San Mateo – Contractors - Custom Home Builders

Before you select a custom home builder contractor in San Mateo County, call them on the phone to discuss your options. It's good to have a list of questions ready and to write down the answers that the custom home builder contractor gives you while you're talking to them. Use the following questions to guide in your discussion:

1. Has your company earned and maintained a Diamond Certified rating?

• Will the general contractor provide a written estimate for the general construction?
• Will the San Mateo County general contractor provide a written contract?
• Does the design-build contractor have a sales tax ID and a valid license or permit?
• Do you guarantee your work?
• Will you provide me with written lien wavers?
• How long has your Alameda construction company been in business?

It's best to select a Diamond Certified custom home builder contractor because all certified companies have passed an in-depth ratings process that most other companies can't pass. If you want quality contractor work in San Mateo County and the greater Bay Area, you can feel confident about choosing a Diamond Certified company. Diamond Certified reports are available online for all certified companies. And you'll never be fooled by fake reviews. That's because all research is performed in live telephone interviews of actual customers.

If you can't find a Diamond Certified custom home builder contractor within reach, you'll have to do some research on your own. If you do, it's wise to call some references provided by your custom home builder contractor. Keep in mind, though, that references provided to you by the custom home builder contractor are not equal in value to the large random sample of customers surveyed during the Diamond Certified ratings process. That's because references given to customers from companies are cherry-picked instead of randomly selected from all their customers. So the contractors will likely give you a few customers to call that they know are satisfied.

If you do phone references on your own, specifically ask for a list of the company's 10 most recent customers. This will help avoid them giving you the names of only customers they know were satisfied.

1. What type of custom home builder project did you hire the general contractor to complete?
2. Did the contractor provide answers to questions to your satisfaction?
3. Would you recommend this custom home builder contractor to your family and friends?
4. Were you satisfied with the service from the (custom home builder contractor name)?
5. Did the contractor seem receptive to your input?
6. If you need a custom home builder contractor in the future, will you consider hiring this general contractor?
7. Did the custom home builder contractor show up on time?
8. Do you feel like the general contractor charged a fair price for the quality of the work?
9. Did they finish the job on time?
10. Did the general contractor clean up after completing the job?
11. Were there any unexpected costs? If so, what?

Once you've hired a custom home builder company in San Mateo County, including the smaller cities Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Loma Mar, San Carlos, San Gregorio, Emerald Hills, and Belmont, you will have an initial meeting between you and the contractor to discuss the contractor's qualifications and your requirements. An estimate of the custom home construction project and its feasibility is drawn out. Furthermore, you will discuss the budget and design of the project as well as any restrictions and permissions that will be needed. The contractor will provide you with an estimate based on the design specifications. He will also offer choices in terms of designs and construction. Once the final contract has been written, the next step will be applying for permission. Last of all, the construction and financing process will begin.

Be Contract Specific
Once the contract is drawn up, it should be signed by both parties: you, the project owner, and the contractor. If any sub-contractors will be involved, they should sign the contract as well. The contract should protect the interests of both you and the contractor. As a result, it should include the following:

• Contractor's name, physical address, mailing address and phone.
• Quote of the project.
• A clear, concise, and complete description of the project, including start and completion dates. It should also include who will be responsible for each aspect of the project.
• Terms of payment schedule as well as the payment schedule for the contractor, subcontractor(s) and suppliers.
• How "change orders" will be handled. Any changes or additions to the project should be written up in the contract so that the conditions for change are pre-determined. Furthermore, the contract should list how and when payment will be made for adjustments. Because change orders are common aspects of most remodeling jobs, it is common for remodelers to require payment before the work actually begins.
• Warranties should be written and the length of time as well as limitations should be covered. Warranties should cover materials and workmanship, and names and addresses of the warrantor. This may include the contractor, manufacturer, and distributor.
• Detailed materials list: product, size, color, type, model, and brand name. Any additional or alternate materials that may be used if necessary should also be listed.
• Who will be responsible for obtaining necessary permits (this is usually the contractor).
• Any oral promises made.

Take Precautions to Protect Yourself
Taking precautions will help protect you and your custom home project investment. It will also increase your chances of success. Consider the following guidelines:

• Do not make final payment until the work completed meets agreed upon specifications, building code requirements, and that subcontractors and suppliers have all been paid.
• Do not sign a contract or any document until you have thoroughly read through it and filled in any blank spaces.
• Do not sign a contract that uses vague terms. Make sure that all terms are specific regarding project requirements and the work that will be performed.
• Don't agree to finance your project through your contractor. Shop around for better loan terms.
• Before deeding your property, be sure to first consult an attorney or knowledgeable friend or family member.
• Agree to make payments as the project progresses, contingent upon completion of a determined amount of work. This way, if work on the project is delayed, payment will be delayed as well.

When the custom home builder contract work is completed, your custom home builder contractor is required to give you a written invoice. This must include:

• The name and physical address of the custom home builder contractor
• A list of all work performed, including the warranty
• An itemized list of all merchandise purchased or included
• The total custom home builder project cost, including the amount charged for labor, if any

Custom home builder contractors in San Mateo County, including the larger cities of Daly City, San Mateo, Redwood City, South San Francisco, and San Bruno, provide all types of custom home projects. Following is a list of the most popular requests.

Custom A-frame homes
A-frame houses feature steeply-angled sides that usually begin at or near the foundation line and meet at the top, creating a home that looks like the letter A.

Custom green homes
Green homes are built using a process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the building's life-cycle. This "green" process includes design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. The purpose of a "green" home is to reduce the overall impact of the home on the human health and natural environment.

Custom modular homes
These are buildings used for commercial purposes that are portable and cost-effective. Modular buildings are pre-constructed in a factory or other manufacturing site and then transported to the assembly site.

Custom Luxury homes
Luxury homes are high-end homes in affluent communities. The high-end status is determined by location, property entry, architecture, decor, decadent amenities, entertainment capability, grounds, etc.

Custom log homes
Log homes are structurally identical to log cabins because they are made from logs that have not been milled into conventional lumber.

Custom vacation homes
This is a home that is used seasonally as a vacation residence rather than being lived in year round.

Split-level custom homes
A split-level home is similar to a ranch home. It features three levels of living space on a floor plan that makes economical use of the building lot.

Chalet-style custom homes
Reminiscent of homes on alpine ski slopes, chalet style homes are rustic homes based on Swiss alpine cottages. They have a rectangular shape, big lofts, large windows, and steep gabled roofs.