New Builds
How to select the best builder for new home construction
Embarking on the construction of a new home is an exciting and potentially overwhelming time. New construction is amazing because it is fully customizable, but starting from scratch requires that you hire a builder that you can trust. This builder will be responsible for completing your new residence to the highest quality, giving you a home that you can enjoy and make memories in for years to come.
The tradesman that you choose to build your home will have to orchestrate many areas from foundation work to framing, plumbing to electrical. They should have experience and knowledge in all of these areas, and a work portfolio of many prior successful builds. Today we are going to provide you with a helpful list of the things that you should consider when selecting a builder for your new residence.
- Look for someone with plenty of job experience
- Find a builder you will be comfortable working with for a long duration of time
- Be clear about job timelines
- Inquire if they can self-certify the work they are doing
- Obtain a detailed written quote
- Ask about scheme memberships
Let’s focus on each of these areas more closely.
Job experience is vital
The builder you choose for your new home construction should be someone that has built multiple structures similar to the one you are considering. In addition, you will want them to be utilizing comparable materials and a similar timeline.
Choosing someone with work experience on multiple similar builds ensures that you will get the expertise and quality that you desire.
You should have a builder you're comfortable with
Building a home is not a quick endeavor. It is a long and involved process with many facets and decisions that will need to be made. Therefore, it is imperative that you have a builder that you are comfortable with and can have confidence in.
One of the best ways to achieve this is by speaking with references who have worked with the builders you are considering on a long-term basis. This will give you a good idea of how they were to deal with over an extended period of time. In addition, you will want to look at things like their punctuality and politeness and promptness in responding to you in day to day interactions via telephone or email.
Lay out specific timelines
Building a new home is a time-consuming process. It is important to communicate job timelines with the tradesman that you choose to build your home. Establishing a detailed work plan and contingency plans if certain difficulties arise is helpful in having accurate expectations for your build.
Inquire if they can self-certify their work
By the time you are working with a builder who specializes in new construction, you will most likely have building plans that have been designed to current building regulations. As the build progresses, you will want to make sure that the builder that you are working with, as well as all the subcontractors they hire are members of trade related competent person schemes. This will allow these individuals to self-certify the work that they are doing, ensuring that your new home is in regulatory compliance.
Get detailed quotes in writing
Before selecting a new home builder, you will want to take your design plans and meet with several new home builders to obtain detailed quotes for your construction. These quotes should be like for like and include line items such as labor, including hired out sub-contractors, materials, and any additional expenses. These expenses could include things like site maintenance and security, facilities for the workers and waste removal and disposal.
In addition to the above items, all written quotes should have a clearly laid out payment plan and workmanship guarantee.
Find out if the builder is a member of a scheme
It is imperative that any builder that you choose for your new home construction be a member of a new home warranty scheme such as the Buildmark scheme. This is overseen by the National House-Building Council (NHBC). Builders that are a member of this scheme have proven that they are financially and technically competent and adhere to the stringent standards set forth by this organization. These are the type of builders you want to entrust with your construction project.
We know that building a new home is an enormous undertaking with many things to consider. We hope this guide helps you to make an informed choice when selecting your new home builder.