choosing the right construction contract Archives

Choosing the Right Builder

by Sarah Thorn | Jan 31, 2023 | Construction, Construction & Design, Green Building

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" background_enable_color="off" background_enable_image="off" background_position="bottom_right" custom_padding="83px||59px|||" da_disable_devices="off|off|off" global_colors_info="{}" da_is_popup="off" da_exit_intent="off" da_has_close="on" da_alt_close="off" da_dark_close="off" da_not_modal="on" da_is_singular="off" da_with_loader="off" da_has_shadow="on"][et_pb_row column_structure="1_2,1_2" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_2" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" header_font="||on||||||" header_text_align="left" header_text_color="#4d5357" header_font_size="63px" custom_margin="11px||13px|||" custom_padding="||||true|true" header_font_size_tablet="63px" header_font_size_phone="50px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}"]Choosing the Right Builder Choosing the right builder is the single most important decision you will make for your custom home. It is well worth your time to learn what questions to ask builders, and what red flags to look out for.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" text_font="||||||||" text_letter_spacing_last_edited="off|desktop" global_colors_info="{}"]Written by: Sean Sullivan[/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb image="https://media-upload-livingstone.s3.amazonaws.com/img/20231129145018/Untitled-design-14.png" alt="Questions to ask your builder" icon_placement="left" image_icon_width="75px" image_icon_width_last_edited="off|desktop" disabled_on="off|off|off" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" background_color="#FFFFFF" custom_margin="20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true" custom_padding="20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true" box_shadow_style="preset4" global_colors_info="{}"]Top Questions to Ask a Potential Builder Get the list to save yourself time and money.[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://media-upload-livingstone.s3.amazonaws.com/img/20231129145012/Untitled-design-3-1.jpg" alt="Sean Sullivan - choosing the right builder" title_text="choosing the right builder" _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built="1" module_class="no-back" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" background_color="#FFFFFF" custom_padding="||0px|||" da_disable_devices="off|off|off" global_colors_info="{}" da_is_popup="off" da_exit_intent="off" da_has_close="on" da_alt_close="off" da_dark_close="off" da_not_modal="on" da_is_singular="off" da_with_loader="off" da_has_shadow="on"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" width_tablet="" width_phone="90%" width_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" background_color="#f2f2f2" custom_padding="29px|36px|29px|36px|true|true" custom_padding_tablet="29px|36px|29px|36px|true|true" custom_padding_phone="29px|28px|29px|28px|true|true" custom_padding_last_edited="on|phone" box_shadow_style="preset4" global_colors_info="{}"]What to Do Before You Hire a Builder Here are the key takeaways for this article if you're short on time: 1: Look at some of the builder’s homes currently under construction.2: Look at some of the builder’s completed homes.3: Interview the builder (see Top Questions to Ask a Potential Builder)4: Have the builder provide a list of previous homeowners.5: Call two or three previous homeowners this builder has worked for and ask them key questions (see Top Questions to Ask Your Builder’s Previous Homeowners).6: Become comfortable with the contract documents before signing.7: Decide on your homebuilding budget.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" width_tablet="" width_phone="90%" width_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" header_2_font="||on||||||" header_2_text_align="left" header_2_font_size="44px" custom_margin="||17px||false|false" header_2_font_size_tablet="31px" header_2_font_size_phone="31px" header_2_font_size_last_edited="on|tablet" border_width_bottom="2px" border_color_bottom="#919191" locked="off" global_colors_info="{}"]Table of Contents[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url="#right" button_text="Why Picking the Right Builder Is Half the Battle" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" custom_button="on" button_text_color="#4d5357" button_border_width="0px" button_icon="7||divi||400" button_icon_placement="left" button_on_hover="off" custom_margin="||6px|||" global_colors_info="{}" button_text_color__hover_enabled="on|hover" button_text_color__hover="#58a618"][/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url="#like" button_text="Do I Have to Like my Builder?" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" custom_button="on" button_text_color="#4d5357" button_border_width="0px" button_icon="7||divi||400" button_icon_placement="left" button_on_hover="off" custom_margin="||6px|||" global_colors_info="{}" button_text_color__hover="#58a618" button_text_color__hover_enabled="on|hover"][/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url="#bids" button_text="How Many Bids Should I get for My New Home?" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" custom_button="on" button_text_color="#4d5357" button_border_width="0px" button_icon="7||divi||400" button_icon_placement="left" button_on_hover="off" custom_margin="||6px|||" global_colors_info="{}" button_text_color__hover="#58a618" button_text_color__hover_enabled="on|hover"][/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url="#three" button_text="Pick Three Out of Four : Quality, Speed, Service, Price " _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" custom_button="on" button_text_color="#4d5357" button_border_width="0px" button_icon="7||divi||400" button_icon_placement="left" button_on_hover="off" custom_margin="||6px|||" global_colors_info="{}" button_text_color__hover="#58a618" button_text_color__hover_enabled="on|hover"][/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url="#scam" button_text="How Do You Avoid a Builder Scam? " _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" custom_button="on" button_text_color="#4d5357" button_border_width="0px" button_icon="7||divi||400" button_icon_placement="left" button_on_hover="off" custom_margin="||6px|||" global_colors_info="{}" button_text_color__hover="#58a618" button_text_color__hover_enabled="on|hover"][/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url="#builders" button_text="Top Questions to Ask a Potential Builder" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" custom_button="on" button_text_color="#4d5357" button_border_width="0px" button_icon="7||divi||400" button_icon_placement="left" button_on_hover="off" custom_margin="||6px|||" global_colors_info="{}" button_text_color__hover="#58a618" button_text_color__hover_enabled="on|hover"][/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url="#clients" button_text="Top Questions to Ask Your Builder’s Previous Homeowners" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" custom_button="on" button_text_color="#4d5357" button_border_width="0px" button_icon="7||divi||400" button_icon_placement="left" button_on_hover="off" custom_margin="||6px|||" global_colors_info="{}" button_text_color__hover="#58a618" button_text_color__hover_enabled="on|hover"][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_id="right" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" width_tablet="" width_phone="90%" width_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.19.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" header_2_font="||on||||||" header_2_text_align="left" header_2_font_size="44px" custom_margin="||17px||false|false" header_2_font_size_tablet="31px" header_2_font_size_phone="31px" header_2_font_size_last_edited="on|tablet" border_width_bottom="2px" border_color_bottom="#919191" locked="off" global_colors_info="{}"]Why Picking the Right Builder Is Half the Battle[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" custom_padding="||0px|||" global_colors_info="{}"]How important is it to choose a good builder? It’s #1 on the list! You will have a lot of decisions to make as you build your custom home— selecting colors and finishes, determining size and layout, and more. But no decision will impact your homebuilding experience more than the all-important decision you’ll make right at the start. You need to choose a great builder! The fact is you can’t do a good deal with a bad person. No matter how hard you work, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. The same is true with your builder.Here are the three most important qualities to look for in a builder for your custom home: 1. Trust: Building a new home is probably one of the largest investments a person will ever make. If you don’t believe your builder has your best interests in mind, you’re talking to the wrong builder. You want a builder who works on your behalf, not someone who is only looking out for his own interests. When you call your builder, will you get a straight answer? If something goes wrong on your job, do you trust your builder to make it right? Believe me, when you build a custom home, there will always be bumps in the road no matter which builder you select. There isn’t a contract written yet that will cover every possible condition that you may encounter while building your new custom home. Ask yourself: What is your builder’s intent? If his internal compass is pointing north (with intentions to do the right thing, even when it’s difficult), you’re halfway there. 2. Competence: Does your builder have the ability to see and execute your home from start to finish? How long has he been in business? Is he able to walk you through the concept and design stage to produce a home that will reflect
Read More

