New home builders: 5 questions you need to ask

Building your home is an exciting process, but it can be stressful if you’ve ended up with an incompetent builder. Before hiring someone to build your dream home, you should interview them first. Here are five simple questions that can cover all the points that you need to know:

1. What are your qualifications?

Home builders should have building contractor licences. Don’t just take their word for it when they say they’re licensed professionals; they should be able to back it up with sufficient documentation. Give them plus points if they have the initiative to show their licences to you.

Experience is something that you need to take note of as well — how many years have they been in the industry? Have they tackled a job that is similar to yours? You can ask for examples of projects that they’ve handled in the past. It would be a good assurance if your builder is familiar with the design or materials that you want for your home.

2. Do you have insurance?

To have peace of mind, you should check if your building contractor is fully insured. Otherwise, you could be liable for accidents that may occur during construction. There are two types of insurance that your builder should have: workers' compensation and public liability insurance.

Home warranty insurance is also important as it covers defects that may show up after construction is finished. It is typically taken out before construction starts because periodic inspections during the building process are required in order for it to be valid.

3. What does your quote include?

It would save you heaps of trouble if you took the time to sit down with your builder to clarify the inclusions of the quote. Go over the details of a contract before signing it and ask about the different scenarios where additional costs may be incurred.

4. How long are you going to work on it?

Apart from the start and end of construction, your new home builder should be able to inform you about the important stages of your project. If there’s a possible bottleneck at certain phases, your builder should be able to explain this to you before commencing construction, as this allows you to be prepared as well.

5. Can you explain the details of my building plans and specifications?

Never assume that your builder has everything covered from the get-go. Also, don’t take it for granted that your building contractor has several years of experience; even seasoned builders can overlook some details. It would be best to put all your specifications in writing and discuss every point with your builder. This prevents misunderstandings and mistakes that are too costly to rectify.

Finding a qualified building contractor is pretty easy, as we have made a list of our best builders. Have a look at it, and feel free to ask for quotes for your job.