Finding the right custom home builder for your new home can be very challenging. Custom home builders in Colorado are a dime a dozen. You can jump online and find dozens in the Denver Metro Area with a quick Google search. The best way to protect yourself and ensure you get into your perfect new construction build is to be willing to put the time and effort into finding the right match for your needs.

And most importantly- do not be afraid to ask questions – if your custom home builder is bullying you into not asking questions, or not being forthright- run! The best home builders exude professionalism, trustworthiness, and the ability to make their clients feel at ease. Good luck out there, your dream home awaits!

Finding the right builder is the most critical step in your search for your brand new home. As demonstrated in the classic film “Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade,” choose wisely, and you will be rewarded, choose poorly, and well, let’s just say things might not end so well. Working with the wrong builder can lead to problems during the purchase and building process, as well as potential pitfalls down the line as your home ages.

 Luckily, with a bit of research and work, you can weed out bad actors and connect with the home builder whose skill can help you build the home of your dreams. There are many custom home builders in Denver to choose from- here is a comprehensive guide on how you can find the right one.

Reputation Matters

Your first step should be to research the reputation of any prospective home builder. In years past this was harder, but these days you can use the internet to find pretty much everything you need to know about a particular builder. Use Redfin, Google, Realtor.org, Zillow, and other sources to build a dossier of information about your builder. Pay close attention to their past and current communities, and home value appreciation or deprecation within those neighborhoods.   You can also reach out to current homeowners through your local community, internet message boards, and social media sites like NextDoor and Facebook. It’s ok to ask for past referrals and testimonials of people that have worked with the builder before.

After reviewing information online, you should get in your car and physically tour their past projects. Oftentimes builders will have guided tours of new developments, and this is a great time to quiz them about information relating to construction features, home move-in time, and other aspects of the community. That brings us to our next section: questions to ask your builder.

Crucial Questions to Ask Potential Custom Homebuilders:

Request information about standard options and features on offer by the builder.

This will help you to understand if the builder in question works with homes that are in your desired quality, style, and price range. For example, some builders focus on modest homes with reasonable asking prices, while others focus on the luxury market. They may not flat out say they are targeting these areas, but the fixtures and features offered in their homes should give you enough information to understand what their target demographic is. Things like the quality of the flooring, types of windows, countertop styles, and more can all help you determine the “vibe” of a given builder/community.

Ask them how many homes they have built.

Home builders live and die based on their past success and failures. Builders with poor reputations among home buyers and real estate professionals do not last long, and one way to gauge a home builder is to take a look at how many successful projects they have completed. (At Thomas Sattler we have completed over 500 custom home builds). If they are a new builder, you may risk purchasing a home that ends up being their initial entrance in the market, without any of the benefits of a long career spent building homes and working out the kinks. New construction homes in Denver are multiplying rapidly, and any builder worth their salt should have at least one completed project near the metro area.

Find out what separates the prospective home builder from every other company out there.

In your professional or personal pursuits, you strive to differentiate yourself in some way. You are either the hardest worker, best parent, or the savviest shopper- you should expect your builder to maintain a similar level of specialization and excellence. After all, you are entrusting them with your family’s future- only the best will do. Some firms will differentiate themselves through luxury-level service, others will do so with fantastic pricing, and still others will work on creating a one-of-a-kind buying experience. If your goal is a new construction home in Denver, find someone that specializes in custom builds. Your goal is to find out what makes your builder special among the pack.

Understand the how, what, and why questions surrounding their new construction pricing.

Any builder worth their salt will be able to give you a specific cost sheet for your new home. Whether you are commissioning a custom home, or moving into an existing floorplan, your builder should be able to provide you with detailed costs for the project. Some less than stellar builders are only able to provide you with general estimates, which could end in disaster if costs rise prohibitively, or if the project is unable to continue until more funding is secured- both are scenarios which you should avoid like the plague. A cost-related game plan will ensure that you are not spending more than you can and that you will be able to move into the house that you chose on paper.

Look for builders that use fixed-price contracts. These candidates can give you a precise estimate and set of timelines for construction for your new home. Some less than forward builders man try to get you to sign a “cost plus” contract. Avoid these at all costs. These contracts can lead to increased costs, and significant delays in construction as materials, labor, and other costs associated with construction may change. Whether you are creating a Denver luxury home or a starter home, every penny is precious.

If you are interested in setting up an in person meeting with a Denver custom home builder, reach out to us today.