Find A Reputable New Home Builder

If you are looking to build a new home in one of the many Houston gated communities, then you will need to find a reputable new home builder. In Houston, most of the top places to live are gated communities, which are also known as master planned communities. These neighborhoods in Houston are known as some of the top places to live in America. There is a wide variety of master planned neighborhoods in Houston including golf course communities, water park communities and gated communities. These communities are made for all kinds of demographics of families – from families with kids to singles and retirees.


If you are going to build a home in a Houston gated community, you will want to talk to the administration of the gated community you will be building in. Each Houston gated community will have a set of standards that they adhere to for buildings and home in the area. These standards are what help to maintain the Houston gated communities as the top places to live. In Texas, these standards will apply to all Houston luxury home builders and a good builder will look into the standards that have been set by the community association or administration.


When you are looking for new home builders, in Houston there are a few things that you should look out for before you hire one. You should ask them if they have any references for homes they have built in other Houston gated communities, and then ensure that you call the references. You will want to ask them questions about the craftsmanship and work that they did in Houston. New home builders will be judged by the quality and if it was done on time. You should also inquire about the home being built and the customer service that was offered – if there were any problems, did the contractors come back to fix the problems?


You will also want to ask the home builders if you can come to one of their existing work sites. From that, you will be able to tell a lot about the company and their building standards and practices. Look to see if the work site is clean and if the workers look organized.


You will want to ask your custom home builders if they provide a warranty with the work they have done and the homes they have built. Ask if they provide after service for any problems that may arise with your new home.


You should also inquire about the other Houston luxury homes that the builders have built in the past and if they have built any in the top gated communities in Houston, primarily the one that you are interested in building your home in. This will enable you to look at some of their finished products as well as inquire about their experience with building luxury homes in Houston gated communities. Of course, one of the major questions you will want to ask of your new home builder in Houston is their costing.


You will want to get a few quotes of prices for building your home, finding out how much each new home builder in Houston will charge you to build the home. Ensure you ask if that includes the finishing of the house, or what extra charges you can expect to incur while building your house.


You will need to find out what kind of timeline the home builders can give on the completion of your Houston luxury home.


You will still need to check with the home owners association for the gated community you are looking to build in to ensure that the standards are adhered to while building your home, or you could end up facing a stiff penalty. Even if your new home builders promises to take care of it, you should still make sure you have a copy of it for yourself.


When you have asked the new home builders in Houston all these questions, then you can compare the rates and regulations of each of them in order to decide which one you want to hire.

31 Mar 2009
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How To Choose Your Home Builder

As a buyer in today’s Florida real estate market, your careful attention to detail and determination to explore all of your options will serve you well. The following checklist will assist you in deciding whether you have completed all preliminary home buying steps and are ready to choose your home builder.

You have made a careful assessment of your financial situation and have determined an appropriate price range for your new Florida home.

You have found your target neighborhood and have taken note of all existing homes for sale and new homes being built or scheduled for construction.

You have researched your neighborhood’s proximity to shopping, parks, schools, libraries and recreational activities.

You have at least a general plan of action for obtaining financing and insurance.

You have decided to avoid the risk of buying an existing home and have instead decided to purchase a newly constructed home.

If you have completed all of these steps, you are ready to find your home builder.

What to look for in a home builder

There are many different types of home builders in Florida, just as there are many types of home buyers. For the buyer who is looking for a high-quality, customized home built above Florida hurricane code, tract home builders can immediately be eliminated from the list of potential builders.

Tract homes are most often the cheapest of newly constructed home, and in this case, you definitely get what you pay for. Most often, tract home builders use the cheapest materials they can purchase in mass quantities. There is no individuality amongst these homes; they are cookie-cutter, mirror images of one another. These homes will never satisfy the discerning home buyer who has quality and safety in mind.

Custom home builders

In most cases, custom home builders use the highest quality materials and give their customers the most options when it comes to style and design choices. The homes built by custom builders are usually much more luxurious in scale, often including vaulted ceilings and bright, airy floor plan choices. Top of the line paint, appliances, flooring and fixtures complete the package of interior choices.

