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Building on Your Lot in Cincinnati: How to Choose Your Custom Home Builder

Building on Your Lot in Cincinnati: How to Choose Your Custom Home Builder

You have the perfect lot for your custom home, but you’re just missing one thing: someone to build it. When you’re beginning the process of choosing the right custom home builder in Cincinnati, you should follow a few important steps that will help you manage your search and whittle your list down to the home builder that’s just right for you

 

How to Choose a Custom Home Builder

Step 1: Get Organized

First thing’s first: have a plan for how you’ll compare custom home builders. You’ll want to think about the style of home you’re interested in building, the type of process you expect to experience, an idea of what your budget could be, your timeline, . This way, you’ll be able to filter out which builders might not be suitable for your project early on and have a manageable list when you’re ready to schedule interviews. 

Create a list (this could be a simple document or spreadsheet) to organize your priorities so you can be sure to choose a home builder that aligns with what you’re expecting in a custom home building experience. 

 

Step 2: Get Recommendations

If you’re thinking about building a custom home, you’ve probably mentioned it to a number of friends, family members, and coworkers. You’ve likely received a few recommendations on home builders. Getting recommendations from those in your social circles and family is a great place to start. Note them down, and, when you’re ready to do more research, you’ll already have a few custom home builders on your list. 

 

Step 3: Online Search

Starting with an online search can be tricky because it’s likely to produce more companies than you’ll have time to research or interview. When you’re searching online, use specific keywords, like Cincinnati custom home builder, best home builders near me, or custom home Cincinnati Ohio. Use your specific town in the search term or even the style of home, like modern farmhouse or transitional, for more relevant results. 

 

Step 4: Look Through Portfolios

Next, you’ll spend time on each of their websites to see examples of past projects they’ve built. Do the design styles look like something you’d like? Really take your time looking at the details, finishes, and amenities as well. Sometimes you’ll know right away if their experience is worth taking a longer look at or not. If you’re on the fence, it’s best to make note of what gives you pause so you can revisit what exactly you’re unsure about later in your search for a home builder. 

exterior of home with brick and grey paneling by Chris Gorman Homes in Cincinnati, Ohio

Step 5: Read Reviews

You can find reviews for home builders on Houzz, Angi, Google, and more. To find more reviews on a particular builder, use their name plus reviews in your search engine. Many home builders will also offer testimonials or reviews from past clients. Read several reviews to get a good picture of what it would be like to work with that builder and make note of both the good and the not so good. Are they excellent communicators? Were they on schedule? Did they pay attention to details and deliver a home that was well-built? 

 

Step 6: Schedule Interviews

Once you’ve made a list of a few Cincinnati custom home builders that are promising, schedule interviews with each. 

Preparing for Your Home Builder Interviews

When meeting with a custom home builder, they should be looking to see if you’re a good fit for their company as much as you’re deciding if they’re a good fit for building your custom home. They will need to understand the type of home you’d like to build, where, and your estimated budget. Knowing these things upfront will help a potential home builder get an idea of if they’re the right team for the job. 

 

Questions to Ask a Custom Home Builder

This is an interview, so you’ll need to have a list of questions ready. Some will be standard questions, others may be specific to your project. What are a few of the questions you should ask a Cincinnati home builder before choosing which to hire? 

  • Are you licensed and insured to work in Ohio?
  • Do you hire subcontractors?
  • Do you have a designer on your team?
  • What is your process?
  • Can you design and build in the style I want?
  • How far are you scheduled out?
  • What kind of communication could I expect? What do you use to communicate (email, phone, construction management software)? 
  • Do you ever go over on a budget and why?
  • What is your warranty?

 

Trust Your Instincts

Did they have questions for you in return? Were their answers brief and hurried, or did they take time to make sure you got the answers you needed? How was their communication style? Did they pressure you to start the process right away? 

Sometimes you’ll know if a custom home builder is right for you by how you feel leaving the interview. Not sure if they should remain on your short list or get scratched off? Ask for a follow-up consultation to be sure. 

 

Finding the Best Cincinnati Custom Home Builder for You

The best custom home builder is the one that’s the best for your custom home. Every project and every family is unique, and your custom home builder should know this. While the process may be uniform, a great custom home builder understands that your vision, your budget, and your timeline is specific to you. 

Chris Gorman Homes designs and crafts impeccable homes in the Cincinnati area. Our proven design-build process centers the client’s experience and design goals because your custom home should reflect your personal style and needs. That’s why we value transparency, communication, and honesty–answering your questions and addressing your concerns from start to finish. To schedule a consultation with Chris Gorman Homes, contact us today.  

heres how to build your dream home, custom home building guide chris gorman homes

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