Finding new home builders. A good new home builder will be able to organize, schedule and oversee the entire home building process with minimal delays, defects and deficiencies.  If this process is completed with quality materials and superior workmanship your dream home will become reality.  If, on the other hand, you work with a bad home builder you may have ongoing delays due to bad scheduling, increased costs, poor workmanship and/or materials.  An experience with a bad builder will likely stress you out, stress your relationship and stress your pocket book.  In this section we will provide you with information and resources to help with finding new home builders that are reliable and qualified.

Creating a list of homes builders.  A good place to start is by visiting show homes or open houses.  You can likely find lists of show homes in your local paper(s), look for the “home” section during the weekday, usually on a Friday; this is an excellent source of information in which to begin your work.

Other sources to find local home builders include:

• Yellow pages
• Newspaper
• Magazines
• Internet
• Home builder warranty programs
• Home builder associations
• Better Business Bureau
• Referrals
• New developments

Visiting the show homes or open houses is an easy way to see the quality of the finished product; you can also inquire as to what other plans the builder may have to offer and what other areas they build in.  While at the show home gather as much information as you can from the builder, follow the same process with all the other builders you visit.

Most of the homes will likely be furnished and show very well.  But as a potential home buyer you must look past all the accessories and furnishings and look at the quality of workmanship and materials that make up the home, closely examine the flooring, walls, cupboards, countertops etc.  When you tour the house be aware of squeaking floors, doors that do not close tightly, loose stairs, loose handrails and so on.

As you get prepared to meet with the home builders go prepared with a list of questions, here are some questions you might want to ask: