Wondering how to find the right builder in South Jersey? If you’re interested in purchasing a new construction or custom home from a home builder, the builder you choose to work with is the most important decision you’ll make.
Builders have their systems, procedures, and contract terms, not to mention different styles of homes. In this post, our real estate experts at Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Nancy Kowalik Group will cover six tips to help you narrow down your options and find the right home builder for your needs.
6 Tips to Choose the Right Builder in South Jersey
Start by Researching
Finding the right builder in South Jersey starts with doing your research. You can easily find home builders by looking online, consulting with local realtors, or asking other home buyers.
When looking online, visit each builder’s website and look at their portfolios to get a sense of the style of homes they make. You should also see if they have experience building homes in the style you’re looking for. In addition, be sure to read about the services they offer. For example, some builders offer more flexibility and customization, while others use preset styles.
Lastly, be sure to read reviews and testimonials, and see if they’ve earned any awards or accolades for their work. If you’re consulting other home buyers, ask them what their experience was like with the builder.
Based on your findings, start making a list of the best possible options. Once you’re ready to take the next step in your research, you can start touring the builder’s model homes or visiting their open houses. This will give you a better sense of the style of homes they offer and allow you to ask questions.
Interview Multiple Options
Once you’ve completed your research, narrow down your top choices and start setting up meetings with a representative of the builder. Ask them about their pricing structure. For example, what features the base price includes, and whether there are extra upgrade or customization options available for an additional charge.
Next, ask about the quality of the materials they use, what their building process is like, and what their timelines usually are. If your goal is a completely custom home, find out whether they can help you build the home you want or if they just offer preset styles.
Lastly, ask about the terms of their contract and what their payment schedule is like. Find out how much you’ll have to pay upfront, how many installments there will be over the life of the project, and what new construction home financing options they offer.
Look at Reviews and Testimonials
As mentioned above, reviews are a key factor when it comes to finding the right builder in South Jersey. To this end, look for online reviews on the builder’s website, Google Business Page, and social media.
Even better, ask the home builder for references from past clients. Reach out to these clients and ask what their experience was like with the builder. In particular, ask about qualities like:
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Adherence to the project timeline
- Quality of the finished project
Also, ask whether the client was satisfied with the finished result and whether the project was the quality they expected.
It can also be helpful to contact any contractors or home inspectors that the builder regularly partners with. Ask them about their experience with the builder and whether they’d recommend them.
Evaluate Their Communication Skills
Communication and transparency are key qualities in a home builder. It shouldn’t be up to you to reach out to the builder for updates about your home. Instead, the builder should provide regular updates throughout the entire process. And whenever you reach out to them with a question or concern, they should answer promptly.
While interviewing builders, discuss your communication preferences and expectations. Ask about who your point of contact will be, the best channels to reach them, and whether they can provide you with regular check-ins on the progress of the build.
Check Their Credentials
It’s important not to overlook a builder’s basic credentials. Verify whether they’re licensed, bonded, and insured. This way, you can be confident that they meet the necessary legal requirements and have the appropriate coverage in case of accidents or damages during the construction process.
See What After-Sales Services They Offer
Lastly, inquire about the builder’s warranty program and after-sales services, like walk-throughs or inspections. It’s not a good sign if the builder’s obligation to you is over once you’ve moved into your new home.
The most reputable builders stand behind their work by offering warranties to cover the quality of their materials and the structural integrity of their work. Warranties are also important because they can help you if any construction defects arise, even after you’ve completed a home inspection.
Understanding a builder’s warranty terms and their commitment to resolving any issues that may arise after the completion of the project is essential.
Work With Us to Find a Quality Builder in South Jersey
If you need to find the right builder in South Jersey, Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Nancy Kowalik Group can help. We’ve helped hundreds of home buyers in South Jersey find the new construction homes of their dreams.
During our years in business, we’ve developed an extensive network of home builders, inspectors, and other real estate professionals that we regularly partner with.
These home builders value the clients we bring to them, so they do what they can to make sure you’re satisfied with your home and receive the best possible deal.
Home buyers also like working with us because of our unique buyer guarantees, like our Buyer Cancellation Guarantee. With this guarantee, you have the option of canceling your buyer agreement with our team at any time before making an offer on a home. You can cancel for any reason and face no consequences.
We offer this guarantee because that’s how confident we are in our ability to find you the perfect home. To learn more about working with our team, call (856) 478-6562. You can also fill out the form on this page.