4 Tips for Choosing Your New Home Builder

Blog By: Effect Homes

Choosing the right builder for your new home is a big task. They’re going to be in charge of a major construction project for you – and that’s a big undertaking. The builder you select needs to have all the tools necessary to build you a home that will last.

Finding your builder probably won’t be a one-day process. It’s going to take careful research to find the right team who will help build your dream home. But how do you know you’ve picked the right one?

Well, there are a lot good qualities to look out for when doing your research. In fact, choosing a builder is a lot like choosing a contractor, or anyone else who will be working on your home. Check out Mike’s cheat sheet for quick reference.

Here are just a few ways you know that you’ve found the right builder:

They Hire the Right Team

When you build a house, you’re bringing together all these different pieces and fitting them together like a puzzle.

The right builders finds the right pieces to make that happen. They choose the best electricians, plumbers, welders, and contractors to make your home safe and strong. The sub trades they choose have a direct effect on the quality of the finished product.

Most builders who have been in business for a while will have a good Rolodex of subtrades to choose from. They’ll likely have formed positive working relationships with them in the past, and will be able to vouch for the quality of their work.

They Talk, and They Listen

The most important thing you can do in any project, whether it’s a full build, or a small renovation is to communicate with your team.

Good builders will keep the lines of communication wide open and transparent. You want to know if there are delays in the project, and why. A good builder will tell you these things – and how they plan to fix them.

They also work directly with you to set out clear expectations for the project. One of the biggest hurdles to a positive working relationship between a builder and their customer is unmet, or unrealistic expectations.

The good builders will walk through the entire process with you, and give you the right advice when it comes to what you want, and what’s possible with the budget you’ve provided.

They Chase Outside Certification

Each builder has their own set of standards when it comes to construction – but the truly great ones will qualify for third party certifications that let you know that their homes are built right.

What kind of programs are out there?

Holmes Approved Homes

Effect Home Builders in Edmonton is a proud member of the Holmes Approved Homes program. Not just any builder can join this program – it’s actually Mike and his team that sources us to join the program! With a Holmes Approved Home, you’re buying a home that was built using the best techniques, practices, and technologies. Not only that, all Holmes Approved Homes go through a third party inspection provided by Mike’s own team of home inspectors, that let you know that you’ve got a home that was built right, from the ground up.

LEED® Certification

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It’s a certification that’s applied to new builds to rate its performance, quality, and efficiency.

Built Green Canada

We’re also a Built Green certified builder. Using advanced techniques, we build homes that are not only more energy efficient, they’re built using more sustainable building practices – leaving less of an imprint on our environment.

Building green doesn’t have to break your budget either. Here are 5 cost-effective ways to build a Built Green home.

They Don’t Hand You the Keys and Run

Once you’ve got your keys, you don’t want your builder to disappear into the night. This goes back to strong communication between you and your builder. Good builders will follow up with you once you’ve got the keys, and make sure you’re satisfied with your new build.

Before you select your builder – make sure they provide you with a clearly defined warranty program. We hate to hear when things go wrong, but no builder is perfect. However, you want someone who will stand behind their work, and like Mike says, Make It Right.

To learn more, visit www.effecthomes.ca.