Custom Home Building- How To Have A Successful Experience?

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Custom Home Building- How To Have A Successful Experience? 

 

Let’s say, you found the perfect contractor (how-to-select-a-custom-home-builder-) have your financing all set up and signed a contract with the Builder for a great price! What is it going to take to have a successful home building experience? Both the Builder and the Owners want this process to go smoothly but how can that happen unless all parties know what the other expects? Before we begin, perhaps I should define what factors make up a success building experience? As with any relationship both parties desire something, have obligations and 100% responsible for the success or failure of that experience.

What Do Homeowners Want From A Successful Custom Home Building Experience?

From the Homeowners perspective:

1. A Builder that listens.

2. Timely communication.

3. On time and within the budget requirements.

4. Minimal stress.

5. A home that meets the families needs.

6. Excellent service after the home is completed.

7. Great resale potential.

8. Help with future home issues even after the warranty period.

 

What Do Builders Want From A Successful Custom Home Building Experience?

 

From the Builders perspective:

1. Homeowners that are willing to be guided because they trust the Builder's judgement.

2. Decisions made timely.

3. Clearly communicate what they want.

4. Minimal changes once construction begins.

5. Treat the Builder fairly.

6. Timely payments.

7. An excellent reference for future buyers.

8. Encourage the Builder to show their home to new home building prospects.

9. Look for opportunities to help the Builder sign more home building deals.

 

From the Owner’s perspective:

1.-A Builder that listens- as with any relationship listening is vitally important. If you sit down with a Builder and he’s not listening to you, find another Builder. Typically, this issue is particularly important to women. Unfortunately, most Builders are men and men have a reputation for discounting or not listening to women. That’s a really bad idea, as most homes are built with 80% of the input from the Owner’s wife. In fact, after the deal is struck, most often the husband goes back to his work and the Builder constructs the home with the wife and the Interior Designer who is most often a woman too. It’s dangerous to generalize as everyone is different but my main point, find a Builder that will listen to you.

Site & Phone Meetings- afterwards, the Builder should follow up with notes distributed to all attendees. This way, the Builder mirrors back his understanding so you know “he gets” what the Owners want. There are lots of details to a new home and it’s vital that information is clearly understood. This system prevents all kinds of problems.

The Most Important Question a Builder can ask in one of the 1st meetings with the owners, if we were sitting down 1 year after completing your new home what would I have to do between now and then for you to be completely satisfied with us as a building company? After asking this question, now is exactly the time to sit back and listen carefully to what the Owner’s say. Afterwards, send an email confirming what you heard. This understanding becomes part of the Builder’s notes to be referred to periodically during the construction process. Making sure he is focused on what’s important to the Owners.

2. Timely Communication. Few things are more frustrating to Owners than not hearing from their Builder timely. Sure, we are all busy but a returned phone call within 24 hours is quite reasonable. With all the technology available, cell phone, texting and email, there’s really no excuse. After all, the homes construction is moving along and if an item of concern is not addressed if may be covered up and missed. After site meetings, information has to be distributed to all concerned quickly so it can be implemented without additional cost. Notes from all meetings to be distributed within 24 hours.

3. On time and within the budget requirements. On Time Delivery starts with the Building Contract (how-quickly-can-the-builder-construct-my-new-custom-home). The building time-frame (8-12 months) is written into most construction documents. The clock starts ticking (homeowners-ask-when-can-i-move-into-my-new-custom-built-home-) the day the Building Permit is issued. Of course, a large number of activities have to take place between the issuing of the permit and when the keys are handed to the Owners.

Weekly Status Reports sent to the Owners as well as main team members (Realtor, Interior Designer, Architect, Owners and Builder) so everyone is kept up to date with the project.

The status report covers:

• Reaffirm the homes completion date.

• What was accomplished this week?

• What items have been started but not yet completed?

• What activities are scheduled for next week?

• Items needed from the Owners to keep the project on schedule.

• Attach a photo from live web camera for each work day.

 

A status report cuts down on the finger pointing. The key team members know what’s happening with the project and what they may be doing to hold things up. If the project is falling behind everyone is aware and steps can be taken to speed things up. Attaching a photo from each day documents the progress on the home and provides a visual record.

