Best questions to ask before you buy a new construction home

January 03, 2023

Categories: Tools

You probably have a lot of questions about the entire process, if you've been thinking about purchasing a new construction home. You will need to do some research prior to making a choice or even visiting new home communities or looking at lots and have an approach to getting the best information needed to help you select the neighborhood and builder who best fits your needs.

Purchasing a new construction home is something most people rarely do. Most of us will probably only do it once or twice in our lives — if at all. Here’s a recommendation to assist you: organize questions and your research into the three stages which align with the process of new home building.

1.    Before I decide.
2.    After I decide.
3.    After my home is completed.

Before you decide on a new home builder what should you know?

There is probably no question more pressing than the question, “Who will be building my home?” We suggest you use an evidence-based decision-making process to evaluate a builder's capabilities. As we’ve heard the saying before “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

A good place to start, visit CharlestonNewHomesGuide.com and read area builder’s profiles. Follow the links to the individual builder’s websites and read their company history, review their floor plans, and the locations in which they build. Read reviews and testimonials on their website to gather insight into buyers’ satisfaction. Learn their process like when they have you visit the design center to select fixtures and fittings for your home. Be sure to review their documents covering their construction and communications processes as well as warranties.

During the construction process who is my point of contact?

What and when a builder communicates with you and how frequently is important. Determine who you will be working you work. Will you work with the on-site new home sales agent for the entire construction process or will you work with the builder’s construction supervisor (often referred to as a builder as well.)

Can I visit my home during construction?

Find out when during construction the builder allows you to tour your new home. Most builders provide specific points during the construction process when they will have a buyer walk-through. Typical site visits to homes under construction occur at the framing stage, the dried in stage (when walls are up and the roof is on), and prior to closing, when all fixtures and finishes are in. Other than these times, buyers are generally not allowed on site, due to safety regulations.

New home builders’ communication’s process

It is essential you understand how the builder will communicate with you and at which stages of construction. You want to see what types of communication tools they use. You may prefer one method of communication over the other, especially if you live in another state or city during your home’s construction. Some builders have webcams to view the progress of your home in real-time. Others may use email communications, and some may have a forum-style project area where you login, view and accept documents, progress reports and construction notes. If the builder is a smaller or local operation, they may simply schedule regular face-to-face meetings at various stages of the construction of your home.

Warranties and quality: How to tell the good from the bad?

During your assessment, review the builder’s warranty offering. It’s important to research to learn which builders have the least issues following construction. A measure of a builder’s satisfaction rating may be an accredited designation or award like a J. D. Power award for customer satisfaction or a Guild Rating for quality of construction. Some builders may have awards from their local, state, or national homebuilder’s association, so ask about those too.

Before deciding on a new home community what should you know?

It’s no small feat in determining “Where your new home will be?” You need to thoroughly research the community and area neighborhoods you are considering. Just like your builder research investigating the right location deals with several important factors: price, quality of life, proximity to work and day-to-day conveniences to name a few.

Deciding ‘where’ to live should not be a snap decision. You need to know it fits your current and future needs. Make your list of needs and then what you want in a community. Now it’s time to proceed to visit neighborhoods and communities where new construction homes are being built.

As you found on CharlestonNewHomesGuide.com like the area builder profiles there are also in-depth area neighborhood profiles. Everything is right there to aid you in your research. Filters are provided to help you explore and drill down to the neighborhoods that fit your price range and desired areas. Each neighborhood profile provides a general description, list of available homes, photo gallery and direct links to their builders’ community specifics. Review their floor plans. Read reviews and testimonials on their website to gather insight into buyers’ satisfaction.

Then when you visit the neighborhoods, go to the sales center, get brochures, and floor plans for homes which fit your needs and tour the builder’s model homes.

Touring the model homes in a new construction development what should I do?

When you tour the various model homes, assess the finishes and surfaces, mentally or on paper evaluating and tallying grades for the construction quality and attention to detail. Ask which features in each model home are the builder’s standard fixtures and finishes for that plan and which are options and upgrades. Take special note of any square footage additions or floor plan options which are included in the model. To help stay within your budget knowing which fixtures and finishes and floor plan options are standard as you walk through helps. Use the builder’s floor plan brochures to make notes of flow and features you especially prefer as well as dislike.

What should we do after touring the model homes?

After touring the model homes, talk with the builder’s sales agent to ask any additional questions about options, additions, or alterations to plans, neighborhood build out rates and timeline to final completion also known as total build out.

Depending on your personal preference, you may want to purchase a home in a community which is near completion or in builder parlance, “build out.” Buying into a community in the early stages of development frequently means you’ll get a more advantageous price and it may mean you’ll live with construction traffic in and out of the neighborhood unless the builder has specific construction vehicle roads to remove traffic from the neighborhood’s residential streets.

Selecting fixtures and fittings when is this done?

Discuss with the on-site new home sales agent how and when you’ll be able to view and choose flooring, countertops, paint, tile, and lighting as well as landscaping options for your home. Most builders do this early in the process.

Some builders provide packages allowing you to choose features that best suit your needs. Each package tends to group options based on price. Builders with fixtures packages generally have standard, upgraded and deluxe packages. This helps the builder know the price of a home even if you’ve not selected the specific tile for your bath.

There are builders whose fixtures and finishes are priced inclusively. This simplifies the process for them and for you but be sure you like all the choices of colors and finishes if you go with a builder offering this option.

Can I meet homeowners who have already purchased?

Having a brief conversation with these owners can help you learn if the builder is one who is easy to work with and follows their established procedures. Ask the on-site new home sales agents if you can speak with others who have purchased homes from them.

Pre-closing walk through what is the procedure?

Most builders have a pre-settlement walk through allowing you to create a punch list of items that require special attention or remediation to fix something not completed to satisfaction. The punch list is not a time to add change orders or new options but is a time to make certain that the home whose purchase you’re finalizing is built to what has been agreed upon during the contract process.

What to know and expect post-closing on your new home?

Warranties: How do you service warranties and how do I make a warranty claim?

Every home builder has a warranty period for homes they build. Learn all that you can about the warranty process, specifically what the procedure is to initiate a warranty claim. As a rule, the first year post close is generally covered by the new home builder. In year two following closing, there are additional warranty options. Most are “third party warranties” which are serviced by companies external to the builder. Some smaller builders continue to service their own warranties. There is no right or wrong way to provide a warranty. As with the communications process, simply make sure the process followed by the builder fits your style and expectations.

What happens if you fail to complete this neighborhood?

Many of us remember the collapse in the homebuilding market in 2007 and 2008. While it’s no fun to recall for either the builder or you, you do need to ask the question.

Why research the new construction home's process?

Your research covering the periods before, during and after the sale of a new construction home helps you manage your expectations. Then, you as an informed buyer, can make the choice that fits you and your family. Far from considering these questions intrusive, a savvy home builder comprehends that your satisfaction is greater if you have all your questions answered before you decide.

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Thank you for reading and sharing our articles from The Greater Charleston New Homes Guide. Our business is to know Charleston, SC's new home construction, home builders, neighborhoods and homes so we may assist you as you take your new construction home journey. Please take the time to explore our site. The Greater Charleston New Homes Guide is considered the best and most reliable ‘local’ resource to new home construction, builders, neighborhoods, and homes throughout the Lowcountry since 2004.

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