But there are also different levels of custom home builders, especially when it comes to hurricane safety. Since hurricanes are a fact of life for all Florida residents (even those in interior counties are vulnerable, as hurricanes Charley and Frances clearly illustrated), hurricane safety should be a very important factor when you are deciding amongst custom home builders.

Above code construction

Today’s Florida hurricane building codes do provide buyers of all new homes more protection from hurricanes than many homes built before the building code reforms of the early 1990′s. However, these new codes do not provide as much protection as some consumers have been led to believe.

Only a few Florida counties have adopted the strict standards that are currently in place in Dade county (areas of which were devastated by Hurricane Andrew in 1992). In fact, the current building code in most counties only requires that new homes be built to withstand a Category 2 hurricane.

That is why a handful of builders in Florida have begun giving their customers an added level of protection. Above code construction is a term used by these builders to convey that their home construction standards exceed what is required by Florida building code.

Levels of above code construction

Here is another situation where there are different levels of builders. Now you are looking for how far above code you want your home to be, and choosing the builder whose homes best meets your desired level of protection.

If you think of the hurricanes that have made headlines over the last two seasons, the name Katrina will be at the forefront of most of our minds. Katrina was at Category 4 strength when it made landfall, and it was certainly not the first Category 4 storm to make landfall in the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons. Homes built at or slightly above code will not withstand this level of storm. That is why if hurricane safety is important to you, finding a home builder who builds their homes to withstand at least a Category 4 storm.

If price is a consideration, these above code custom homes may seem out of reach. But if you purchase your home at the right time of year, have your financing in place, and have a solid idea of what you are looking for in a home, you will be in an excellent position to negotiate a price you can afford. And if you take into consideration remodeling and repair costs that often come with an existing home, a high-quality custom home may be more affordable than you think.

Finally, take your time and find the right builder who can build the best house for your budget but don’t necessarily rule out high-quality homes if you are on a budget. Doing your research and staying informed will help you find the best home for the best price. Happy hunting!

30 Mar 2009
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New Home Builders in Houston

If you are looking to build a new home in one of the many Houston gated communities, then you will need to find a reputable new home builder in Houston. Most of the top places to live in Houston are gated communities, which are also known as master planned communities. These neighborhoods in Houston are known as some of the top places to live in America. There is a wide variety of master planned neighborhoods in Houston including golf course communities, water park communities and gated communities. These communities are made for all kinds of demographics of families – from families with kids to singles and retirees.


If you are going to build a home in a Houston gated community, you will want to talk to the administration of the gated community you will be building in. Each Houston gated community will have a set of standards that they adhere to for buildings and home in the area. These standards are what help to maintain the Houston gated communities as the top places to live in Texas. The standards will apply to all Houston luxury home builders and a good builder will look into the standards that have been set by the community association or administration.


When you are looking for new home builders in Houston, there are a few things that you should look out for before you hire one. You should ask them if they have any references for homes they have built in other Houston gated communities, and then ensure that you call the references. You will want to ask them questions about the craftsmanship and work that the Houston new home builders did for them, if it was quality and if it was done on time. You should also inquire about after the home being built and the customer service that was offered – if there were any problems, did the contractors come back to fix the problems?


You will also want to ask the new home builders in Houston if you can come to one of their existing work sites. From that, you will be able to tell a lot about the company and their building standards and practices. Look to see if the work site is clean and if the workers look organized.


You will want to ask your Houston custom home builders if they provide a warranty with the work they have done and the homes they have built. Ask the new home builders in Houston if they provide after service for any problems that may arise with your new home.


You should also inquire about the other Houston luxury homes that the builders have built in the past and if they have built any in the top gated communities in Houston, primarily the one that you are interested in building your home in. This will enable you to look at some of their finished products as well as inquire about their experience with building luxury homes in Houston gated communities. Of course, one of the major questions you will want to ask of your new home builder in Houston is their costing.