Building Within The Budget Requirements- takes discipline and careful planning.

• Signing a fixed price contract (when-building-a-home-cost-plus-or-fixed-price-contract-) is the first requirement.

• Owners make all their selections (how-do-owners-save-money-when-building-a-home-) prior to the commencement of construction. With this approach, there are no “allowances” in the contract to exceed.

• The only way to exceed the budget (change-orders-is-my-home-builder-ripping-me-off-) is with a signed change order. Each C.O. also states how much the building time-frame is to be extended due to the change.

4. Minimize Homeowner Stress. What if the Owners could just sit back and enjoy watching their dream home become a reality knowing how much their home is going to cost and not run around making last minute decisions?

Tom, the Builder called and said, I need to select all my appliances today so they can be ordered or our home will be delayed for a month? You can just imagine the stress the Owner is feeling in this instance. Building a Custom Home doesn’t have to be this way.

Instead, while your home plans are being designed the Owner works with the Interior Designer and makes all the decisions before you even sign the contract for construction. There is a preliminary meeting with the Builder’s Interior Designer to understand what type of appointments you would like included in your home. The Designer goes off to visit all the Builders suppliers, returns with samples then provides a room by room presentation of everything that you would like to have included in your home. Tile, carpet, cabinets, appliances, counter tops, paint colors, ceiling treatments etc. Everything to make a house a home and what they cost.

Perhaps, this may take 2-3 meetings to get everything just right but it sure beats running all over town for weeks and weeks and trying to remember what you selected at the flooring company 2 months ago. All the finishes are displayed at one time so you know just what each room in going to look like when it’s completed. The Builder can include these items in the final contract pricing. If the total exceeds your budget, adjustments can be made before construction commences. Now that you know what your home is going to look like room by room and how much it’s going to cost to make your dream a reality, its time to sit back and watch the dream materialize. This is the fun part of building. All the tough issues are behind you, relax and enjoy.

5. Excellent service after the home is completed. The long awaited moment has arrived. All the construction work has been completed. Today is the closing and the Builder is receiving the final payment. The last few weeks have been a flurry of activity and the Owners have noticed a few small details that are just not right. They wonder, is the Builder going to take care of these items? Not to worry, the Builder has an excellent reputation and has completed hundreds of homes but still….. It’s time for the “final walk through”. Even the name makes you wonder, is this the last opportunity I have to see anything that might become an issue? Remember you picked the right Builder and he has been performing like a trained seal over the last year.

During the final walk through or “customer orientation”, the Builder demonstrates how to operate the thermostat, location of the HVAC filter and various aspects of the home. It’s another opportunity to explain the built in quality features and reinforce why the Owners made the right decision when they selected him to build their home. He explains the service procedure and what to do in an emergency. It’s also an opportunity to point out those few small details that you noticed are just not “up to snuff”. He makes note of the items and sets an appointment for the service work 10 working days in the future. This provides enough time to order materials, schedule workers and for the Owners to move into their home. The walk through list should only contain minor items, not install kitchen cabinets. Minor items and adjustments on a list not more than 25 items (not counting paint and drywall touch up) on a good size custom home. If there is a long list or the items are major the house is not ready to turn over to the Owners. Keep in mind, 10 different people can walk through a home and come up with 10 very different lists. Just because the Builder didn’t take care of something that is quite obvious to you doesn’t mean he’s blind or not going to take care of it.

After the Owners move in, smart Builders follow up with a phone call to see if there are any annoying issues that may have developed so they can be taken care of right away, instead of waiting for sometime in the future.

The 10 day service appointment date, to take care of the walk through items has arrived and the Builder shows up on time with his team of workers to knock out the final walk through items. This is an opportunity to impress the Owners! The process is organized and the Builder is there to make sure all the items are taken care of in one day. Since painting touch up on the service items cannot be completed until all the item have been addressed there may be an occasion when the painting may need another day. The Builder reinforces the company service process and lets the Owners know to keep a list of any small items that may crop up and to let them know the workers can return in 30 days to take care of any other items that need attention.

