The Importance of Choosing the Right Residential Builder

There is no shortage of residential builders to choose from on the market. However, that does not mean they are all the right fit for your project. One builder may be an expert in ground extensions and second storey-additions. Another builder may specialise in niche projects like duplex homes, garages or basement renovations.

They key to a successful building project is to know what you want in a new home. You also need to carry out your due diligence. That means the builder you choose should have the relevant building licenses to operate in your state or territory, public liability insurance, and Home Warranty Insurance to protect you from financial loss.

Keep these factors in mind when it comes time to Choose your Residential Builder.

Define Your Needs

What outcomes do you want to achieve from building a new home? Whether you plan on choosing a preset home design or building one from scratch, this question may be hard to answer.

An easy way to get inspiration is to find a builder who has preset home designs on their website. Without having to call them up, you can check out the different home designs they have on their website, and pick out the ones that catch your eye.

After looking at several designs, you can write up a checklist of the items you want to include in your own home. For example, if you plan on having more children, you will need a home with extra bedrooms and a fairly large living space. If the plan is to retire, you may want to downsize from the old family home and keep things simple.

By having a clear vision in your mind, you will know exactly what to ask for in the consultation phase, and your residential builder will be able to lay out what they have to offer.

Portfolio and Testimonials.

As mentioned earlier, you have a lot of residential builders to choose from and not all of them will be right for you. You want to choose a builder who has relevant skills and experience that match the needs of your project.

To find the right builder, you should review their online portfolio and see if their projects match what you are looking for. You should also seek further information on each project they have completed. You can do this by seeking information from the builder directly, or ask to speak to a client they have previously done a project for.

Don’t settle for the testimonials the company has put on their website. Although the testimonials may be honest, they have still been carefully chosen to boost the company’s image and reputation. You need to go deeper.

Talking to a past client can give you valuable insight. They will go into detail about what the process was like, how responsive the builder was to changes in scope, and the quality of the final result itself.

The Building Plan

Building a residential home is a big project. Having a carefully thought-out plan is crucial to a successful outcome.

For this reason, you want to have a thorough building plan that outlines the process step-by-step, and a detailed risk assessment that explains how each individual risk will be managed.

Below are some crucial details to have in your building plan:

• Scope of Works:

  This outlines the work required for the builder to complete. It should include who will be hired to complete what tasks, the tools required to complete each task, and the schedule of the project to make sure the project is delivered on time

• Building Plan:

  The building plan should include the structural architectural plans, engineer reports, soil testing and other preliminary tasks. By this stage, you should know what material and labour will be required and how much the project will cost.

With all of this information, you should have a good understanding of what the builder has to offer, and whether you want to choose your residential builder or not.