You will want to get a few quotes of prices for building your home, finding out how much each new home builder in Houston will charge you to build the home. Ensure you ask if that includes the finishing of the house, or what extra charges you can expect to incur while building your house.


You will need to find out what kind of time line the Houston new home builder can give on the completion of your Houston luxury home.


You will still need to check with the home owners association for the gated community you are looking to build in to ensure that the standards are adhered to while building your home, or you could end up facing a stiff penalty. Even if your Houston new home builders promises to take care of it, you should still make sure you have a copy of it for yourself.


When you have asked the new home builders in Houston all these questions, then you can compare the rates and regulations of each of them in order to decide which one you want to hire.

30 Mar 2009
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Difference Between Florida Custom and Tract Home Builders

Food, clothing and shelter are the three basic needs of human beings and among these getting decent shelters is the toughest one. Home is the biggest investment made by a person and so it requires careful planning before making investment in it. There are various factors that need to be considered before purchasing a property, like location of the property and price of the property. Purchasing a new home in Florida is a large investment and one should properly plan out to successfully build a home in Florida. After all everyone wants a home that meets the requirement and can withstand the test of time. It is an aspect in which one really needs the help of home builders who can guide them through all the construction processes.

To help people in solving their problems related to home and construction of homes, Florida has different types of home builders. Mainly they can be divided into two types, Custom home builders and tract home builders. The basic difference between these two types of home builders is quality and availability of custom options. Tract homes are generally identical in look and other aspect as the material used for construction is bought in bulk. More often lower quality material is used be the Florida home builders to construct tract homes.

Custom home builders do not purchase the construction material in bulk quantity and they adhere to higher standard of quality products. Since these homes are custom homes, the buyer has the option of choosing material and color of his choice. With this type of builders a buyer is free to express their feeling and can incorporate changes as per their need and requirements. Custom homes are expensive compare to tract homes but owner of custom homes knows that it is money well spent.

Each builder is different from other, but high-quality builders have certain things in common. First, they use the highest quality materials and usually build their homes with solid, poured concrete or steel-reinforced concrete that is designed to withstand a powerful hurricane. While purchasing a home in Florida, hurricane safety is surely considered and the highest quality home builders pride themselves on building homes that are above hurricane code. They also give importance to features such as impact resistant windows and a greater number of roof truss straps.

One can easily spot a low-quality; tract house builder by their inferior building materials, construction that only meets code and does not exceed safety standards in any area, and the cookie-cutter appearance of their homes. Florida home buyers should be wary of these builders. Their homes may be less expensive, but one definitely gets what he pays for.

 

29 Mar 2009
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Choosing The Right Home Builder

There are several benefits to purchasing a pre-construction home. Brand-new homes do not come with repair costs since nothing in the home has ever been used and the structure has not been subject to the elements.


When you have a new home built, you have the opportunity to choose the look and feel of your home, and personalize it to suit your tastes. Some home builders, especially in hurricane prone areas like Florida, are now building homes above hurricane code with extensive safety measures to protect the homeowner in the face of severe weather.


But not all home builders specialize in high quality homes, or offer buyers the chance to personalize their home. That is why choosing the correct home builder is such an integral part of a positive home buying experience


A tale of two builders: tract homes vs. custom homes


There are two very different types of home builders offering their services today. The first, and often cheapest, option is a tract home builder. These builders offer newly constructed homes at the lowest prices, and can be an affordable option for the buyer on a tight budget. Tract homes are not necessarily bad homes, but the materials used to build them are often of much lower quality than materials used by custom home builders.


Tract home builders can offer lower prices because they purchase materials in mass quantity. Because of this mass purchasing policy, they are not able to offer buyers decor options or choices in color scheme, flooring, etc. Tract homes are often referred to as “cookie-cutter” homes because they all look exactly the same. Tract homes are very seldom built above code, and do not usually include options such as safety glass, additional roof truss straps, or solid, poured concrete construction.


