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Understanding Your Cost
When you’re finally ready to build your dream home, choosing the right builder is a big step. That's why it's important to consider your choices carefully before making a decision.
Like other parts of Texas, the Houston area has many great builders to pick from. Working with the right one can help turn your dream home vision into a real home. They’ll help you build a home that fits your budget and lives up to your lifestyle and home values.
You can find builders specializing in different areas, such as homes you can move into right away or custom homes that are planned from scratch just for you. But it's important to make sure your builders have the skills, materials, and people to make it happen.
Here's everything you need to know when searching for a new home builder near you.
There are mainly two types of home builders: spec builders and custom builders. You can learn about the differences between spec homes, custom homes, and which is right for you in this guide to choosing the right home type.
Spec builders construct quick move-in homes that are ready to sell. They're often built before the buyer is involved in the process.
Typically located in developed communities, spec homes can come in a range of predetermined designs that allow for quick move-in.
This is ideal if you want a new home without waiting too long or getting too deep into the planning process.
Custom builders build a home that is unique to your vision and requirements.
How much you can customize the home design may vary from builder to builder.
Some will offer a variety of pre-selected and pre-designed floor plans for you to choose from. Others will design a totally new floor plan from scratch.
But the real beauty of working with a custom home builder is that you can customize everything from the building materials to the interior and exterior finishes.
If you design a floor plan from scratch, there's always a chance that it won't be as functional as you imagined – it's possible that a design looks great on paper, but doesn't turn out as great as it was planned.
If you choose a pre-designed floor plan that's been tried and tested in different homes over the years, you’re more likely to achieve a totally custom feel while avoiding the possibility of unforeseen design issues.
That’s why we use floor plans we’ve tested on multiple homes and make minor modifications to fit your dream designs. Click here to see the floor plans we recommend.
Once you know what to look for and how to determine if a builder provides quality services, it's time to start your search. To make it simple, we've broken the process down into three easy steps below.
Start with a simple Google search for "new home builder near me" and look at the map to find local options.
Websites, builder forums, and online reviews also provide tons of information about each builder's reputation and the types of homes they construct.
If they have online photo galleries, take a look. Exploring their model homes can give you a sense of the builder's style and quality.
It's also a quick way to narrow down your choices to the builders who specialize in the type of construction you're interested in. If you don't see examples of a particular style in their portfolio, and it isn't mentioned anywhere on their website, remove them from your list of possible builders.
Choosing a local builder offers its own set of advantages, especially when it comes to understanding the construction landscapes and rules in larger cities like Houston and Austin.
Local builders have a deeper understanding of the area’s existing zoning laws, building codes, and land use regulations. For example, Austin has zoning laws while Houston doesn't. Builders who focus on serving the Houston area will have an easier time navigating construction regulations than builders who spend most of their time working in Austin.
Working with a local builder also makes it easier to leverage their knowledge and relationships, which may also lead to reduced costs and a faster building process.
Plus they're easier to meet with, and they're able to perform on-site visits to make sure everything is in order before you begin construction.
When you sit down for a conversation with any potential builders, cover these areas to be sure they align with your expectations. Here are some questions to ask:
Hearing the builder’s responses to these questions can give you an idea about their level of professionalism, their reliability, and the quality of their customer service. If you don't like their answers, cross them off the list of choices and move on.
Choosing a home builder can feel overwhelming. But by asking yourself a few simple questions you can determine which is best suited to build your family's new home.
Use these strategies to get a feel for each builder's process and style before you decide who to work with.
It's impossible to understate the importance of client feedback and reviews. This is where you'll find insights into the experiences of previous homeowners that make it easy to identify trends when it comes to service quality.
When you’re ready to build your dream home, start by checking any prospective builder's reputation against other home builders in the Greater Houston area (or wherever you plan to build) by comparing their reviews.
Sites like Houzz host tons of reviews and are a great resource for finding information about local builders. Find a few different review sites and look for patterns in feedback that highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each builder.
A builder who often sees high praise for quality and client satisfaction is probably able to bring your dream home to life without adding unnecessary stress to your daily routine.
Design portfolios help you understand two important factors: your builder's capability and their style. SWhether looking at new homes for sale or thinking about beginning a custom home project, seeing a builder’s past work gives you a clear picture of what they can create.
If you want a specific style or high-quality interiors, then you should make sure the builders have a proven track record in those areas.
Visit their websites and browse their photo galleries to see if they have built homes that align with the new home designs you're most interested in.
Effective communication is fundamental if you want the home-building process to go smoothly. You shouldn't seriously consider hiring a builder before meeting them and getting a sense of their communication style, even if they've got tons of rave reviews and you feel you've performed your due diligence.
The best builders allow you to voice your opinions and concerns, and they keep you informed on the status of your construction project every step of the way.
This is a great place to return to the reviews and read them again while looking for negative patterns. Do you see complaints about missed details, late completion timelines, and poor warranty service?
If these are things that past customers mention often, think of them as red flags.
If tons of customers are complaining about terrible service, bad or broken materials, and shoddy warranty work, that's a sign that a builder may not work as professionally as they present themselves.
If you're on the fence after reading reviews, request more information directly from the builder. Then, keep track of how long it takes them to respond.
If you submit a request for more info and a builder is taking weeks to respond or beating around the bush without really answering your questions, it's a good idea to remove them from your list of options.
A great builder will be in touch at a maximum of a few days after you've reached out. They'll provide transparency and answer any questions accurately.
Ask for a breakdown of their costs for various phases of the building process.
Then, compare what different builders offer at similar price points to determine who provides the best value for your investment.
Reputable builders will provide thorough responses that help you see where your money goes, and they'll tell you about any possible surprises that might affect the final price or construction timelines.
If you've compared multiple builders and found glaring discrepancies in just one or two of them, those builders may be worth removing from your list of options.
Once you've narrowed your list down to just two or three options, it’s time to request and compare bids.
Start by checking that each bid comes with a detailed breakdown that describes costs, timelines, and materials.
You're looking for transparency and completeness in each proposal so that you have a clear idea of how your money is going to be used.
Here's what to think about when considering and comparing bids:
Choosing the right home builder is one of the most significant decisions in the journey to creating your dream home. That's why taking the time to carefully evaluate each builder’s credentials, portfolio, and proposals is so important. It helps make sure that your final choice can build you a beautiful home that fulfills your vision and expectations.
Contact various builders, visit their past projects, and ask as many questions as necessary to feel confident in your decision.
As you begin the process of building your new home, use the strategies and steps above to explore all possibilities. Look for builders who are committed to building homes that add value to your lifestyle, and weed out the ones who are simply trying to sell another house.
If you're looking for builders in the Houston area but are unsure of where to start or who to trust, schedule a call with Dunn & Stone today. With over 30 years of new construction experience, we're ready to answer all of your questions and help you bring your dream home to life.
We recommend you get at least two bids (and make sure ours is one of them).
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