When looking for a builder to build your dream home, it is so important to research thoroughly before deciding on THE one. Best to select a builder who is professional, but what does this term really mean?
Before signing any building contract, you need to do your research. Maybe you’ve already invested some time online, checking out what other people are saying about the building companies in your area, maybe you have been asking others about their own building experience…
In this article, you’ll discover some of the important qualities that you should be looking for in your builder. Qualities that will ensure your build is smooth, enjoyable and stress free!
The market is flooded with builders; you just have to do an internet search to find them all. But when you are building a home and investing so much financially and emotionally, you need a specialist home builder not just a jack of all trades who might not be up to delivering what you are hoping for.
So what does the term ‘Professional Builder’ REALLY mean and aren’t all builders supposed to be professionals??
“Professional builders” don’t operate like other builders. They specialise in what they do which is why you have to do more than search for just a builder.
Being professional is all about being a fiduciary. In other words, a builder should act in your best interests and should work ethically with the client. Not all builders will do this.
When you engage with a builder who acts as a fiduciary, their obligation starts from the very first contact…Not once you sign a building contract but from the very first meeting.
They have a moral obligation not to let you make the wrong decision….Therefore they will do everything they can to provide you with all of the information you need to make an informed decision…even if that means choosing another building company.
And as much as we’d like it to be, not everyone is prepared to do the work required in order to become a Professional Builder. The reasons are too numerous to count. Every builder could act in the client’s best interest, but history shows they don’t.
So, as a consumer the secret to finding the right building company is this:
The way the builder treats you through the sales process is how you will be treated during the build. Ask yourself, were they prompt in returning my phone calls and emails, were they available to meet in person, did they offer feedback and advice regarding the building process, did they appear organised and efficient? The longer they take to return a phone call…the longer the delays you’ll experience when the job starts!
When deciding on a builder, ask to meet the builder or owner of the company. At Edina Building Group, the owner of the company is the builder. Does the idea of dealing directly with the owner of the business appeal to you? Think about it, if you are dealing with a salesperson, they will be all over you pre-contract and telling you what you want to hear, but once the contract is signed they will be nowhere to be seen – their job is done! At Edina Building Group, we do not have salespeople, just the owner of the business who will be with you from the very first meeting through to the completion of your home and beyond.
A professional builder will have systems in place to ensure tasks are completed as planned and on time. We run each of our jobs systematically and have a detailed schedule detailing when certain trades are on the job, what tasks are being completed when and how long a job will take. Each of our clients has access to their own schedule and are kept well informed right throughout the building process. Nothing is hidden from the client and everything is transparent from the start of the job to the handover of keys. A relationship of trust is developed between the builder and the client.
At Edina Building Group we are proud certified members of the Association of Professional Builders. A group of like-minded professionals, who work hard to set goals to improve outcomes for the business and our clients. This all contributes to ensure that we are around for the long haul, unlike so many builders who have gone under.
If you’re thinking, ‘Yeah but I’ve already found a builder who is $50k less than all the others” you are already in danger of making a seriously expensive decision.
To find out how you can identify if your builder is professional, all you need to do is ask the right questions.