You get what you pay for


Custom homes often come with a higher price tag, but you can definitely see where the extra money goes. High-quality materials, custom decor options, and additional safety measures are just a few of the additional features custom home builders offer. Homes built by custom builders are usually much more luxurious in scale, and often include vaulted ceilings and bright, airy floor plan choices. Top of the line paint, appliances, flooring and fixtures may also be offered.


But there are also different levels of custom home builders, especially when it comes to hurricane safety. In states where hurricanes are a fact of life during the summer months, choosing a high-quality home builder is especially important.


Above code construction


One state where additional hurricane protection is especially important is Florida. In 2004, Florida suffered a series of direct hurricane strikes to both coasts. Even inland areas were not immune to the powerful storms, and homes throughout Florida suffered severe damage. Florida was also subject to extensive building code reform after the devastation Hurricane Andrew left behind in 1992.


Despite extensive reform in South Florida, only a handful of additional Florida counties have adopted the strict standards that are currently in place in Dade county (areas of which were devastated by Hurricane Andrew). In fact, the current building code in most counties only requires that new homes be built to withstand a Category 2 hurricane.


That is why a handful of builders in Florida have begun giving their customers an added level of protection. Above code construction is a term used by these builders to convey that their home construction standards exceed what is required by Florida building code. Some of these homes are built to withstand winds in excess of 140 mph, and offer superior protection for homeowners.


It’s all in the details


After deciding which type of home you are looking to have built (tract or custom, standard or above-code), there are a few more criteria you can use to narrow down your list of choices. First, select your top three neighborhood choices and thoroughly explore the housing market in each of these areas. Make a list of builders who have lots available in your target areas.


Personally visit each builder on your list, as you can get a good feel for the company by visiting their sales offices. Take note of your experience with each company. Is their office staff friendly and helpful? Do they have model homes to show? Do they offer a home warranty? What about builder financing? Do they thoroughly review the floor plans, custom features, and available decor options? Trust your instincts and go with the home builder you are most comfortable working with, and who you feel shares your vision of the ideal home.

28 Mar 2009
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Discover Tip, Tricks, And Techniques To Use When Building A New Home With A Florida Home Builder

“Psstt! Hey Buddy got a spare 2 or 3 hundred thousand dollars ya wanna spend?”

That’s the sort of character you may end up dealing with if you don’t due your homework prior to choosing your next Florida home builder. Buying a new home is likely the most expensive purchase you will ever make. Make the right choice! Over the years I’ve bought a few new houses and I thought others might benefit from my experience.

When you’re interviewing Florida home builders, ask yourself how you feel about that person. Are they knowledgeable? Are they pleasant to deal with? Do they seem trustworthy? Do you think they will do a good job AND stand behind their work after completion?

There are dozens of Florida home builders in almost every market; some good, some bad. You want the most pleasant experience possible, not to mention a safe and beautiful to enjoy. The problem is how do you separate the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly? Hopefully the list below will help you in your search.

Of course, one of the first things to look for is a good reputation. Ask your friends and neighbors who they recommend. People are always quick to offer a comment and they will usually be quite frank in their opinions-good or bad. Check with the BBB in your area and look for complaints. If there were complaints, find out how they were handled and if the customer was satisfied. Don’t settle for a tailgate warranty. That’s when a shady builder’s warranty is good until you can no longer see the tailgate of his truck as he’s driving away.

Find out how long they’ve been in business. A new company may offer what seems like a good deal at the time, but they may not yet have the resources or experience to finish the job in a timely manner and with quality workmanship. If a builder has been around a while, they know who the good sub-contractors are and whom to avoid. Quality builders flourish and lesser ones perish.

Are they knowledgeable enough to help you choose a lot? There is way more to a lot than just location. Is it in a flood zone or wetlands area? Is the lot at the proper elevation to provide good drainage? Is the soil itself suitable for building your home, or does it need heavy raking and more soil brought in? All these things can create an extra expense for you if there is more preparation needed. Ask the builder if they do a soil bore test. Find out if they give you an allowance for fill dirt if needed. A good builder will often provide a fixed amount of fill, beyond that you are responsible.

