It is important to do your homework before hiring a contractor. Do not allow cost to be the only consideration you make when deciding who will construct your dream house. Insist on quality, transparency, communication and a track record that proves the contractor has experience building homes. How do you find a home builder with these traits? Here are some tips that can help.

1. Referrals

Do you have a friend or family member who recently built a beautiful custom home? Perhaps your neighbour added a gorgeous master bath or renovated their kitchen. Ask them who they used for their projects. Get specific information about how satisfied they were with the process and if there were any problems. Ask about communication, warranty and other things that might impact your decision about who to hire. Personal recommendations are often some of the best ways to find a great contractor, so take advantage of them if you can.

2. Do Your Homework

Once you have narrowed your list down to a few home builders who you might consider, take some time to do a little homework. Check out their websites to gauge the quality of their work and professionalism. Many might offer handy tools including galleries of custom built homes and home renovations that can help. If they have a system for communication and one that helps keep them involved, learn about it. If there are reviews on their sites, read through them.

3. Communication

It is essential to create a and maintain a healthy relationship with your home builder throughout the project. Interview your top two or three home builders in person. Choose someone you can communicate with easily. Trust is also an important consideration. During the first meeting, inquire about how they handle change requests, setbacks, timeline delays and other such matters that might come up. If their style of communication is less than professional or very different than your own, it might be a good idea to cross them off the list and keep looking.

4. Insurance

With all the horror stories of the mishaps that can occur at a construction site, you do not want to take chances by getting an uninsured contractor. General contractors are expected to manage a large crew to ensure projects are successful. Insurance protects you and your property in the unlikely even of an an accident or injury on site.

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5. Consider the extras

To understand if your project is affordable, it’s important to have a bottom line number that includes everything. Some general contractors do not include all items in the initial quotation. Extra details including bathroom accessories and closet organizers or custom cabinetry could be left out. Ask about any extras and how they are priced out to avoid surprises during construction and keep your budget in check.

Hiring a professional contractor is an important step in the home building process. Take your time. Do your homework. Ask lots of questions. A great contractor like Alair Homes Oakville welcomes the opportunity to earn your business. To schedule a complimentary, no obligation consultation with our team, contact us today.