Are there specific associations they should be part of? Also, how can I investigate their financial situation, etc?
Thx.
How Do I Know If My Custom Home Builder Is Reputable?
02
Oct
Are there specific associations they should be part of? Also, how can I investigate their financial situation, etc?
Thx.
Home Guy
October 2, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Everyone seems to have forgotten the state contractors board. You can look up their license history there, make sure they are bonded and sort of verify that they are on the up and up.
I also drop by the coart house and look up any law suits they have been involved in. You can tell a lot not only from suits against them, but who they have filled suit against. You may find that they tend to sue their customers, or are frquently sued by subcontractors, or even other home owners like yourself.
Landlord
October 2, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Your State should have a Department that issues licenses, etc., to contractors and also takes complaints, so see if you could figure out what that’s called in your state. You could also try the Better Business Bureau. Ask the contractor for references or ask if he has a portfolio of jobs he’s completed.
Darby
October 2, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Im building a custom home right now. Its for quite a bit a money. Since im in the business these were my conditions.
1. I will be approved for long term money you have to have a line of credit to cover the costs. 100’s of thousands. I would assume his bank would finance it if they trusted him. They were building a subdivision and I said I dont care its on you. They had to increase the line of credit to build the house.
2. I went to the houses they built and looked at them. They were all nice and gave me great references.
3. Did the odvious things with the BBB and called the state to see if any complaints were against them.
If they couldnt meet the above requirements. They werent building my house. Yes I could have did my own loan but I wanted to see they could do it. If their bank trusts them for that much money. That made me feel much better. And they had no issue doing it, and understanding why.
Ive done mortgages for years, but I said no you are using your line of credit. Your bank can check me out totally but its on you. They did it. They are on the line to be in budget. They are using their money.
They had to trust me as much as I trust them. We dig this week.
financin
October 2, 2009 at 1:57 pm
ask to see their perment the creditial and theres a place you can call to check their background but i cant remember the number ill get back to you when i remember it
frank w
October 2, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the local Chamber of Commerce, and run a records search with the local courts and see if you get any hits. The BBB has an on-line search if I recall correctly so you can do it from the comfort of your own home. You can also ask for references, and you can ask around at the local contractor supply places to see what they think. I know when I was working in a related field, we would speak about what we thought of some of the local builders’ quality.
Strycher
October 2, 2009 at 2:30 pm
ask them for references. try the better business bureau. although if they dont pay to be a part of it, they wont be listed. you have to pay to join the BBB