Ask how many houses their superintendents are responsible for. If a super has too many houses going up at once, they are less likely to catch mistakes before they’re covered up. Some large production home builders have so many houses in progress that their supers are overloaded and more prone to make mistakes.

What do they do for you after the walk-through and punch list is complete? What if you discover a mistake 6 months from now? Will they be attentive and fix it promptly?

Ask the builder how they build the foundation or slab. Do they prep the ground for insect protection? Do they install a vapor barrier before pouring the concrete? Do they use a strong concrete mix and use reinforcing steel in the concrete? Same questions apply to the driveways. Do they use a strong mix? Do they install steel mesh? Cars create quite a load on driveways.

Ask about how they build their walls. Do they use wood frame, concrete block, or what I consider the best–solid concrete walls? If you’re in an area that gets strong storms or hurricanes, are the walls able to stand up against the forces of nature?

Ask about the roof system. Are the trusses strong and firmly attached to the walls? Do they use a strong plywood sheathing system? Do they use a cheap, thinner underlayment felt, or do they use a heavy duty 30 pound felt? Is the shingles high quality, attractive, and come with a 30 year warranty?

How about the water drainage? Do they provide enough slope to take the water to the storm water system? Do they provide a good sod to help absorb and control water runoff?

Speaking of sod, do they even provide sod, or do they just throw down some seed and a little hay?

Do they offer a sprinkler system? A few builders include the sprinklers in each home they build. Irrigation is essential if you want a fine lawn.

How about energy saving measures? How well will your Florida home builder insulate the attic? Do they provide a high SEER AC system? Do they use insulated ductwork if placed in the attic? Failure to do so in humid areas will cause condensation that can fall onto the framing and drywall ceilings. Is the attic vented to allow hot air to escape? Do they install double-glazed glass windows? Windows are a major source of heat gain and loss. Insist in two panes of glass keep you comfortable. Do they offer optional Low E glass to further reduce energy loss?

Ask about their lighting allowance. That’s the amount they spend on fixtures in a standard home. From a good builder, expect $1000 on a home that’s 1800sq. ft. or larger. Anything spent after that is up to you.

Ask if they pre-wire for ceiling fans, cable TV, and telephones. Some builders just provide one of each. Adding them later can be costly after the walls are up.

Does the Florida home come with attractive features? Small things like plant shelves with a lighting receptacle, special little niches, and rounded edges on the drywall can make an ordinary house into a special home.

What’s the shower like? Just a fiberglass shell, or real ceramic tile?

Do they give you the basics, like a garbage disposal and garage door opener? Do they install attic stairs? Or will they nickel and dime you for every little thing?

How about a microwave, range, and dishwasher? Are they included or extra?

Ask how much does the home builder require for a deposit. An established builder will usually only require 5%-10% to get you started. The deposit will be less if you get a construction perm loan to fund the building of your Florida home. Ask yourself what would be the outcome if your builder went under financially?

Sound like a lot of work? It can be. Searching for a reputable Florida builder doesn’t have to be a major chore, but the result of your efforts will be worth it. Take the time to educate your self on the basics of construction. Visit the model homes and ask questions-lots of questions. Selecting the right Florida home builder is worth the effort.

27 Mar 2009
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Talking Business with New Home Builders in Cherokee County

You’ve decided that the best way to get the home that you want is to build a new home. Congratulations! You’ve just taken the first step toward living in the house of your dreams. Now the real work starts – deciding which of the new home builders in Cherokee County is the best builder for your new home. If you’re working with a development company in one of the new planned communities in Cherokee County, your task will be much easier – most work with a limited number of builders who have demonstrated that they do quality work. Many of the top new home builders in Cherokee County work directly with development companies rather than building for private buyers.


Working with a builder through a development company can make some things much easier. Since the builders are all pre-screened, you’ll have cut your list of possible builders down to a select few. That’s no small feat when you consider the dozens of new home builders in Cherokee County. In most cases, the development company will have set the prices, so your price negotiations will be with the developer rather than the builder – another potential avenue of conflict with the builder eliminated. However, you’ll be dealing with the builder on many other aspects of your new home construction, so knowing how to communicate and work effectively with your builder is one of the most important bits of knowledge you can have.


