When you hire someone to build your home, you want to make sure it’s someone you can trust to do a good job. To keep yourself financially and legally safe and ensure your home will be what you expect, ask these 10 questions to prospective builders before you decide who to hire
Are you fully licensed and insured?
Having the appropriate license and registration is crucial for a building company to be operating legally and be trustworthy. It’s a plus if they’re also insured, which means any accidents will be covered by insurance instead of you.
Can I visit any of the other homes you’ve built?
Asking questions and seeing pictures doesn’t always give you a full picture of a builder’s work. Ask if they have showrooms or show houses or if you can visit the homes of previous customers to inspect their properties. It’s especially useful if it’s an older home, which will let you know how they hold up over time.
Do you have any references?
References from previous customers are another way to make sure your builder provides quality work and will also give you some insight into how it is to work with them. You might find out that they’re friendly and easy to deal with, or you might discover that they can be difficult. If a builder is unable to provide references, that likely means previous customers are unhappy with the work they’ve done, which is a massive red flag.
What type of warranty do you offer?
It’s important to ask how long the warranty period is and what the warranty covers. A good warranty period covering both structural and cosmetic damage is a sign your builder is confident in their work and knows what they’re doing.
How will the final price be determined?
Building a home can come with unexpected costs. Ask your builder how the final price will be determined and what exactly is included in your contract, so that you know what might be added to the final price.
What’s your inspection process?
A good, comprehensive inspection process ensures that you’re moving into a home that’s safe and fully functional and that you don’t figure out any nasty surprises by yourself.
How many homes have you built in this style?
Ideally you want a builder who’s experienced in the kind of home that you’re having built. A builder who’s experienced with bungalows might not be great with a duplex. Ask this question to make sure you get someone whose expertise matches what you’re asking for.
What’s the process for making changes?
You might change your mind during the building process, so before you get started, ask your builder how you should let them know if you want to make any changes. Also, ensure that you’re clear on what the deadline for making changes is so that you don’t come up with something new too late.
What is your cancellation policy?
Things don’t always go according to plan. In case anything unforeseen happens, choose a builder with a good cancellation policy that helps both you and the builder if the project has to be cancelled or postponed.
What will you do to stay on schedule and stick to the budget?
Your builder will propose a schedule and budget. Unforeseen circumstances might change these, but a good builder will be doing everything they can to make sure any changes aren’t too extreme. Ask them what measures they have in place and make sure that they know how to stick to the schedule and budget.
If you are considering investing in a Xircon Home, we highly recommend first browsing our site to take a look at our display homes and available designs, and to find out a little more about our approach. If you have any further questions about our services as a leading home builder in Melbourne, please don’t hesitate to make contact with us.