When home buyers meet with custom house builders to look at luxury home designs, they have high expectations. Buyers are often willing to spend $1 million or more for luxury home floor plans. But expense is not always proportionate to quality. Home buyers would do well to know what to ask their list of potential custom house builders before deciding who gets the job. When buyers tend to pay between 15% to 25% of the total home price to the contractor, they should hopefully be comfortable asking the right questions about the house in which they will be living.
The first step in comparing custom house builders is having an idea of what you want the house to look like. The basics, such as how many bedrooms, bathrooms, one-story or two-story, are a good starting place. Some people beginning the process may have more details they feel their home simply must have, and it is a good idea to bring a list of those things to the interviews.
The questions to ask contractors should help you find out if they have experience building homes like the one you envision, and if they have experience working with the materials you desire to have in your future home. This information may be readily available if the contractor builds custom home models and has a few to show you. Find out who is in charge of supervising construction as well, and talk with them about the quality measures in place.
Once you have decided who to work with from among the custom house builders you have interviewed, it is time to get into the details. Timelines, prices, who pays for delays, etc., need to be discussed and then put in writing. Verbal agreements should not be trusted, as memory can be faulty. Especially in luxury house plans, the quality of the cabinetry wood, the tile or granite for the countertops, and the type of flooring requested needs to be documented. Ask the contractor if every worker is experienced with installing the items you want so that there are no delays or surprises later.
Finally, discuss the energy saving options available for your home. Weather stripping can save homeowners as much as 30 to 40% on heating and cooling bills, and solar panels are becoming ever more popular. Some builders work exclusively with Energy Star appliances to help lower future utility bills.
Spending a good amount of money on a luxury home should not mean it keeps costing the homeowner money because of poor construction. Make a list of what your dream home would look like, and discuss your options with a custom home builder to make it a reality.