design green, build green, design green cycle

Testimonials

We are so appreciative that Living Stone reached out to your clients and friends to offer restoration services to our WNC communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. We wanted to take this opportunity to let you know how grateful we are that we chose Living Stone to help us restore our Black Mountain townhome. We couldn’t be happier with the process and progress thus far, from our initial meeting with Mike to see what repairs were needed… to our call with Justin for an estimate of the work… to our conversation with Alfred to review the comprehensive estimate… to our initial meeting with Chuck and everything he has done since to move things along flawlessly with our restoration… to our beautiful fireplace surround and mantle that Michael Blackstone built. We feel blessed that Chuck was assigned as our project manager, as we have had a great collaboration with him. His demeanor is personable, but straight forward. He is extremely accessible, either onsite or via text/phone to provide scheduling updates, answer our questions, offer suggestions, provide feedback on design selections, and discuss next steps. He made a great suggestion to reclaim the unused space under our stairs as storage space. Chuck is also very proactive, quietly working behind the scenes to make things happen seamlessly. He is committed to providing us with a high-quality restoration project while keeping our budget in mind. We already knew that Living Stone has an excellent reputation as a builder, but we are equally impressed by how much you give back to the community. That’s a large part of the reason we selected you to help us with our restoration. You have definitely exceeded our expectations thus far, and we know we will be very happy with our home once the restoration is complete. Although there is still work to do, we wanted to give you some preliminary feedback on how pleased we are to be working with Chuck and the entire Living Stone team. We are delighted to call ourselves Living Stone customers!

Lisa and Juan

Living Stone Construction, Inc. Featured on Houzz

Learn more about Living Stone RestorationsLearn more about Living Stone Restorations (855) 720-2435 | Contact Us

Choosing the Right Builder

Testimonials

Our Design Family of Companies:

DESIGN. BUILD. FURNISH.