**Report Excerpt**
Who will you trust to create the dream that is your new home?
Are they reputable? What is their track record? Can you trust them?
You need to have all of these questions and more answered before committing your dream
home and money into the hands of a stranger.
Below are some things you need to be thinking about when choosing your contractor:
- The contractor should be licensed and insured. Ask for certificate of insurance. Contact you
city or county building inspectors to find out what type of licenses are required for your area.
- CHECK REFERENCES! Contact past clients and if possible, visit their building site. Sample
questions to ask:
- Was the job done per specifications?
- Was it completed in a timely fashion?
- Did the job stay on budget, accounting for change orders?
- Was the job site kept clean and orderly?
- How were conflicts resolved?
- VISIT three projects built by the contractor:
- One under construction - check the "bone structure". Ask for a materials specification
sheet to understand what types of building materials are used.
- A newly completed project.
- A project over 5 years old to see how the building has held up over time.
**End Excerpt**
For more tips on choosing a builder, get the complete report here.
