Working with a home builder can be a good choice for you, if you can't find a home on the market that suits you. You might also want to start with a particular plot of land in an area you love, and then have a home built to suit the landscape. Whatever your reasons for wanting to work with a home builder rather than buying a home, note a few misconceptions you might have about this type of arrangement, so you know what questions to ask and so you aren't left with any surprises during the construction itself.

Budget

Don't hesitate to tell a home builder your budget up front, and then discuss what features of a home are most important to you, rather than assuming that the designs they offer are finalized, with no room for change. In many cases, a builder will work with your preferences so that you're happy with the finished home, while staying within that budget. For example, if the home's size is most important to you, a builder may offer cheaper interior surface materials, so you can afford that larger home. Consider your home builder as your partner in getting that home built, rather than assuming their portfolio of preset plans is your only option for your home.

Site

The site you choose for a home can easily affect your design plans. Don't assume that a builder can or will build any type of home on any type of site, and that he or she can just make adjustments to the home's construction to accommodate your design wishes. Soft soil may not be able to support an overly large home, and there may be underground pipes that he or she needs to work around. There may also be local codes that dictate the size of the home allowed in that area. You might discuss your options with a builder even before buying the land, if possible, so you know you can have the home you expect on the lot you choose.

Your help

Be very careful about assuming you can do any of the work on your new home yourself, to save money or time. A builder's insurance carrier may not allow any work to be done by his or her contractors while you're onsite, and if your work is not done up to code, this can keep you from being able to take possession of the home. Ask the builder if there are minor things you can do yourself, such as putting in floor tiles or painting; otherwise, leave all the work to him or her.

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