Your relationship should be as custom as your new home.

A custom home is by it’s very definition – custom. After much planning, dreaming, and patience, the end result will be a home that is perfectly tailored to you – your dreams, needs, and budget. While there is a lot to consider when choosing to build a custom home, choosing a builder may be one of the most important. It is imperative for a client to do the research required to find a perfect match for them, through word-of-mouth, site visits, meetings with potential builders, and getting feedback from previous clients. This due diligence will lead a client to the builder that is perfectly suited for them.

Look for a personal connection, because you’ll be spending a lot of time together.

The personal touches that you seek when planning a custom home should also be sought out when searching for a builder – for just as all homes are not created equal, neither are all home builders.

The builder-client relationship is a unique one that will be full of triumphs and likely a few unforeseen setbacks. This is why a client must choose a builder that they respect and with whom they feel a personal connection, someone they can talk to honestly. During the lengthy building process, which can average 12 months once construction is underway, the builder and client will be in frequent contact through phone calls, meetings, emails, etc. On occasion, decisions will need to be made quickly, so an open and clear line of communication is critical.

With the cost of building a custom home averaging approximately $325 per square foot, the financial burden of the client is not for the faint of heart. It is imperative that clients trust their chosen builder to deliver the promised product while always keeping their best interests in mind. Ultimately, a client needs to choose a custom home builder that they trust – of course with their money, but also with their dreams, concerns, and visions. A good builder will act with integrity, keep an open line of communication, value their client’s time and will support them in times of adversity. A relationship based on honesty and transparency will produce the best result.

The custom home builder’s connection to others is just as significant.

The client-builder relationship is only part of the puzzle, and it is important to also consider the builder’s relationships with the trades. Building a custom home is an immense collaborative exercise that requires much behind-the-scenes work, taking a team of professionals to make it come together. Orchestrating all the many moving parts, making it all happen, is the custom home builder.

The exercise of building a custom home requires an exemplary planning ability and great relationship skills. At its best, a job site is like a buzzing bee hive, where every member of the building team is working together in their respective fields, towards achieving a common goal. A home builder must also closely work and communicate with these tradespeople on the job, and create a positive respect-based workplace environment – for without their efforts and expertise, the home cannot be built.

When meeting with a potential builder, ask questions to narrow the search

Building a custom home is an exercise in planning, problem-solving, and respect, and when the right people are involved, it makes all the difference. When doing their due diligence and meeting with potential builders, clients should prepare themselves with a list of questions geared towards their personal goals and expectations. Alternatively, a client could consider asking some (or all) of the questions listed below – the responses should narrow the search and ultimately help find the custom home builder that is the client’s perfect match.

•   How much does it cost to build a custom home?
•   How long does it take to build a custom home?
•   What led you to home building, what is your favourite part about it?
•   What neighbourhoods in my city are prime areas for custom home building?
•   I have lived in my current home for years – should I renovate or build new?
•   How do I get the most bang for my buck?
•   How important is it that I maximize the square footage of my new home for the size of my lot?
•   What is the client’s role/responsibilities – how involved can I be, how involved do you expect me to be?
•   How often would we be in communication, how accessible would you be?
•   Do you have an in-house architect or an architect that you recommend?
•   Do you provide design services?
•   I have my own architect (or designer) – are you comfortable working with someone new?
•   May I visit a previous home you have built in order to see an example of a finished product?

•   May I visit the job site of a current project to see how it is being maintained?
•   May I speak to previous clients?
•   How many quotes do you get from the various trades? May I request additional quotes if I choose?
•   Do you monitor the job personally, or do you use a site superintendent acting on your behalf?
•   Have you previously worked with the trades that would be building my home?
•   What are some of the challenges you have encountered in past builds – how were they overcome?
•   If there is an unforeseen issue during my build, how would it be addressed, who pays for expenses incurred?
•   What is your payment schedule? Is it flexible?
•   Do you provide a selection schedule at the beginning of the project to help me plan the choices I will need to make?