Asking the Right Questions When Selecting a Home Builder

ST. LOUIS - Jan. 26, 2016 - PRLog -- Purchasing a home is the single largest investment you will likely make in your lifetime and making sure you have picked the right builder is very important. Researching building professionals, requesting referrals from previous clients and asking the right questions will not only protect your investment but begin the journey of bringing your new home to life.

By asking the following questions, you will have a better understanding of the steps involved and decisions you will make during construction and give you confidence in the builder you have selected.

• How long have you been in business and in that time how many homes have you built?
• Are you a member of the local Home Builders Association and/or other professional organizations?   Do you hold any industry designations?
• Are you insured?
• Can you provide me with references from previous home buyers? Is there a model home I can tour? If not, can you help me make an appointment to see a home you built for another customer?
• What are the most important benefits of the homes you build? How would you compare yourself to other builders in this price range?
• What type of structural and workmanship warrantees do you offer?
• Do you build only from home plans you supply? Can I provide my own set of plans?
• What are the major energy and water saving features in your homes? What can be done to achieve better indoor air quality?
• What features are standard in your homes? What options and upgrades are available to me?
• How does the material selection process work?
• What is the process for making changes or upgrades throughout the construction process?
• Who will supervise the construction of my home and who should I contact with any questions I may have?
• How often will I have access to the home during the building process?
• How and when will the final price for my home be determined?
• Does the community have a Home Owners Association and/or an Architectural Review Committee? If so, may I get a copy of their rules and regulations as well as the amount of any fees?
• How long will it take to complete my home?
• What is the process for inspection at key points of construction, at final walk-through, and to address any matters that need to be corrected or finalized?

This list is a great starting point in finding the right professional to build your home – and you’ll probably have other questions to ask once you start the process. Start shopping at www.stlhba.com and click on “Search for New Homes Now” to see more than 1,500 homes built by members of the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri!

The HBA is a local trade association of nearly 600 member firms representing the residential construction industry.

ABOUT KIM HIBBS
Kim Hibbs serves as the President of the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri. He is also a general contractor and owner of Hibbs Homes, and serves as president of St. Louis commercial construction company Hibbs General Contracting. (http://hibbshomes.com/about-us/our-team/)  He is actively involved in the National Association of Home Builders (http://hibbshomes.com/) (NAHB), serving as a National Director, and current President of the Home Builders (http://hibbshomes.com/) Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri. Kim is an Energy Star recognized builder, a RESNET Energy Smart Builder, and has nearly a decade of experience/leadership building energy efficient luxury homes, having built one of the first gold level verified green homes in the St. Louis area and the first Active House (http://hibbshomes.com/st-louis-custom-homes-portfolio/active-house-usa/) in the USA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Shelly Stengel, HBA of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri

314-817-5638 or StengelS@hbastl.com

or

Danni Eickenhorst, Blank Page Consulting
314-300-6675 or danni@blankpagestl.com