After the 10 day service appointment items have been completed the Builder will ask the Owners if the walk through items have been satisfactorily addressed and send a confirmation email to that effect. This is normal procedure and designed to eliminate any miscommunication regarding the service work.

With most Custom Homes, another service appointment in 30 or 60 days after the final walk through is all that’s needed for the Owners to feel the Builder has provided a quality home and performed his obligations under the warranty period. Of course, the Builder is still committed to perform service for the first year and will be available for another service appointment prior to the end of the warranty period.

Most Custom Builders contact the Owners 30 days before their warranty expires and ask if a service appointment is required. The Builder visits the Owners home and answer any questions they may have and make note of any items that need attention. Again, a new service appointment is scheduled 10 days from the visit so the Builder can arrange for materials and labor to complete the items in 1 day and before the warranty period expires.

After the warranty period, quality Builders are still available if the Owners require any additional help with their home. They may need information regarding availability of materials or who they may contact if a future issue may develop. The Owners may need the Builder to visit there home to look at something they don’t quite understand. After all, a relationship has been established between the Owners and the Builder of their home and each should be able to reach out if something is needed.

6. Great resale potential- is possible if you hire an experienced team and listen to their advice. A solid team consists of a Realtor, Interior Designer, Plan Designer and of course the Builder. This group of experts do this every day and have years of of experience. Ignore their advice and it’s going to cost you “big time” when it’s time to sell your home. Seldom do I hear, “we want you to build our custom home but we are only going to live here for a few years before we sell”. Usually, it’s, “this is going to be our last home. The only way I’m moving from here is feet first”! Unfortunately, kids grow up and move away, employment situations change, unforeseen events take place and yes, even marital statuses change. No matter how certain you are that you are never going to move again, it’s smart to have a contingency plan.

The Realtor brings a wealth of resale market experience. They have their finger on the pulse of home buyers. They know what homebuyers like and what they don’t. Are you over building for the neighborhood? Is this a floor plan that will meet the needs of a large enough segment of the resale market? Does you home have the features that buyers in this price range would find attractive? These are all very important questions that you should ask before you build your home. The wrong answer can cost you not just a little money but tens of thousands of dollars!

Using an Interior Designer (ID) is perhaps one of the best values when building. For perhaps $1-$2 per SF of living area you can creat a home that is head and shoulders above the competition. They help you creat the “sizzle” that will really make your home memorable. Homeowners ask, can I afford an Interior Designer? I usually respond, you can’t afford not to have an interior designer. Owners think it’s all about selecting paint colors, not hardly. A competent ID helps with so much more. They sit down with you and find out what you like, then offer suggestions on how to achieve the look you have in mind at a reasonable cost. The ID is an important ally that helps coordinate flooring, trim, window treatments, hardware, traffic flow, furniture placement, lighting, plumbing fixtures, set budgets, cabinets, counter tops, ceiling treatments and so much more. The ID completes all the selection sheets that are distributed to the rest of the building team. A vital part of the construction process. The right ID helps you stay within your budget and saves you money. When I build a “model home” the ID is one of the first people I speak with. I can’t afford not to have her on my building team.

The Plan Designer (Architect) places the home you have in your mind on paper. He listens to you and finds out the needs of your family and how you live. Takes all that information and translates that into a language the building trades understand. All while making sure you “dream home” fits on the building lot and meets the local building codes and HOA requirements. The Plan Designer does all that while at the same time creating a design that meets your budget and makes your home exceptional when it’s time to sell and move on.

The Builder is the overall coordinator that sees the entire picture. He assembles the individual team members and knows from experience if your home is headed in the right direction. A balance between the dream in your minds eye, budget requirements, resale potential and low maintenance. If you select the right Builder it will make a big difference to your homes resale potential. He has to guide you and have the courage to let you know when you are about to make a big mistake or encouraging you to look at another option that is in your best interests. A Builder is like an indian guide. He leads you through the almost endless choices and keeps you from making terminal decisions. Frankly, it’s all about having a Builder’s Team that supports you the Owner, to make your dream a reality instead of a resale nightmare.

