring these houses, pay close attention to the quality of the work and the materials. Inspect the details, like trimwork, tiling, and cabinetry. This will give you a better idea of the builder’s craftsmanship, as glossy photos online can often hide issues. If the builder has a representative there, you should ask them any questions that you may have.
Ask Questions
When you start to interview home builders, you should take the time to ask them plenty of questions. You are potentially going to pay them a substantial amount of money to build a house, so you should feel comfortable with them and be satisfied with their answers.
You could ask:
- If you can review a sample contract;
- For a ballpark estimate of what a house like what you want would cost to build;
- How long they have been in business;
- If they are fully licensed and insured (including workers’ compensation insurance);
- Whether you will be assigned a dedicated project manager;
- What their customer service policies are;
- How they communicate with homeowners;
- If you will be welcome to visit the construction site;
- How they select materials; and
- What subcontractors they work with on custom home builds.
These are just some of the questions that you might ask during a consultation with a home builder. There may be other things that you want to know, so you should ask. If the construction company is evasive or doesn’t give you solid answers, you might want to reconsider whether or not you should hire them.
Request References
Any reputable builder should be happy to provide you with references. Past clients can provide the best information to you, as they have direct experience working with the builder and living in their Delaware custom home. If a builder refuses to provide you with the names and phone numbers of satisfied customers, they might not be trustworthy.
When talking to former clients, you should ask about big picture things like whether they are happy with their house and if they would hire that builder again. You can also ask them more detailed questions, such as how well the builder communicated, whether the builder met their expectations with the build, budget, and timing, and what it was like to work with the company.
Taking these steps can help you feel more comfortable with your ultimate decision in hiring a home builder. It may seem like a lot of work, but taking the time to do the research and ask questions is a smart choice when it comes to choosing the right Delaware custom home builder for you.
Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Custom Home Builder
The process of choosing a custom home builder can be overwhelming. You might find yourself unsure of what you should be looking for and a bit wary of making a mistake. There are some common pitfalls associated with choosing a home builder that you can avoid if you know about them.
Over-Focusing On Price Per Square Foot
First, try to avoid choosing a builder based on price per square foot. This metric is commonly used in real estate as a measure of value. When it comes to custom homes, however, price per square foot isn’t necessarily that helpful.
There are a lot of factors that influence the price of a custom home, such as the design complexity, the land where it is being built, materials, and finishes. While the price is relevant, you shouldn’t rely just on the price per square foot as a way to choose a home builder. Focus instead on the quality of their work, their expertise, and their ability to meet your specific needs. After all, you aren’t building a custom home because you want the least expensive possible option; you’re building a custom house because you want a home that was built just for you.
Focusing On Price Instead of Value
This brings us to the second common mistake: choosing a builder simply based on overall cost. Obviously, budget is a factor for just about every homeowner. But choosing the cheapest option could be a form of being “penny-wise and pound-foolish.”
When a builder has a bid that is significantly lower than other builders, it might be a sign that they are cutting corners. Perhaps they are using subpar materials, or their craftsmanship leaves a lot to be desired. They might also be inexperienced and not truly understand the scope of the work.
This can often mean a much larger bill in the end if the builder has to increase costs. It may also mean that you pay more in the long run if your home isn’t well-constructed.
Failing to Factor Customer Service & Support Into The Decision
A third potential pitfall is overlooking what may seem like little things, such as communication style, that end up being a big deal in the long run. You’re going to be working pretty closely with your builder for close to a year. It is incredibly important to have a good working relationship and to feel like you can go to them at any time with questions or concerns.
Customer service might not seem like it should be a high priority when choosing a builder. But this might be the single largest expenditure that you ever make. If you expect great customer service when spending $50 on a meal at a restaurant, then you should expect the same when spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new custom house.
Not Assessing The Full Capabilities of The Builder
A fourth potential mistake in choosing a custom home builder is picking a company with a limited scope. Your builder should be able to do more than simply build a house for you. There are a lot of steps involved in building a custom home, and each stage requires expertise. Your builder should be able to help you with things like finding the right lot, developing a budget, and designing a home that meets your needs. In this way, you can get a home that truly exceeds your wildest expectations.
Not Reading Reviews Or Asking For References
The final error that many homeowners make when picking a custom home builder is not paying attention to reviews and references. It is all too easy for a builder to make themselves look good online. A nice website and gorgeous pictures can be tempting, but they don’t tell you much about the quality of the build or what it’s like to work with the builder.
The best way to avoid this pitfall is by doing your research and taking the reviews seriously. It is entirely possible that some bad ratings could just be from unreasonable customers. But if you see a lot of negative reviews or if the builder’s references don’t have great things to say, you should consider it a red flag.
Build a Quality Custom Home with Carl Deputy and Son Builders
There are a lot of builders out there, which can make it hard to know who you can trust when it comes to custom home construction. This is a major decision, so you should take your time, talk to other people, and ask lots of questions before making your choice. Doing this can allow you to avoid some of the mistakes that many people make when hiring a custom home builder.
At Carl Deputy and Son Builders, we have built a reputation for building high-quality custom homes in Delaware. In fact, many of our current clients came to us from referrals from past clients. We take pride in our commitment to customer service and to building truly outstanding custom homes. To learn more or to schedule a consultation with a member of our team, give us a call at 302-284-3041 or fill out our online contact form.
