Hiring a Builder for Your Custom Home, By Stu Silverman

There are many advantages to building a custom home. Everything is brand new, and just the way you want. You can have the very latest in architectural design and home-building technology, all designed to fit your individual needs and lifestyle. However, building a custom home can seem like a daunting task - everything from financing to finishing touches. But it doesn't have to be an intimidating process. You are not the first person to custom build a house, and there are professionals available to guide you through it.

Hire a builder early on

One of the most important decisions you'll have to make is hiring a builder. It is a good idea to hire a builder early in the process - even before you've picked a lot or a design for the house. The process of building a house is so complex that help from a professional builder in site selection, home design and outlining written specifications can avoid costly mistakes. You may want to contract with a builder only for preliminary stages such as site selection and home design, with an option to extend the contract to the building stage. This way you get the experience of a professional for some crucial decisions, and you get to see how you work with the builder before you commit to the whole project.

Whatever you do, don't try to save money by acting as the general contractor.

Comparing quotes isn't easy

Your decision to hire one builder over another shouldn't rest solely on price. In fact, there are several other criteria that are more important, beside the fact that it's impossible to quote an accurate price for a custom or semi-custom home unless you know the type, style, finishes and features of the home, the site conditions and the type of contract you want to use for construction. Bids by competitive builders are difficult to read and compare - and you have to ensure that the bids are based on identical specifications, using the same quality of materials. Then consider the quality of the workmanship offered by each builder.

Things to consider beyond cost

More important than cost is the builder's reputation and professionalism, experience, competence and warranty coverage. Consider the following points:

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• You'll want to hire a builder with a solid reputation and an extensive client list. Consider the quality of their work. You may want to look at some of the homes they've built and see for yourself, and talk to the people who have used their services to see how smoothly the process went.

• Hire a builder who is familiar with the area you're building in. This is important due to the regional nature of construction, variations in building code, ease of hiring better subcontractors, dealing with weather patterns and various other factors.

• Choose a builder who has experience building the type of home you want, in your style and price range.

• An important part of how smoothly the building process goes is your compatibility with the builder. Building a custom home can be a stressful experience, and the better relationship you have with your builder, the easier it will be.

• What kind of warranty is the builder providing? A comprehensive warranty can save you a lot of worry and expense once the house is built. If a builder is not willing to guarantee his work, think about hiring someone else.

• Make sure the building company you hire is financially stable. A successful company that has a proven track record can hire the best subcontractors and suppliers. You also want to ensure that the company will be in business for the duration of your warranty.

Whatever you do, don't try to save money by acting as the general contractor. Unless you have the experience, resources and contacts required to build a custom home, you could be setting yourself up for disaster. You will pay for the services of a professional builder, but their experience could save you money - and aggravation - in the long run.