SELECTING BUILDER A

It may seem like you should select a lot for your home’s construction before you select a builder, but in Western North Carolina, a builder’s input can be immensely helpful in selecting a lot, aiding in selecting a community you love, a lot that works with the style and size of home you want, saving you cost associated with the grading and preparation of that lot. When selecting a builder, there are several factors to consider:

Experience & Reputation are Key: Building in the mountains is a complex process, but an experienced builder can guide you through it with ease. Look for a builder with significant experience building in WNC specifically. Check the Better Business Bureau and the local Builders’ Association for insight as to the reputation of the company. Look for reviews, and see if you find any specific and recurring complaints from reviewers.

Portfolio Review: Review the builder’s portfolio to see their previous projects.

If you’re interested in a particular style of home, check to see if that style is included in their portfolio. If you’re looking for specific features in your home – like intricate wood detailing – look for evidence that your builder has experience with achieving those features for previous homeowners.

The kitchen at “The Miscela” was designed with a unique T-shaped island to allow for ample seating in the heart of the home.

Above: Straying from the popular open-concept kitchen which is so popular in the modern home, this kitchen features a U-shape, resulting in a spacious workshop feel.

Opposite: Our team delivered on the client’s dream of a luxurious retreat by centering the free-standing tub below a barrel vaulted ceiling and in front of oversized windows for taking in the peaceful outdoors.

References: Ask your potential builders for references – if you speak with homeowners, be sure to ask about the quality of their home, as well as their communication both during construction, and in any warranty circumstances.

Design

+

Build or

Architectural

Services: Ask your builder if they have an in-house design + build process, or a process to create or make changes to your home’s floor plan. The design + build process streamlines construction by ensuring all parties of the home’s design - the homeowner, architect, builder, engineer, interior designer, landscape architect, etc. – work together to achieve the homeowner’s goals with efficiency and precision, and with cost-control in mind.

Communication/Satisfaction Expectations: Ask your builder about their communication process throughout the build. Be sure you understand and are comfortable with the frequency and level of detail your builder plans to share with you throughout your home’s construction. Ask how you will receive updates, and the best method to communicate with the construction team.

The “Soaring Pines” is a beautiful mountain modern ABOVE masterpiece, featuring elegant wood and stone siding with an interesting single slope roofline, and intentionally placed exterior lighting

Inside, this home makes use of its soaring roof OPPOSITE line with windows placed near the ceiling to draw the eye up, and allow sunlight to stream in.

Warranty: Ask about the warranty that the builder offers. If you have the opportunity to speak with previous clients of the builders’, ask if they have been pleased with the warranty.

Timeline: Ask about the builder’s timeline for both starting on your project, and the expected start to finish build time. Keep in mind that timelines are often estimates, and dependent on a variety of factors outside of the builder’s control, such as material delays, sub-contractor availability, and more.

Pricing + Contract Types: Of course, one the most important factors in selecting your builder will be the estimate to build your home. In order to estimate the investment required to build your home, the builder will need a house plan, a relatively thorough understanding of the type and quality of finish-level selections you would like (examples: Samsung kitchen appliances vs Wolf appliances, quartz countertops vs marble, etc.), and information about the property you plan to build on. If you work with a builder to help design your home and select your property, they will be better informed of the specificities of your home’s construction, and will likely be better able to prepare an accurate quote. Ask the builder if they work with fixed-cost or cost-plus type contracts. Both contract types have positives and negatives, so don’t assume that one is better than the other. Instead, ask the builder why they prefer that type of contract, and consider whether that matches your goals.

Outdoor living space can be an eyesore in a home’s exterior design if not planned carefully. This modern design achieved elegant outdoor spaced with the use of symmetrical design.