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Buyer Beware
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Added: 06/08/2004
Type: Summary
Viewed: 654 time(s)
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Buyer Beware
While older homes provide unique charm, they also come with many headaches and constant home repairs. To avoid the hassles that older homes entail, many homebuyers are choosing to build their homes.
But before you begin choosing home designs and countertop colors, you need to choose your builder. Doing a bit of research when choosing your builder will help to make sure your dream of homebuilding doesn’t turn into a nightmare.
Check your sources
Finding out about your builder’s past experience will help you get a better idea of their quality and customer satisfaction. Word of mouth is a great place to start. Find out what experiences others in your area have had with builders. In addition, contact the Better Business Bureau and the city building department to find out if there are any formal grievances made against the builder. Better Business Bureau information can be accessed at www.bbb.org.
Do they glue and screw?
Have you ever had a squeaky floorboard in your home or notice nails popping out of drywall? Worse yet, you hear everything going on in the next room through the walls? These small details can create a large annoyance for homeowners. To avoid these pesky squeaks, pops and noise, ask potential homebuilders if they “glue and screw” their floors and drywall.
For sub-floors, quality builders will add a layer of adhesive, such as Pro-Series SF-400 Sub-floor Adhesive or PL 400 Sub-floor Adhesive in addition to screwing down the sub-floor. This will prevent boards from moving and rubbing, which causes squeaks. For drywall installation, adding a layer of adhesive, such as Pro-Series Formula 38 Drywall Adhesive, will reduce the amount of nail pops that you’ll experience as the house settles, as well as reduce sound transmission through your walls. For more information on the benefits of gluing and screwing, visit www.osiproseries.com or www.stickwithPL.com.
What are your homes’ energy ratings?
Energy efficiency is a top priority for most homebuyers. Ask potential builders what energy rating their homes receive. The home energy rating is a standard measurement of a home's energy efficiency, rated using a Star rating. A 1-Star home would be very inefficient, with a 5-Star or Energy Star home being highly efficient. Energy Star homes not only save as much as 30 percent or more on energy costs associated with the home, but in addition, can allow homeowners to qualify for energy-efficient mortgages. (www.energystarhomes.com)
Quality in the Brands
When comparing builders, be sure you are comparing apples to apples. While one builder may quote a lower price, it may be that you are sacrificing higher quality materials to be used. Be sure to review the custom features of the homes, such as safety features and product lines used. Pay close attention to details of what brands of products the builder will be installing in the home. Quality brand name cabinets, paint, trim, furnace, air conditioning, windows and floor coverings may increase the overall cost of building your home, but will save you money over the long-run of your home. For more information on building your new home, visit the National Association of Home Builders at www.nahb.org.
Building a home will be one of the biggest investments of your lifetime, so be sure to take all the necessary steps to ensure that you find the best builder for your home.
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