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When it comes to building your dream home, finding the right home builder is essential. Conducting your own research before hiring a home builder is critical in ensuring that you receive the highest quality workmanship and materials for your investment.
While receiving referrals is one of the best ways to find a quality construction team to work with, solely relying on word-of-mouth referrals might come with certain downfalls.
There are many myths about home builders that can be misleading. From the cost of construction to the quality of materials used, these myths could lead you in the wrong direction and prevent you from making an informed decision about who should build your dream home.
But what if these supposed “myths” become reality?
In this blog, we’ll uncover 8 home builder myths and how to address these rare occurrences if they become a reality.
Myths you Should Know
As the adage goes, “you can’t believe everything you hear”. In our industry, there are certain falsehoods attached to many aspects of home building. Here are 8 myths about home builders you should be aware of:
1. Home Builders are Expensive: Many people believe that home building services are expensive. However, this is not necessarily the case. Prices can vary depending on the material and labor costs associated with each project, as well as the size and complexity of the build. When comparing prices among different builders, you should also factor in quality to ensure that you’re getting good value for your money. In some cases, it may be worth paying a bit more for a better-built home.
2. Home Builders Don’t Care About Your Needs: For the most part, this isn’t true; if it is true, you need to find a new builder. Most builders are highly accommodating and willing to work with you to ensure that your house is everything you want it to be. The best way to ensure that your vision is realized is by communicating clearly with your builder throughout the entire process.
3. Home Builders Don’t Follow Building Codes: Home builders are required by law to adhere to all local and state building codes. This ensures that the homes they build meet certain standards of safety and quality. Most reputable home builders will go above and beyond these requirements to provide their clients with a safe, aesthetically pleasing, and durable home.
4. Home Builders Cut Corners: Although some home builders may take shortcuts when it comes to building a house, this doesn’t mean that all builders are guilty of this. Good home builders will take the time to ensure that all aspects of the house are built correctly and to code. It is important to research potential builders and look for reviews from prior clients in order to find a reputable builder who you can trust with your project.
5. Home Builders Take Too Long: It’s true that some projects can take longer than expected, but this usually isn’t due to the builder’s lack of effort or dedication. There are many factors that can affect how quickly a project is completed, such as weather conditions, material delays, inspections, and other unforeseen issues.
6. Home Builders Don’t Guarantee Their Work: Most home builders offer some sort of guarantee on their work. This means that if something goes wrong within a certain period after the completion of the project, the builder is responsible for fixing it. Be sure to ask about any guarantees or warranties offered by your builder before signing any contracts.
7.Home Builders Don’t Offer Customization Options: Many home builders offer a variety of customization options to personalize your house according to your tastes and preferences. This could include features such as upgraded countertops, custom cabinetry, and other unique touches. Be sure to discuss your ideas with your builder before signing any contracts to ensure your home is built to meet your specifications.
8. Home Builders Don’t Follow Up After the Job is Done: Home builders are typically willing to provide follow-up service after the project is completed. This may include checking in on the house periodically or helping you resolve any issues that arise after construction. Make sure to ask about this during the initial consultation so that you can be confident that your builder will stand by their work even after the job is done.
If you’ve worked with a home builder that does any of these things, there’s no excuse for it. An experienced team, such as the one at Arnold Roberts Signature Homes, will guarantee the utmost professionalism and communication throughout the process.
Avoiding Construction Pitfalls
One thing you can do to avoid construction pitfalls for a new home build is to conduct your own research. While the myths listed above are false, most of the time, you still need to be aware of unreputable builders. You will be able to tell if you can trust a company based on its online reputation, status among other contractors, and satisfaction from previous customers.
Next, make sure you fully understand the contract. Before signing on the dotted line, make sure you understand every term of the contract and all your questions have been answered. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification or negotiation if there is something in the agreement that you are uncomfortable with. Additionally, it is important to know who will be responsible for obtaining any necessary permits or inspections throughout the building process.
One of the best ways to ensure that your project is running smoothly is by requesting frequent updates from your builder. During construction, it’s a good idea to request weekly progress reports so that you can stay informed and address any issues that arise. This will also help you keep track of costs and make sure that you are staying within your budget.
With careful research, attention to detail, and a bit of flexibility, you can avoid common pitfalls when working with a builder and create the home of your dreams.
Are you Dealing with a Bad Home Builder?
If for some reason, the home building process turns into a home building nightmare, make sure you’re addressing it properly. These tips are meant to help guide you out of a bad residential construction situation. Concerns such as:
- What should I do if there are excessive delays in the home building process?
- The home builder is being pushy and trying to up-sell expensive amenities, what should I do?
- How should I handle a rouge home builder who isn’t adhering to contractual agreements?
- The contractor I’m working with is unresponsive. Who can I contact about this?
- I’m not happy with the quality of work from the home builder, what’s next?
- What can I do if the home builder won’t fix the problems they caused?
- The contractor is going over budget and trying to charge me for it, how do I handle this?
Should typically be handled using this five-step process:
1. Document all the issues: During a walkthrough with your contractor, make sure to verbally address them and follow up with written communication. Make sure you don’t lose this log of communication.
2. Review the contract: Make sure everything you are expecting is documented in the contract. If so, highlight areas of concern.
3. Hire a reputable inspector: If you’re questioning the quality of the contractor’s work, hire a mid-project inspector.
4. Try to contact the contractor, one last time: The best way to solve this is to come to an agreement with the contractor you’re working with. If communication is an issue, try calling/emailing them one more time.
5. Seek legal help: If the four previous steps don’t lead to a resolution, file a complaint to a lawyer. After reviewing the issues at hand, the lawyer will likely ask you to file a report. If the report doesn’t convince the contractor to remedy the problems, a class-action suit might be the next step.
A Team You Can Trust
Most of the time, the 8 myths listed above are simply, well, myths! They are often generalized assumptions about the entire home building industry that aren’t true.
If you’re working with a home builder or contractor that’s giving you problems, follow the five steps above.
At Arnold Roberts Signature Homes, we pride ourselves on producing quality, honest work that homeowners will love. We encourage open communication and are here for you throughout the entire process.
If you’re looking to build a new home in Cape Coral, Florida or the surrounding area, please give us a call today at (239) 540-1999 and we’ll get started on building your dream home!
