Good Questions to Ask Custom Home Contractors in Sonoma County, CA Before Choosing a Builder
If you are ready to move forward with plans to build your dream home, then your next step should be choosing a custom home builder. Since this is a team you will work with throughout the duration of the building process, and the final product is where you’ll hopefully live for a very long time, it’s important that you do a little legwork to have a good grasp on every potential builder before making a selection. Approach custom home contractors in Sonoma County, CA with the following questions.
How many years experience do you have building in this area?
Although someone with only a couple years experience in custom home building could do a good job, you want to hire a team of builders that’s been in the game for a long time. Employees should produce resumes that include their work history, skills and years of experience building homes. It’ll take time to build your house, so the team you hire needs to have a solid understanding of the area where you want to build. The right builder for you is aware of local permitting, codes and other building regulations.
What types of home building projects do you do?
There’s more than one type of residential construction. Which builder you hire depends on the size and kind of home you want built. For instance, you wouldn’t want to hire a home builder that specializes in constructing huge, expensive luxury homes when your dream home is a quaint little cottage. Likewise, skip a contractor that specializes in interior renovations when what you actually want is an entirely new house. An interior renovator may not have the expertise to build a residential structure from the ground up.
Can I see your portfolio?
All the custom home builders you’re considering should have a portfolio of recent building projects to show you on hand. Check out the different floor plans they’ve created, as well as look at both interior and exterior photos of the projects from start to finish.
What’s your projected timeline for my project?
Once you’ve met the builder and told them everything you want in your custom home, ask them to provide a start date and completion date. You should ensure a timetable of all the work to be done, a list of materials needed and information about how change orders will affect the job timeline are all included in your contract. In addition to this, you’ll want to check in on the progress of the project regularly. For this reason, ask the contractor how they plan to keep you up to date and how you can communicate your questions or concerns.
Are you licensed, insured and bonded?
Don’t hire a builder who doesn’t have all three of these things. Ask to see their license and make sure all workers are insured against on-the-job injuries or accidents and other potential hazards. Working with an unlicensed builder is risky. No license, liability coverage, damage insurance or worker’s compensation coverage? Don’t sign anything!
ABA Custom Homes Inc. is a leader in building beautiful custom homes in Sonoma County, CA. Call us today to arrange a consultation!
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