7. Help with future home issues even after the warranty period. Selecting a Custom Home Builder is much more than just getting a great deal, it’s about a relationship. It’s obvious the Builder you select is going to construct your home according to the contract and specifications. Additionally, he is going to take care of issues that may pop up during the warranty period but how about after the warranty? A great Builder will teach you how to maintain your home so it keeps it’s value over the years (how to maintain your custom home). A Builder that’s available when you have a question about a maintenance issue or need a subcontractor or supplier reference. The Owners may be looking to pressure wash or replace a piece of window glass after their son broke it playing baseball with a friend.

Years down the road, long after the Owners move into their home issues pop up and the only one that can help them is the person that built their home. Sometimes it’s a paint color issue and other times something more serious like damage after a hurricane or a unnatural disaster after a teenagers blow out party when the parents are away. The owners may be ready to finish out the previously framed in bonus room, add a new wing on the home or remodel the kitchen. After all, who knows your home better than the Builder that constructed it? Being able to call your original Builder is going to save you a lot of time and money. A new Builder is going to charge you to figure out how things were previously put together. The original Builder already knows. It may be time to build a new home to meet the needs of an expanding family. The Builder you already know can help the Owners with all of this and more.

Recently, I had an Owner call me because a new roofer told him his roof was installed improperly and it was going to cost thousands to fix it. I built his home 10 years ago and Mr. Stea was a great customer. I couldn’t wait to help him out even though the roofing issue was a Owner maintenance item. I provided the name of my current roofer who I could trust and he took care of the issue at minimal cost. Frankly, after the sale service is something to think about before you select a Builder. It may not be something that’s on your mind before you build but it’s going to be important one day down the road.

From the Builders perspective.

1.-Homeowners that are willing to be guided because they trust the Builder's judgement. This is perhaps one of the more difficult issue for Owners (how-to-select-a-custom-home-builder-). Most of the time we build homes for successful professionals or business owners. They are strong leaders and have powerful personalities. Building a new Custom Home is a major decision for them and there is a great deal of money on the line. It’s probably one of the largest personal purchases they have ever made so it has their attention. I often tell friends, building a new Custom Home asks a lot from buyers. They meet the Builder a few times and before you know it, it’s time to sign a contract for more money than they have ever personally invested. They hand over a large deposit check to the Builder and say, treat me gently. Frankly, it takes a lot of trust to sign a contract for hundreds of thousand of dollars with somebody you just recently met. To help Homeowners get to the point where they feel comfortable to move forward with their building decision I provide a copy of my new book, (www.regalclassichomes.com ), have them visit my personal home, meet my wife and daughter, provide homeowner and trade references, walk through a recently completed home and multiple meetings to answer all their questions. At some point the Owners have to make the decision to trust me.

They have to be willing to follow a process. It starts with being prequalified at a local financial institution and ends with them moving into their new home. Meeting with our Architect, Interior Designer and Realtor. A process that we have used to successfully guide Homeowners over the years. It minimizes stress on the Owners and maximizes efficiency.

Scenario 1- Mr. & Mrs. Meadows met with me to discuss building their home. They were referred to me by their attorney after getting ripped off by another Builder. After their last experience they were justifiably cautious. I helped them develop a plan that conformed to the radical shape of their property and budget requirements. They listened carefully to my advice and suggestions as we developed their home. They implemented my advice, were delighted with their home and have remained friends even though they have since sold their home and now live in St. Petersburg. They recently called to refer a new home building client.

Scenario 2- Mr. & Mrs. Unnamed met with me on a lot that they own in downtown Orlando. One of the first questions I asked, have you been prequalified by your lender? Though they had not been prequalified, they assured me that financing a new home would not be an issue. I provided the contact information for a loan officer that we have used on many occasions. Over the following weeks we met several times. At each meeting I asked, have you contacted our loan officer yet and been pre qualified for a loan. Finally prior to our 4th meeting they called to cancel the project due to unforeseen, financial difficulties. We had multiple meeting with our architect and one meeting with our Interior Designer. Countless hours were spent drawing, pricing preliminary plans and the Owners lost money paying for plans that were now worthless. All because they resisted following a process that helps them save time and money. When you decide to move forward with a selected Custom Home Builder remember, he is there to earn your business and guide you wisely.

