How To Find A Custom Home Builder Near Me

If you’re in the market for a new home and you are tired of losing to competing offers, building may be an option.

There are a ton of builders in the Raleigh-Durham area and they all have their own set of pros and cons.

Here are a couple of things you can do to identify and research builders that could be the best fit for you.

Create a List of Builders

All reputable builders in every market are members of the builder association in their area or state.

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If you visit the builder association website, you should be able to locate all of their members.

You can also look in your local newspaper and search builders and projects.

Once you’ve decided on an area and the type of house you want you can make a list of possible builders that could deliver what you want.

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Scan Through the List of Builders

Reading articles in  newspaper, magazine and website ads can help you to learn which builders are active in your area.

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You will also discover the types of homes they are building, the communities they are building in and their price points.

Make a list of builders who build the type of home you're looking for in your price range.

Seek Out a Local Realtor to Help You with Your Search

Builders build large networks with Realtors for several reasons. The obvious reason is that they would need someone to help them sell their products.

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The not so obvious reason why builders may know a lot of Realtors is because most builders are licensed real estate agents.

Try seeking out an agent that has knowledge of the building activity in that area, ask for a list of their favorite builders and ask why. 

Do Your Homework

When you’ve created your list of potential builders, it's time to start asking lots of questions. You should inquire to the potential builders and their past customers.

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Interview each potential builder then, visit the communities of the builder’s most recent products. This is the simplest way to determine what is the best home builder.

The best time to drive  by is on a Saturday morning when the homeowners are doing weekend chores.

Introduce yourself and mention that you are considering using the builder that has built their home. Talk to several owners and try to get different perspectives.

The more people you talk with, the more accurate an impression you’ll get of that builder.

The questions worth asking the homeowners are: Are you happy with your home? What was the reason you selected this builder?

If you had any problems, how responsive was the builder? Would you buy another home from this builder?

Typically, you will get a favorable response if the homeowners are pleased with their homes and the process.

And if they aren’t, they'll probably want to tell you why.

If you’re not the type to drop by a random stranger’s house unannounced, at the very least, drive through the community and see if the homes are aesthetically appealing.

Take notes and record as much as possible so you will have information to make your comparison later. 

Shop for Quality and Value

Pay attention to homes on the market. Attend open houses and look online to get a good idea of how homes are built and designed. 

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New community model homes typically have all of the upgraded bells and whistles which can distract you from assessing the quality of the build.

Ask the builder to allow you to see homes that haven't been staged and perhaps homes at the end of the build process. 

When you are examining the home, pay attention to the home's features. 

Inspect the quality of the cabinetry, exterior finishes, flooring, surfaces, hardware, trim work and paint.

What usually sets one builder apart from another is the floor plan. Pay attention to the flow of the floorplan.

Ask the builder or the builder's representative a lot of questions. Get as many specifics as possible.

If you receive the answers verbally rather than in writing, take notes. Never hesitate to ask a question.

There is no such thing as a stupid question. The smallest question could make the biggest impact.