Best Friend’s Advice

Recently, my friend called me to ask for my advice.  She lives several states away and wants to purchase a brand new home.  I was excited that she thought enough of me to ask.  (I haven’t spoke to her in over a year, so it isn’t like we talk all the time)  It got me thinking…. that would be a great topic for my blog. 

Today I will share with you the advice I gave my friend on selecting a builder.

1)  Are you purchasing a brand new home that is already built or or you going to have the home built for you?

Either way, check out the builder’s reputation.  Are they a member of the BBB, their local Home Builders Association (HBA) and/or the local chamber of commerce?   Call these organizations to find out if they are reputable.  How many homes a year do they build?  If it is just a couple, you may want to check out their qualifications.  If the builder belongs to their local HBA, that is a good sign that they are a professional, reputable builder.

2) Determine your top priorities:   Lowest price? Highest Quality?  Green Features?  Location?  Floor Plan?  Reputation?  Once you have narrowed down your search, if you are considering more than one builder be sure to compare apples to apples.  The lowest price may NOT be the best value. 

For example:  If you have two homes that you love, location is equally good, builders are both professional, but one has a lower price, it may not be the best value.  Consider these factors: 

Warranty:  Does the home come with a standard one year warranty or more?  What is included in that warranty?  Are there extra fees for particular services?

Ex.  We provide a 10 year warranty on all of our homes backed by RWC. 

 

Product quality:  Consider the quality of the items in the home which will be very expensive to replace; siding and windows.  Do they have a warranty?  What is the average lifespan of the product?  How energy efficient are the windows?

Foundations/basements:  The foundation is extremely important.  You shouldn’t have to worry about this element too much with a new home.  Just be sure to check out examples of your builder’s work for your own piece of mind. What is the system used to build the foundation?  Is it poured, block, or something else?  (If you are looking at existing it is vital you check the foundation.  It is very expensive to fix.  )  Is there a  drainage system in place in case of excess water runoff?  (Look for drain tile, sump pits and other dry basement systems)  Is the yard and the neighbors’ yard graded to allow for water runoff? 

(Continued in my next blog article )