All the Steps to Take During the Vetting Process
Finding a home builder in the Denver area is easy, but finding a reliable home builder that can live up to your expectations can be a challenge. The sheer number of home builders in the state of Colorado can make your search feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but there are ways to make your vetting process easier and more efficient. What it comes down to is asking the right questions and doing your research. So, let’s start with the basics and work our way up.
What is a Home Builder? And What Do They Do?
Ideally, this is an individual that has many years of experience building homes, however, you don’t want to get too hung up on the title. A home builder can mean many things because – as you’d probably expect – there are many facets to building a home. The term home builder can realistically apply to any contractor that is going to be involved in the building of a residence. That can apply to the design, development, or construction phases. It’s a broad term, so when you’re vetting your list of home builders, make sure to ask them what phases of the home building process they cover.
A true home builder will have their own team of people they utilize for the entire build with little to no outside sub-contractors. They’ll handle every aspect of the process from drawing up the specs/blueprints, designing the home, preparing the site, developing the land, building the home, and handling the landscaping.
The exceptions to this rule are in regards to plumbing, electrical work, and HVAC. Do not be surprised when the home builder informs you those portions of the job need to be subcontracted out. That is entirely normal because those jobs require special licenses.
The big difference between a home builder and a general contractor is that a home builder will be involved with the process from day one. “Day one” meaning the original sketches of the home. And they will be with you until the house is finalized and you’re ready to move in.
How to Choose a Home Builder
Now that you know what a home builder does and how they get paid, now it’s time to break down how you go about choosing one. There is a wide selection of home builders in Colorado, so you want to narrow down your pool of potential home builders by asking the following questions.
“What is My Style of Home?”
A great way to find out if a home builder is going to align with your vision is by checking out the work they’ve done before. This gives you a solid idea of what they’re capable of along with a healthy amount of inspiration for your own home’s style and design.
“What is the Home Builder’s Experience?”
Get the home builder’s track record. How long have they been in business? How many homes have they built? Can they provide detailed examples of their work for you to review? Think of this as an interview to gauge if you could potentially see yourself working with this person and their team. Homebuilding is a long process, so you want to be sure that their experience and communication style are a good match.
“How Have Past Clients Reviewed This Home Builder?”
Online reviews can give you a pretty good idea of the quality of work your potential home builder has done in the past. However, you should take this a step further and ask for references from past clients. Ideally, you want to speak with at least a few people who have first-hand experience working with your homeowner.
“Does the Home Builder Have All the Necessary Credentials and Relationships to Handle the Project?”
Does the home builder have all the appropriate licenses required by the state to build? Are they up-to-date on their insurance? Do they have solid relationships with suppliers, vendors, contractors, and other industry professionals?
“Does the Home Builder Guarantee Their Work? Will it Be Under Warranty?”
Building code standards and your personal standards are two different things. Make sure that if you’re not satisfied with the job the home builder has done that you’re protected by guaranteed work that’s under warranty, and be sure to discuss what’s covered under that warranty and for how long. Always make sure to get the agreement in writing.
Home Buying Made Easy
Finding, vetting, and selecting a home builder in Colorado is a long and involved process. If you’re looking to simplify your timeline without losing the ability to personalize your home, then reach out to the team at Oakwood Homes.
We are part of the Berkshire-Hathaway family of companies offering high standards, quality, and innovation. Bringing nearly 30 years of expertise as a local home builder, Oakwood Homes believes in building flourishing communities with sustained value while pioneering efficiently designed homes. We craft a variety of unique home options in the communities you want to live in at every price point and offer the one-of-a-kind homebuying experience you deserve.
Our Promise to You:
- a truly superb community
- more value per square foot
- several choices & options in personalization
- an enjoyable home buying experience
We’ve been working with Denver residents for years on personalizing and designing their future homes according to their requests. The first step is to set up an appointment with Oakwood Homes so that we can discuss your goals.
