After purchasing your home builder’s model home, the new construction phase is exciting and filled with anticipation. You’ve signed the contract and construction is about to start. What do you do? You need to make sure that your home is built correct.

What is correct?

The first thing that commonly comes to mind is the home being built to ‘Code.’ In a general sense, the code issue is reviewed by the governing municipality. Commonly they have inspectors that look for your house to be built to code.

By the way, the ‘Code’ is only the MINIMUM set of standards. Kind of scary to realize that your new home is only being inspected to a minimum set of standards. You would have a fit if your children were taught to a minimum set of standards. The bar is not being set too high here.

The most important factor when your new home builder or general contractor starts construction of your model home is having a game plan. Ask your self these questions: Do I understand the new home building process? No, truly ask yourself! Do I REALLY understand the new home building process? Can I tell if my new home is being built to today’s standards?

If your answer is not a definitive yes; you should consider choosing between one of the following options.

Home inspector or not
One solution is to hire a home inspector with experience reviewing the new construction home building process of your new home. This type of inspection process is not the same creature that you may have experienced when purchasing an existing home. Fees for this type of service will be at least $500. Multiple visits along with fully documented reports at specific milestones during construction process are necessary. The trick here is to make sure that your inspector understands the finer elements of the new construction process.

There are three likely pit falls with the home inspector route. First, in an effort to prove his worth, the report is filled with issues that don’t matter much. The concern here is provoking and creating an adversarial relationship with your new home builder or construction company. Second, issues which are truly important in the construction and ultimately performance of your house are missed in the process. The third and final area of concern lies with accountability. Home inspectors do not guarantee or provide a warranty for the accuracy of their services.

Is there another way?

There sure is; just to do it yourself. I know what you’re thinking. Hold on there partner, don’t you remember the questions asked at the top? Of course I do. This is where with a little help, you can take the bull by the horns and make sure the work is completed correctly yourself. It is possible for you to manage this task.

What if you had a step by step process? What about a process that not only tells you what to look for, but when to look for it? And, how about a process that even provides photographs as examples of what to look for. With all of that, I’m confident that you’ll have the skills necessary to make sure your new home is built to today’s standards.

Now you understand that it you can make a difference in the quality of your home builder’s new home construction.

After you’ve made the decision to build a new home the style of your home builder must be determined. Depending on your area the names and definitions of these styles of builders may be slightly different however the main points will be pretty similar. While most home builders will fall more or less into one of the categories below be aware that there will be niche builders in all categories.

A volume or big builder is one that often builds hundreds or thousands of homes per year either on a regional scale or nationwide. A typical scenario is the production builder will buy a large parcel of land, develop that land, divide that land into saleable lots and build homes on those lots. The size of the home sites, homes and the price points will vary depending on location and the demographics of that area.

In some ways, A track or semi-custom builder is similar to a volume builder however on a much smaller scale. Many will have several standard floor plans they offer on lots they own or they may build their plan on a home site you already own. Typically a home owner will have far more flexibility and options when it comes to the building of the home compared to a volume builder. Most semi-custom builders will offer their floor plans on their lots and some may also build their floor plans on land you own as well.

A custom home builder is one that builds a unique home for a specific client on a particular home site. Most often a custom home builder will build a home on land that you own rather than offering you a choice of lots in a planned community like a volume builder. If you’ve already got a home site you’ll probably be looking for the services of a custom home builder. Typically you would have your own home site and your own floor plans drawn up by an architect or home designer. Custom home builders will, on occasion, build a home on speculation as well.

The general feeling is that it’s not all that difficult and can save you some money on the project, perhaps 10% to 20%. The impression that some get is the general contractor shows up on a job site, looks around for an hour and leaves. Seems the other guys do all the work! What is not understood is the hours spent scheduling and negotiating, the understanding of the structural and acetic needs of a home, knowledge of which subcontractors to use for which jobs, the permitting and inspection process, ensuring that all insurance, workers compensation and licensing is in place for all suppliers and subcontractors.

No matter which style of home builder you choose the process will follow generally the same steps. The major differences will be the degree to which you can customize your home and the amount of involvement you’ll have along the way. The home building process can be very stressful and will typically take many months from start to completion. Be sure to employ a builder with whom you are comfortable, have confidence in and can deal with for many months!