There are many custom home builder contractors in Santa Clara County, including the larger cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Milpitas. Your job is to find the one with the right home building experience and the best references in order to have the most success.
You should expect more than just bare minimum from your custom home builder contractor of choice. Read on to learn how to find the most affordable, licensed custom home builder contractor in Santa Clara County who can build your custom home with success.
A custom built home is one that is specially designed to meet the specifications of the person who wants it built. A house is not truly a custom home unless an architect has carefully studied the property and interviewed the clients in order to create a unique home that is tailor-made for the people who will reside there. In order to build a custom home, you will need a building site, an architect or professional home designer, and a custom home builder contractor.
How to Choose a Professional Santa Clara County Custom Home Builder Contractor
When it comes time to choose a custom home builder, follow these steps:
Make a preliminary decision
Once you have interviewed prospective custom home builder contractors, it is time to narrow down your choices. Decide which answers are the most important by reviewing your notes. Then you can make a decision regarding which custom home builder contractor most closely matches your criteria. Make sure that you are comfortable interacting with this general contractor as you will be spending quite a bit of time with him during the building process.
Describe the construction work
When you meet with the custom home builder, describe the custom home that you want. Try to consistently explain the same home to the different custom home building companies that you meet with in order to have the best opportunity to get an accurate estimate that is based on similar information.
Research each prospective custom home builder contractor
After you have narrowed down your options to a single custom home builder contractor, finish up the resource. Contact references. Verify that the custom home builder has proper licensing, insurance, and official endorsements such as Diamond Certification and Better Business Bureau membership.
Ask questions and take notes
When you meet with prospective custom home builder contractors, have a list of questions to ask. Also, write down each one’s answers to those questions so that you can compare responses when it comes time to make the final decision. Remember that a good rapport with the custom home builder is essential to a positive working relationship. Remember to ask about the general contractor’s technical ability, job history and the specifications of the custom home construction job.
Make a final decision
After you have researched your final choice for custom home builder contractor, it is time to finalize the deal. This is the time that you want to ask any last questions and make sure that you are completely satisfied and comfortable with your custom home builder contractor of choice. If you are totally content with your choice, ask your representative to provide a signed, written and thoroughly detailed contract.
Tips for Locating a Diamond Certified Custom Home Builder Contractor in Santa Clara County
When you are searching for a custom home builder contractor in Santa Clara County, including the larger cities of Palo Alto, Cupertino, Gilroy, Campbell, and Morgan Hill, check to see if they have already built a home similar to the one you are looking for. If so, it will be rather easy for them to modify the plan. They will also understand the permitting process and have ideas of what could improve the design.
Get quotes
Be sure to check several potential custom home builder contractors for your building project. Give identical copies of detailed project plans to each potential candidate for a quote. You should get at least three different quotes before making your final selection. Also, make sure the quote includes materials and fixtures that meet your project specifications.
Write a job description
If you write a description of the custom home that you intend to have built, you can be sure that each potential custom home builder contractor fully understands the construction job. This will enable you to accurately compare each custom home builder’s response to your custom home construction project, giving you the ability to compare equally and fairly.
Do the homework
Because a custom home builder contractor building your home will save you time and stress, be sure to do your homework and find a quality company to do business with. This way you will have done everything possible to end up with a beautiful home that brings you satisfaction.
Check references
Be sure to check references of any custom home builder contractor. Request two positive references as well as a reference that may not be so positive. Ask if there are any homes that they designed and built that you can view. Also, be sure to find out what types of interior finishing products they use. Make sure this person is someone whom you can see yourself working with for the next three months happily.
Get it in writing
Getting everything that you are told by the custom home builder contractor in writing will save confusion later on. Be sure that the custom home building contractor provides you with a written description of the construction work, pricing and a time frame for completion.
Maintain great communication
In order to work successfully with your custom home builder contractor of choice, it is critically important that both parties make an effort to keep each other informed. Don’t jump to conclusions. Ask if you have doubts regarding the progression of the construction job. Do whatever it takes to stay informed and get your questions or concerns addressed in a timely manner.
Choose certified and licensed custom home builder contractors
The best custom home builder contractors have been featured positively in consumer ratings publications. They are more likely to put forth extra effort for your custom built home.
Do a walk-through
After the custom home construction job is finished, verify the completed work with the agreement that you signed before the construction work began. Walk through the project with the custom home builder contractor. Compare the results to the details outlined in the agreement. If any work differs with the contract, discuss these differences with the construction company.
Know your rights
As the client of a custom home builder contractor, you have special rights. Learn about what laws apply to you at the California Department of Consumer Affairs Website.
Avoid hiring a contractor who does any of the following:
- Suggests you borrow money for your project from a lender the contractor knows
- Requests complete payment upfront
- Offers discounts for finding customers for the contractor
- Offers a discount for on-the-spot hiring
- Has no business number in the local telephone directory
- Offers only lifetime warranties (as these are only as good as the life of the company)
- Wants to use leftover materials from another job for your project
- Provides only a PO Box address rather than a physical address
- Applies pressure for you to make a quick hiring decision
- Requests that YOU obtain any required building permits
- Accepts only cash
- Quotes a final price without first seeing the job
- Requires a large down payment for the purpose of purchasing materials
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