Building a new home is a lengthy and stressful process involving many decisions. It’s imperative that before you dive in, you find the right contractor for your new house.
Your general contractor will handle the hiring of subcontractors to do electrical work, plumbing, HVAC installation, and roofing. They will also pull the proper permits and ensure everything is done properly to pass code inspections. Explore our selection of new home designs and find the perfect contractor to bring your dream home to life.
With so many new home builders Seattle residents have a lot of contractors to choose from. Here’s how you can find the right one to build your dream home.
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Get Referrals
If you have friends or family who have built a home in the Seattle area recently, ask them who they worked with. In doing so, you’ll wind up with a list of names to contact.
Arrange a Meeting
After you get a list together, you can call and ask some basic questions to see if they might be a good fit. Be sure to ask if they can provide client referrals and confirm they would be able to handle your project.
Good contractors will happily share their referrals and give you the chance to take a look at their work. If you like what you see, schedule a meeting where you can learn more about the process along with an estimate of the cost. Remember, you’ll be working with this person for at least six months, so you will want to choose someone you feel comfortable communicating with throughout the building process.
Ask the Right Questions
During the initial meeting, you should have a list of questions prepared to ask the contractor before you hire them. You should ask about the project timeline, how many houses they build in a year, how they will protect the job site, how long the crew will be working each day, and how you can get in touch throughout the project.
While you can look up licensing and insurance information, you can ask about that, too. The right contractor should be happy to show proof of these things to put your mind at ease.
Verify Qualifications and References
Before you hire any contractor for your new house, you should take the time after this meeting to verify their qualifications and references. For example, if your house is located in South Carolina they should have a valid sc contractor license. A good place to start is with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed. If that comes up clear, continue on with your research by calling their clients. Ask them about how their homebuilding process went, what they liked best, and if there were any negative aspects about this contractor.
Additionally, there are home builders who combine contracting services and homebuilding together. This makes it even easier for you. While you’ll still want to check things out, you will find the process more seamless when you work with one point of contact who handles everything for building your new home.
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