Questions to Ask a Custom Home Builder Before You Sign
Thirty questions that separate a builder who has thought it through from one who hasn't.
Ask about scope, money, schedule, communication and what happens after move-in. A builder who has run a lot of projects will answer these easily. One who hesitates is telling you how your build will go.
About the company
- How long have you been building, and how many homes do you complete a year?
- Do you build in this jurisdiction regularly? Who is my permit issued by?
- Can I see certificates for liability insurance and workers' compensation?
- Are you registered as a contractor in the city or township where I'm building?
- Can I talk to owners of homes you finished two to three years ago?
About the plan and scope
- Do I own the drawings? What happens if we part ways during design?
- Can I modify one of your plans, and how much modification is normal? See modifying plans
- What specifically is included in the base price? See what's in a base price
- What is explicitly excluded?
- What allowances are set, and how were those numbers chosen?
About money
- Is this a fixed price or a cost-plus contract? What triggers a price change?
- How are change orders priced, and do I approve them in writing first?
- What's the payment or draw schedule?
- What contingency do you recommend I carry?
- Are permits, survey, site work and utility connections in the number, or separate?
About the schedule
- What's a realistic total timeline, design through move-in, not just construction?
- What are the long-lead items and when do I have to decide on them?
- When are my selections due? See selection deadlines
- What most commonly delays your projects?
About communication
- Who is my single point of contact, and what's the response expectation?
- How often will I get updates, and in what form?
- When can I visit the site, and what are the rules?
- Who supervises the trades day to day?
About after move-in
- What does your warranty cover, and for how long, by category?
- How do I submit a warranty request, and what's the response time?
- Who handles warranty work, you or the original subcontractor?
- What manufacturer warranties will I receive documentation for?
Happy to answer every one of these. Ask us.