How to Interview a Builder
How to Interview a Builder
Direct answer: For West Michigan buyers planning a new construction home, interviewing a builder comes down to three things: how long they have been building, what their past clients say, and whether they have a real process and checklist.
An agent can help you sort the field
A real estate agent can come into play here. Steve knows many different builders, and depending on your price range, style, and location, he can help direct you to a couple of different people to interview.
That shortlist is the starting point. The interview is where you decide.
How long have they been building?
First, you want to know how long they have been building. Experience is not the whole answer, but it is the first question — a builder's track record tells you whether they have done this before, more than once, and through different conditions.
Get referrals from past clients
Second, get some referrals from other past clients who have already built with them. Talk to people who have actually been through the process with that builder, not just people who have heard of them.
Past clients will tell you what the experience was really like — the communication, the surprises, and how problems were handled.
Do they have a process and a checklist?
Third, understand the process they go through. Do they have a process, a system, and a checklist you can follow?
This is one of the major things you will run into: a builder who does not have that checklist or that understanding of how the process works. If there is no system, there is no way for you to know where you stand, what comes next, or what is being handled.
So interview well. Ask about experience, ask past clients, and ask to see the process — before you sign on to build with anyone.
Key takeaways
A real estate agent can help direct you to a couple of builders to interview, based on your price range, style, and location.
Ask how long the builder has been building.
Get referrals from past clients who have already built with them.
Ask whether they have a process, a system, and a checklist you can follow.
One of the biggest risks is a builder without a checklist or an understanding of how the process works.
FAQ
How can an agent help me interview builders?
An agent who knows many builders can direct you to a couple of people to interview, matched to your price range, style, and location.
What should I ask a builder in an interview?
How long they have been building, for referrals from past clients, and whether they have a process, a system, and a checklist you can follow.
What is the biggest red flag in a builder interview?
A builder who does not have a checklist or an understanding of how the process works.
West Michigan New Construction FAQ Series
Financing a New Construction Home
Can You Build Some Yourself?
What Is a Semi-Custom Builder?
What Kind of Builder Are You Looking For?
What Is a Production Builder?
Finding Land
How to Interview a Builder — you are here
How Long Does It Take to Build a House?
Price Per Square Foot
Custom Builder
Watch me explain it
Here is an older video of me explaining the process. It might be older, but the info still rings true.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r25zSeSigkM
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Author: Steve Volkers, Associate Broker, Steve Volkers Group at Five Star Real Estate, Grand Rapids, MI — phone 616-717-2179, stevevolkersgroup.com
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