Important Questions to Ask a Potential Home builder

When you're looking to hire a potential home builder, no doubt you'll ask to see pictures of their past work and will check on their insurance and schedule. However, choosing a home builder is not like choosing a house cleaner or anyone you can easily fire if you're not happy with their services. Hiring a home builder means a partnership in what will probably be the most expensive investment you'll face, and one that you want to be happy with for years. Note a few important questions to ask a potential home builder before you decide on the right company to hire.

1. Ask about liens on their company

A lien on a construction company probably means that they don't pay their subcontractors or vendors as they should, and this can cause problems for you. A home builder might see delays in getting materials if no one will extend them credit to buy the things they need for your new home, or if they don't pay for the materials upfront. A home builder may also have a hard time hiring subcontractors or even keeping employees on the payroll if he or she doesn't manage their finances well. If a home builder has any liens on their company, it may be good to choose someone else.

2. What personalisation can be made to the home plans?

Many home builders will work with a set number of home plans or designs and may only offer a limited number of personalisation options. These options may include only the basics like the color of the carpeting or shade of granite for the kitchen countertops. If you want to add anything special such as urinals in the bathrooms or solar panels, be sure you ask about these options well before you make a decision about a home builder.

3. What are the details of the home warranty?

A home builder should provide a warranty for their work, but you need to review the details. Note how long the warranty is in effect; a year-long warranty from one company versus a 30-day warranty from another will tell you which home builder is more confident in their work. Check if the warranty covers everything inside and out; most will include any holes in the roof or if the roofing shingles should blow off, but what if the dishwasher they installed starts to leak? A detailed warranty will offer more protection than one that only covers the major aspects of a new home, so be sure you know all the details of what's covered.