We all expect consumers to do their due diligence before committing to a purchase. They solicit personal recommendations and read online reviews; they scrutinize the product (or service), and they comparison-shop. As a designer, I undergo much the same process when engaging a homebuilder to work with on a project. Here’s my list of must-have criteria when shopping for a homebuilder.
Price
Find out how the homebuilder charges for their work. Is it a pre-agreed flat fee, or cost plus a percentage? Price is a great starting point, but it isn’t everything. Price should be considered alongside reputation, financial stability, quality of work, quality of products, professionalism, personality, trades and last but not least, timelines. In this case, the lowest price isn’t always your best bet. Hire the wrong builder, and you could end up paying twice: Once to do the job, and a second time to do it right.
Budget
This next point of criteria is not to be confused with price. The builder’s budget should outline everything and its associated costs. Of course, as part of your “designer’s due diligence,” call some suppliers to confirm their pricing. Finally, do your research and be realistic. If a builder’s quote seems “too good to be true,” it probably is. Work with a builder that has a decent allocation towards each finishing category – be wary of low budgeted amounts. If you are building a high-end home and they have a $15,000 budget for lighting you might be in for a rude awakening. Ultimately, you are a key part of your budget – if you have your heart set on products that don’t match your allocations then you are ultimately derailing your budget yourself.
The above tip also applies to timelines. If a builder’s completion date is unexplainedly quick, find out why. This could be a sign of the old “over promise and underperform” manoeuvre in an effort to gain more business.
Timelines are very difficult today in this market – supply has thrown a curveball into things. I always ask my client to prioritize their build on the following criteria: Quality, price and timelines. I am more concerned when a builder tells me his timeline, as I feel like it is given to obtain the job. There are a million moving parts during a build – just a few of those moving parts can change your timelines by months. Builders are like event planners – they line up every trade based on estimated completion dates; those trades run busy businesses themselves, so when they get bumped you may be at the back of their line. You want a builder who is working on multiple projects at a time – the chances are that they are a much higher priority to their trades – which means your project is a higher priority.
References
Get them, call them and, if possible, examine the work in person. Make the most of your time by preparing your list of questions ahead of time. Did the builder stay on track in terms of budget and timelines? Did they show up on site when expected? Were they professional? Did they communicate well? Did the work and products/materials meet your expectations? If possible, see the builder’s work first-hand.
If you’re falling short, tap into the design community for tried-and-true homebuilders. There’s an old saying, that “good design is honest.” The same can be said for designers.
Trisha Isabey is Creative Director and Principal Designer at award-winning Isabey Interiors. The Kelowna, BC-based design firm has excelled for more than a decade creating thoughtfully curated designs. The sought after design team offers a diverse range of design services throughout western Canada and nationally isabeyinteriors.com @isabeyinteriors @furnishbyisabey