How to Choose an On Your Lot Builder

If you have a very specific vision of what you want in your new home, you might find it hard to choose an on your lot builder. But you shouldn’t have to compromise.

You can put everything you want into your home by buying a lot and building your home from the ground up. But purchasing a raw piece of land comes with its challenges. If you’re not an experienced home builder, it can be tough to navigate. Because of this, it’s important that you find a reputable on your lot builder to work with.

Choose a Builder for Peace of Mind

When it comes to purchasing land to build your dream house, you have to understand that the construction of your house isn’t always straightforward. Especially if your land is not developed, such as the land that’s often for sale in existing new home communities. Working with a pro who knows how to handle these challenges will give you peace of mind. Your builder can also help you find a lot if you don’t know where to start.

Here are a few of the things an on your lot builder will take care of for you – so you don’t have to worry.

• The topography 

You can’t just build a home on any piece of land. The topography of your lot may require additional excavation work to build a foundation that is structurally sound. A lot of work may need to be done to clear the land, as well. And there are plenty of other things to consider in terms of the topography. For example, you may have issues if water collects in a certain part of your lot when it rains. Each lot requires a case by case evaluation to ensure it’s dry and secure. An on your lot builder will take the topography of your lot into consideration, to make sure your home is safe and secure.

• Access to utilities 

If you were to purchase a lot in an existing new home community, you would most likely have access to electricity, water, natural gas and sewer connections already be in place. However, if you purchase undeveloped land, these are all things you’re going to have to worry about in the planning stages of your home. Your builder will make sure you’re taken care of.

• Local laws and regulations 

You’re choosing to purchase a lot and build a home so you can fulfill your list of ‘wants’ for your new home. Whether it’s beautiful gardens or an outdoor tennis court, there may be local building laws and regulations you need to adhere to. In fact, they could be stricter than you thought. Working with a professional homebuilder ensures that every inch of your home is to code and signed off on.

These are three of the biggest challenges of building on your own lot – but they are all things that an on your lot builder takes care of for you! Hiring an experienced and reputable on your lot builder is such an important factor in the success of your home construction – we always recommend choosing to work with a professional over managing it yourself.

Choosing the Right on Your Lot Builder

Choosing a good builder is important no matter where you’re building your home. But if you’re building on your own land, it becomes even more important. You will need to hire a more skilled and experienced on your lot builder. Here are the things that you’re going to want to look for when hiring an on your lot builder:

1. Look for a design/build company

Some homeowners will work with a group of different people, such as an architect, an interior designer and a contractor, during the home building process. But sometimes having so many hands in the pot can get hard to manage. You should look for a builder that provides design/build services. This means that they will help to design your home’s floorplan as well as perform the construction work. This will ensure that the process goes much more smoothly and that no miscommunication occurs between any of the stages of the design and build process.

2. Look into the reputation of the builder

Identifying what type of reputation the builder has is important whether you’re building on your own lot or not. Do some basic online research by checking the builder’s reputation at the Better Business Bureau and by looking up customer reviews. Most builders should be able to provide you with a list of references as well.

3. Look for a builder who can fully customize your floorplan

Many builders have pre-established home floorplans or semi-custom home floor plans that they use. These floorplans may work perfectly fine on developed land that’s part of an existing new home community, but they may not work on the lot that you’ve purchased. Not to mention that one of the reasons you’ve invested in your lot is so you can fully customize your home design! Make sure your builder is able to create a custom home design so that they can adapt your floorplan to the topography of your lot if needed.

4. Look for a builder with on your lot building experience

A builder that has a lot of past experience with building on undeveloped lots is going to understand the challenges that may arise. They’ll be able to come up with the solutions necessary to get by those challenges. Builders who only have experience building on improved lots in existing new home communities aren’t always the best choice. Because those lots tend to already have the infrastructure in place, such as access to utilities, construction is an easier process. You want a builder with broader experience who can handle any situation that may arise.

5. Look for a builder who offers a strong warranty

A builder that has confidence in their own ability to design and build a custom home on your lot will most likely offer a good warranty program. You can identify a good warranty program by the inclusion of a 12-year structural warranty. A reputable builder will not only stand behind the quality of their on your lot design and build, they will service it properly.

6. Look for a builder with buying power

Find out what kind of relationships the buyer has with suppliers.  A builder with buying power will ensure that you receive the best prices for high quality materials. Builders that have their own design center are a big plus as this allows you to choose and coordinate materials and design elements easily.

As you can see, there are a lot of things to think about when it comes to building a new home, especially in regards to the purchase of land. To ensure that your home project is properly and safely built on your chosen lot, use these tips to choose an experienced and reputable on your lot builder.