When you decide to build in a planned community, you’re often taking on two relationships – one with the development company and one with the builder. Both of these relationships are important in your decision. The development company provides the overall vision for the community, and is usually the entity with whom you’ll contract (though there are exceptions to the rule). The builder is the one who will be actually building your house, and you’ll be communicating YOUR vision to the builder who will find ways to incorporate it into the overall vision of the community.


Whether you’re working with a specific home builder recommended by the community in which you are building or with any of the other new home builders in Cherokee County, here are some of the questions you should ask when you meet with the builder before making your decision. Keep in mind that many of these questions may be best answered by the sales representative of for the development, but it never hurts to ask again. The only way to get the information you need to make the best decision possible is to ask questions.


1. Do you offer standard plans?


In most cases, if the company is working with a development corporation in a new construction planned community, the answer to this question will be yes. Most developments offer a range of home styles for sale, each of which has been chosen for the way that it fits into the overall community and environment. Your choice of home plan may be limited or even decided by the lot that you choose, or vice versa – you may find that certain styles of homes can only be built on particular lots.


2. What customizations are allowed to your standard plans?


Customizing a home to suit your needs is one of the services offered by many new home builders in Cherokee County. Can the company modify the floor plan to fit your vision? Is there a range or variety of finishes and trims available for you to choose from? How flexible can the builder be in fitting the home to become the home of your dreams?


3. What upgrades are available to the standard features of the house you’re considering?


The small details can make the difference between having just another house and having your perfect home. Can you select different flooring materials or styles? Are there variations on the fixtures and appliances? How much will the upgrades that you want cost?


4. Does the company have a design team to help you coordinate the finished look of your home?


When you buy pre-construction, you often have many options for style and design choices that wouldn’t be available if you buy a pre-finished home. That can be wonderful if you have a definite sense of style – or daunting if you aren’t certain just how to achieve the look that you want. A design team, or even a project design showroom, can help you visualize the finished product so that the home you buy is exactly the home that you want.

26 Mar 2009
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Choosing A Florida Luxury Home Builder: 7 Questions To Ask

Choosing a Florida luxury home builder can be a difficult decision, made more so by sales tactics. Although it is in your best interest to interview half a dozen or more builders before making your choice, the salespeople are usually trained in ways to convince you that you don’t need to keep looking.

The best way to beat such tactics is to have a list of questions to ask, followed by a written reminder to keep looking and compare notes between builders before making your decision. Here are seven questions that should be on your list.

1. How much experience do they have? Some people may take a chance on an inexperienced Florida luxury home builder and come out of it okay, but others may not be so lucky. To protect yourself and your investment, you should look for a builder who is experienced in building the type of custom home you are looking for.

2. What kind of reputation do they have? This is where things such as referrals and word of mouth come in handy. If you know someone who has hired a Florida luxury home builder and been very happy with them, that is probably one of the best recommendations you can get. Likewise, stay away from builders that have generated many complaints.

3. What building plans do they have available, and can they be customized? Not every custom home is completely original, so a wide variety of building plans is a must for a good luxury home builder. The custom part comes in when you make subtle changes to a floor plan to make it more like what you want. For instance, you can make rooms bigger or smaller, upgrade appliances, and add cosmetic things such as moldings and trim work. The more freedom a builder allows you, the more custom your home will feel.

4. Can they help choose an appropriate lot? Choosing an appropriate lot can be difficult for someone who is not a professional Florida luxury home builder. The way a lot is laid out can impact the floor plans that can be used on that particular lot — and there is nothing more heartbreaking than finding out your dream house just won’t work on the lot you’ve chosen. Many people therefore feel more comfortable if the builder helps them locate an appropriate lot. If this is important to you, you will want to be sure to ask potential builders if they offer this service.

