New Calgary Home Buyers Guide – Choosing a Builder
- August 25, 2016
- By Cody Battershill
New Calgary Home Buyers Guide to Choosing the Right Builder
If you are in the market for a new place, you should shop around as carefully and diligently for a builder as you do for the property itself.
Whether you are buying a custom-built home, townhome or inner city infill, you want to be assured that the place you’re interested in offers good value and quality and is from a reputable company.
Here are some simple steps to help make sure you accomplish this every time:
Create a List of Possible Options
Once you have determined which type of property you want to buy, community you want to buy in and amount that you want to spend, you should create a list of possible builders that are offering your desired product.
Magazines and newspapers
Pick up free magazines that you see around the city such as YP NextHome’s New Home Guide or Source Media Group's New Home Living and glance over its contents.
Builders and developers advertise their products in these and something may catch your eye. If it does, rip the page out and save it for later.
Newspapers also have their own fair share of real estate ads; do the same thing here.
Online resource - the CHBA
Consider visiting the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) - Calgary Region’s website to obtain a list of builders who are constructing homes in your specified area.
You may be surprised as to how many other builders are offering similar products in the same neighbourhood as that one company whose ad had caught your eye in a magazine a few days earlier.
Ask around
Word-a-mouth is a great way to discover a home builder / multi-family developer that has satisfied one of your friends or relatives with their product.
They might tell you great things about a company, or could suggest to stay completely clear from another.
Ask your REALTOR®
Experienced real estate agents are well-versed with the who’s who in the new home building industry.
They will give you their own suggestions based on their past experiences with clients and dealings with company representatives.
As professionals in the industry, it’s recommended to take heed of their advice - but always follow your gut at the end of the day! Also see these 6 Reasons to Use a REALTOR® When Building a New Home in Calgary.
Do Your Homework
Once the list of potential candidates has been completed, now it’s time to begin asking lots of questions and slowly eliminate those that don’t fit with your wants and needs.
Ask questions.. and lots of them
Consider booking an appointment, either by telephone call or in-person, with any sales representatives to ask them questions you may have about their product.
Really brainstorm on what questions you want to ask beforehand, then write down answers they give you so that you can review them at a later date. Also see these 21 Questions to Ask Your New Home Builder.
If you are working with a real estate agent, you will want to make sure that you don’t void their eligibility for commission.
The best way to ensure this is to have your agent accompany you as your professional third-party representation the first time that you visit the builder’s / developer’s office.
Find reviews
Scour the internet for online reviews. Check websites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Alberta for any black marks against the home builder in question.
While not all online reviews are credible, if you do find several different people all saying the same thing about a company’s client aftercare service, then chances are it’s true.
Make sure to ask your real estate agent about anything that you don’t fully understand about a builder as full comprehension is a must to be 100 percent satisfied with your new home purchase. They will be happy to explain or find the information for you!
Look for quality and value
These are two of the most important things to look for when buying a property.
When examining a show model, inspect the cabinetry, paint, windows, carpeting and trim work among other things, get as many specifications sheets as possible and compare with those from other potential properties that you like.
Ask as many questions you would like to the sales representative about materials, construction methods, brand names and anything else you can think of and write down the answers.
It’s important that you feel like you are getting some bang for your buck, especially when considering that buying a new home could be one of the largest purchases you’ll ever make.
Remember… what seems like an insignificant question now could yield a very important answer later on!
Once you've narrowed down your options to maybe two home builders, you'll be confident that either one of them has the experience, reputation and product that you're after. Due diligence pays off!
New Home Guides
Questions about New Calgary Homes?
As a highly experienced REMAX real estate agent and REALTOR® in Calgary, I promise to provide only the best level of service and advice the industry has to offer while taking care of all your real estate needs.
Call me anytime at 403-370-4180 or message me below for a prompt response. I am looking forward to helping you accomplish your new home goals!