Building your own dream house requires some careful consideration since it is a very large investment. One important factor to take into account is the contractor you will hire.
Below are some key factors to look for when choosing a home builder.
License
A license is an important factor to look for in a home building company. It ensures the contractor you are hiring is a qualified professional you can trust. Simply choosing someone without a license is incredibly risky where you might endanger yourself or the tenants of the house.
Most countries require all contractors to apply for a license before they carry out their work. The government office or agency that handles the licensure carefully checks the individual or company to ensure they are able to fulfil their work scope. A contractor can only receive a license if they have the necessary skills and equipment to build a house involving the following:
- Drainage and plumbing
- Termite management
- Building design
- Fire protection
- Gas fitting
- Residential building inspection
- Site classification
You can check if a contractor is licensed by asking to see their certificate of qualification. When in doubt, you can contact the licencing agent to double check a company.
Insurance
Constructing a house is a dangerous job, even for experienced home builders. The work involves the use of heavy equipment and exposure to hazardous materials. Accidents can occur easily. Should an accident occur on your building site, you may be liable to pay compensation. Hiring a home builder with comprehensive insurance can help you avoid this problem. Remember to carefully review their insurance policy in order to make an informed decision. Their coverage should include the following:
- Public liability – Public liability covers any damages done to third party properties or to other people.
- Personal accident insurance – This is for property owners, managers, and business partners.
- Employers’ liability insurance – This insurance covers any workers or personnel involved in the construction of your house.
House Design
Another important factor in choosing the right contractor is your desired house design. Almost all builders will provide details on their past projects on their website. It is recommended to check their photo gallery of previously completed homes in order for you to know if they can achieve the house design you want.
Customer Recommendation
Another important factor in choosing the right home builder is the customer. You will want to go with the company who has the most positive feedback from their clients. To determine this, find an online directory which shows every home builder in your area and read the comments from their previous customers. It is nearly impossible for most contracting companies to manipulate anyone’s opinion in these websites. Remember to find and visit multiple sites in order to see the opinions from different people regarding a certain home builder before choosing one.
In order to ensure the best return on your housing investment, make sure to create a checklist of these important factors because in the end, it will be your home.
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