Choosing a Charlotte new home builder is a difficult task, how do you know what to look for? Where can you find information? It can all be a bit overwhelming to say the least. In an effort to help you make your decision we went ahead and jotted down some thoughts and useful resources for you. We recognize that each soon to be homeowner is unique, so keep in mind that these are listed in no particular order, as what is most important will differ by individual. We hope this helps!
Location
Are the neighborhoods available located in areas that make sense for you? Is it as close to - or far away from, the city as you would like to be? Take some time to map out how long it will take you to accomplish what you need to each day. Some individuals are willing to make 15 minute drives to the grocery store, or hour long commutes, others aren’t. Check out the traffic in the area as well, Waze is a great app that will help you accomplish this.
Schools
If you have children or are planning to have children, schools are sure to be close to the top of your priority list. Greatschools.org is a wonderful resource for reviews on local schools and features both public and private schools. Do a little investigating, ask around, and head straight to the source by scheduling a tour to make sure the school is up to your standards.
Price Range
This one is clearly important, as your budget will dictate many of your options. Make sure your builder is competitive with other builders in the area of similar quality, but be sure you’re not comparing oranges to apples. Some builders focus on quantity, others quality (we think of ourselves as the quality type). Obviously, you will pay for quality of materials, location, and many other factors. Just make sure the price is in line with what is reasonable for you.
Builder Reputation
We like to say that we don’t build houses, we build homes. Your home is where you are going to make memories, and you don’t want just anyone building it. Look up recent reviews on the builders in the area, and check them out on social media. This will help you get a feel for what they’re all about. Are they tied to the community? Do they have happy customers? Do they address the concerns of the unhappy customers? All are important in your evaluation.
Plans
Does the builder you are considering offer plans that will fit your needs? You might need an in-law suite, or space for a home office. Make sure you can find a plan that’s right for you. Blueprints are wonderful, space planners are great, but nothing replaces actually visiting the plan. Ask your sales representative if he/she can tell you where there may be a model or a home in progress for you to visit.
Square Footage
This can be difficult because you’ll want to take into account what you need now and what you’ll need in the future. Cost of living, time put into upkeep, and flexibility of the space can all be dependent upon square footage. We found a great article that might help you.
Design Studio
We’re partial to this one because we love our design studio, but also because we believe in giving you the chance to see your selections, and get ideas on what you might like to put together, in person. When we consider new products to incorporate into our homes we want to see, touch, and test them. We’re pretty sure you might be similar when selecting what you’ll put in your new home. If a builder does not have a design studio do they have adequate online pictures (many of ours are on houzz)? Can you go see the selections used in homes in progress or the model?
Hopefully we’ve given you some things to think about as you enter into your home building journey. We’re here to answer any questions you may have, ask in the comments below or contact us.