Building a custom home is a dream that many homeowners aren’t able to achieve.

So if you have the resources to do just that, then congratulations!

But before you dream about winding staircases and double-deck ovens, you must be prepared for this project.

From conception to construction, clients have some responsibilities too.

If you’re new to custom home building, you might be taken aback by the work you have to put in yourself — at least at first.

But once you understand your role in this project, you can rest easy knowing that your project is in good hands and that you’ll experience a smooth transition into your new home.

If you’re interested in learning more, then keep reading.

Below, we’ll explain how to work well with custom builders in Phoenix, AZ.

Find the Right Building Company

There are many different types of custom building companies.

So you’ll want to make sure that the company in question is right for the project you have in mind.

Honorable building companies will tell you anyway if your project doesn’t align with their services.

But it’s always a good idea to make that conclusion yourself as best as possible.

So if you’re building a house, don’t go for a commercial custom building company.

This isn’t because they’re incapable — not at all.

But these companies tend to organize teams with many staff members to maximize efficiency and quality.

This sounds great, but this can be quite expensive for most homeowners.

On the other hand, hiring a contractor from a small business might reduce overhead and be more financially accessible for most homeowners.

But that much financial convenience might come at the cost of service, speed, and organization.

In the end, your decision depends on your priorities and budget.

It doesn’t make sense to strip yourself of all your finances, even if it produces the perfect house.

At the same time, you don’t want to prioritize affordability to the point of sacrificing your vision.

Get to Know Your Builder

Before you sign any agreement, you need to ensure that you and your builder mesh well.

Building a home, especially your own, is a highly personal undertaking.

It’s best that you like your contractor’s past work, that they understand your vision, and that your communication style is compatible with theirs.

If they have a portfolio page on their site, feel free to browse through it.

You can also ask your prospective contractor to tour their projects if possible to see their work in person.

Seeing the details of their work can help you understand whether they’re good at disguising a shoddy job or are really good at taking care of the details.

Like what you see? Then making sure you and your contractor can always be on the same page is the next step.

Make sure you specifically request the project manager for this interview, since they will be your main point of contact for this build.

Even something as simple as a coffee meetup can be enough to establish a friendly contractor-client relationship.

Here, you can get a feel for what communicating with them will be like, and cover the basic technicalities of the project.

Building homes can take months, and in the current market, it’s more likely to be a year or more (depending on supply access and labor), to complete.

So you’ll want to make sure that you’re confident and knowledgeable in your builder’s skills, and that you’re comfortable having frequent communication with them.

Get an Accurate Quote

Getting a quote for an entire home can be tricky if you don’t know the specifics of your building plan.

Unless you’re an engineer yourself, it can be difficult to gauge the specific numerical scope of your project.

Sure, you can ask your builder to do calculations for you.

But an engineer’s calculations will be most precise and allow you to get quotes from different builders.

However, the quote doesn’t stop at the first set of calculations.

You can’t predict all costs from the start, which is why you should always make ample room in your budget for financial surprises.

But you should also ask your builder what they usually supply in terms of hardware and supplies.

Do you prefer other supplies, and if so, are you willing to supply them?

Asking all these questions so will prevent a world of headaches and arguments down the road.

Again, you probably won’t be able to predict your finances with 100% accuracy.

But all these tips will help you do the best you can, for the sake of preventing tension with your builder and too much strain on your finances.

Create an Inspection Checklist

Another hot point of contention when it comes to custom home building is the final building stages.

At this point, there are a bunch of moving parts the builder must attend to.

Even the most experienced builders may find this task difficult, especially if the project is particularly big.

Not only that, but clients might get impatient during these final stages.

This, along with the builder’s stress, might cause tension in an otherwise harmonious professional relationship.

There’s a lot at stake at this point, both in terms of the build and the emotions of the people involved.

Do your part to ensure that things go smoothly by creating an inspection list for the final inspection.

This way, you’ll know exactly what to look for when you’re going through your brand new home.

After this project, your builder will have to move onto other ones, and you don’t want corrections being delayed because you caught them too late.

Hire the Best Custom Builders in Phoenix, AZ!

Before you build a custom home, you want to be ready for the journey ahead. 

Even as a client, there’s plenty of work to be done — but all your effort will result in a beautiful home with room for years of great memories!

At 4 Gen Homes, we understand how to make homeowners’ dreams a reality.

That’s why we’re your go-to custom builders in Phoenix, AZ, and surrounding areas!

So if you want to build a home from the ground up, request a consultation with us today.


Looking for the top Phoenix remodeling and luxury home building company? 4 Gen Homes has been serving and supporting valley homeowners for over 20 years with luxury remodels and custom home building projects.  Contact us to set up a consultation. Call (602) 694-7030 today!

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