5. Can they build on a lot that has already been chosen? Most builders should be able to build on a lot that you have already chosen, but still, it’s good to ask. As already noted, the lot may affect what can be built there, so be sure you discuss your housing plans with the builders as you are going through the interviewing process.

6. What warranties do they offer? Experienced, reliable home builders stand behind their work. With each Florida luxury home builder you visit, ask about the specifics of their warranties: what is covered, and for how long. Then compare these and eliminate the builders whose warranties are noticeably less generous than others’.

7. Can they provide references? Happy customers are a sign that the builders are doing their jobs correctly. Be sure to always ask for references, and be sure to follow through once you’ve asked. If you speak with the references in person, be sure to ask about specifics, such as whether they have had any problems and how the builders handle it if they do. However, remember that the builder is most likely only going to give out names of people whom they know will give glowing references, which is why a builder’s reputation and word-of-mouth referrals are also very important.

Building your dream home is an emotional as well as a financial investment, and it is therefore important to find a Florida luxury home builder that you can trust to do the job right. By interviewing numerous builders before making your choice, and asking each builder a list of questions that you have come up with ahead of time, you make it more likely that your ultimate decision will be based on things like quality and value, rather than sneaky sales tactics.

23 Mar 2009
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Choosing a the Right Home Builder Style

After you’ve made the decision to build a new home the style of your home builder must be determined. Depending on your area the names and definitions of these styles of builders may be slightly different however the main points will be pretty similar. While most home builders will fall more or less into one of the categories below be aware that there will be niche builders in all categories. For example you may find a volume builder dedicated to green building practices, or a custom home builder specializing in homes over 8,000 square feet. Overall there are four main styles of home building.

Volume or Production Builder

A volume or big builder is one that often builds hundreds or thousands of homes per year either on a regional scale or nationwide. A typical scenario is the production builder will buy a large parcel of land, develop that land (put in place roads, services, amenities and so on), divide that land into saleable lots and build homes on those lots. The size of the home sites, homes and the price points will vary depending on location and the demographics of that area.

Semi-Custom or Track Builder

A track or semi-custom builder is in some ways similar to a volume builder however on a much smaller scale. Many will have several standard floor plans they offer on lots they own or they may build their plan on a home site you already own. Typically a home owner will have far more flexibility and options when it comes to the building of the home compared to a volume builder. Most semi-custom builders will offer their floor plans on their lots and some may also build their floor plans on land you own as well.

Custom Home builder

A custom home builder is one that builds a unique home for a specific client on a particular home site. Most often a custom home builder will build a home on land that you own rather than offering you a choice of lots in a planned community like a volume builder. If you’ve already got a home site you’ll probably be looking for the services of a custom home builder. Due to the nature of the one of a kind homes that this builder produces they typically will build a small number of homes per year, often less than 10. Typically you would have your own home site and your own floor plans drawn up by an architect or home designer. Custom home builders will, on occasion, build a home on speculation as well.

Building a Home Yourself (aka Acting as your own general contractor)

Many people looking to build a home consider acting as their own general contractor. The general feeling is that it’s not all that difficult and can save you some money on the project, perhaps 10% to 20%. The impression that some get is the general contractor shows up on a job site, looks around for an hour and leaves. Just what does that general contractor do anyway? Seems the other guys do all the work! What is not understood is the hours spent scheduling and negotiating, the understanding of the structural and acetic needs of a home, knowledge of which subcontractors to use for which jobs, the permitting and inspection process, ensuring that all insurance, workers compensation and licensing is in place for all suppliers and subcontractors (an uninsured worker being injured on a job can be financially devastating to the home owner). In most areas a land owner has the right to act as their own general contractor and completing a home can be a very satisfying experience. Check with your local town or county office to see the rules and regulations in your area.

No matter which style of home builder you choose the process will follow generally the same steps. The major differences will be the degree to which you can customize your home and the amount of involvement you’ll have along the way. The home building process can be very stressful and will typically take many months from start to completion. Be sure to employ a builder with whom you are comfortable, have confidence in and can deal with for many months! Best of luck!

22 Mar 2009
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