Building a custom home is a big project and quite possibly the biggest decision you’ll make in your life. We are breaking down our last blog, 5 Common Fears of Building a Custom Home, and writing a blog to each fear. So the first fear from that blog was Poor Craftsmanship. In this blog we will give you multiple tips on how to Avoid Poor Craftsmanship when Building your Custom Home.

Let’s get into it! 

Look For a Warranty

One of the best ways to avoid poor craftsmanship when building your custom home is to ensure your builder has a new home warranty package. This package should include a performance standard guide for new homeowners to understand the quality that will be delivered by the builder. 

At Contegrity, we partner with Saskatchewan New Home Warranty to provide our clients with reassurance that their needs will be met throughout the build. This warranty, in particular, covers new home construction but we also have packages for major renovations so you can rest easy no matter what your plans are. 

Get to Know Your Builder 

Getting to know your builder is incredibly important before you jump into a large project together. You should think of this interview process like you would if you were dating or attending a job interview. You should be interested in getting to know their history, such as the type of homes they’ve built in the past and always ask for references! You’re going to be paying for their services, so they shouldn’t have a problem with answering any and all of your questions. 

It’s an even better sign if your builder is open to providing site tours to future clients. That way, you can see current jobs they’re working on and you’ll be able to assess how organized and clean everything is (or isn’t). A builder who’s organized and clean is more likely to provide you with quality. 

Work on the Design Together 

If you want to avoid poor craftsmanship during your build, you should always seek a builder who’s excited to have your involvement in the design. Your vision is important and any quality builder will want you to consult on the design so that the final result matches what you had wanted from the start. 

It’s best to look for a builder that has an architect and in-house interior designer to guide you throughout the entire process. You should be able to trust these professionals with your vision and know with certainty that the builder understands what you want. Don’t be afraid to set your standards right from the beginning so expectations are clear! 

Cheaper Isn’t Always Better

Everyone loves a good deal, right? Building a custom home isn’t cheap so it’s easy to start making decisions around price when the bills start rolling in. Unfortunately, building a custom home is not the same as finding a great pair of vintage jeans for $20. Typically, a builder who offers a cheap rate will also provide low-quality results. As a rule of thumb, if a builder is promising a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is! They’re likely cutting corners and substituting quality materials for something cheaper. 

One of the best ways to see where your builder stands when it comes to quality is by asking them how many coats of paint they used for the internal walls. While this may seem irrelevant, it can tell you a lot about the builder and whether or not they pay attention to details during a custom build. A good builder will use two coats on interior walls, meanwhile, those looking to cut down on costs will only do one or do a second coat that’s watered down. 

You can check for yourself by inspecting a home the builder has recently completed. Don’t be afraid to run a clean finger along the walls to detect any inconsistencies and ask questions if you see the paint is uneven. If they aren’t able to provide you with a good reason for the inconsistencies, you might want to reconsider that builder. 

Choose a Builder That Prioritizes Quality 

A good builder should never shy away from talking about the quality of their work. If the builder doesn’t address quality during the interview process, that should be seen as a red flag. If you want to avoid poor craftsmanship, don’t rush when interviewing the builder. Here are a few topics you shouldn’t shy away from discussing at the start:

• Whether or not they have professional sub-trades
• What materials will be used when building your home 
• Their process in delivering you the home of your dreams
• Their best and worst experiences during a build
• The number of sites they’re currently supervising – This will help you determine whether or not the builder will have enough time to manage the details and quality of your home!

Enjoy Your Dream Home

Your dream home should be just as important to your builder, as it is to you! A professional builder will be proud of the work they deliver and excited to show new clients their previous builds. Remember that knowledge is power and it’s always best to go into a build knowing as much as possible about the planning and execution. 

If you’re ready to get started on your very own custom build, we’d love to provide you with a free consultation today to discuss your vision!