2.-Owners that make timely decisions- are every Builders dream and the key to keeping the construction of the home on schedule. Once the Builder receives the building permit from the local municipality it’s time for action! The Builder assembles his team and construction on the new home commences. If the Owners have been working efficiently with the Interior Designer, all their selections have been made and they can sit back and watch their dream become a reality. The Interior Designer has recorded all the finishing details, the Owners have approved the selection sheets and the Builder has distributed them to his entire team. The final contract agreement has been signed with the Builder and the Owners know exactly how much their home will cost. If they have been slow to make decisions the Owners are scrambling around, working feverishly to stay in front of the construction progress. The interest clock is ticking and they have no idea home much their home is going to cost. Are they over or under budget and by how much? This is a poor way to start the construction process. The Owners are stressed and the Builder is anxiously calling asking for decisions so he doesn’t have to stop construction on their home. This entire situation could have been avoided by making decisions more timely.

Instead, while your home plans are being designed the Owner works with the Interior Designer and makes all the decisions before you even sign the contract for construction. There is a preliminary meeting with the Builder’s Interior Designer to understand what type of appointments you would like included in your home. The Designer goes off to visit all the Builders suppliers, returns with samples then provides a room by room presentation of everything that you would like to have included in your home. Tile, carpet, cabinets, appliances, counter tops, paint colors, ceiling treatments etc. Everything to make a house a home and what they cost. Perhaps, this may take 2-3 meetings to get everything just right but it sure beats running all over town for weeks and weeks trying to remember what you selected at the flooring company 2 months ago. All the finishes are displayed at one time so you know just what each room in going to look like when it’s completed. The Builder can include these items in the final contract pricing. If the total exceeds your budget, adjustments can be made before construction commences. Now that you know what your home is going to look like room by room and how much it’s going to cost to make your dream a reality, its time to sit back and watch the dream materialize. This is the fun part of building. All the tough issues are behind you, relax and enjoy.

Smart Builders send the Owners “Weekly Status Reports” as well as the main team members (Realtor, Interior Designer, Architect and Builder) so everyone is kept up to date with the project.

The status report covers:

• Reaffirm the homes completion date.

• What was accomplished this week?

• What items have been started but not yet completed?

• What activities are scheduled for next week?

• Items needed from the Owners to keep the project on schedule.

• Attach a photo from live web camera for each work day.

A status report cuts down on the finger pointing. The key team members know what’s happening with the project and what they may be doing to hold things up. If the project is falling behind everyone is aware and steps can be taken to speed things up.

Attaching a photo from each day documents the progress on the home and provides a visual record. Every week the Builder communicates to the Owners what he may need to keep their home on schedule. Homeowners that react quickly to Builder requests are every Builder dream Clients. They help him by providing the information needed. After all, it takes a solid team effort to design and build a fabulous home the Homeowners can enjoy for years to come.

3.-Owners That Clearly Communicate What They Want- makes constructing a home a successful experience for everyone. I’ve already written about the necessity of making all the decisions regarding the homes appointment (should-i-make-all-selections-before-the-bldr-starts-our-custom-home-) prior to the start of construction but there is more to making the Custom Home Building experience successful, clear communication from the Owners. Text messages or hastily written emails only lead to more text messages and emails. Builders are busy and frankly don’t have time to pass emails back in forth (it’s called death by email in the industry) seeking clarity. The Builder wants you to be happy with your home, so you tell all your friends but he has to know what you want. Take the time to carefully craft an email and include all the details, photos, model numbers and specific information telling the Builder exactly what you want. If all else fails, a quick site meeting to discuss the problem will generally bring the issue to a close.

4.Minimal Changes Once Construction Begins. If the Owners have followed the Builders process the preliminary designs, construction plans, scopes of work and Design Selection Sheets have all been completed. There have been months of preparation prior to the start of construction. The Builder has wound the spring of the construction process tightly and all the subcontractor and suppliers are ready to commence work. Vendor pricing has been locked in and the Builder has been lining his team up for weeks. Everyone is ready to go. The last thing you want to do at this point is throw a wrench into the wheels of progress. Sure, Builders are use to Homeowners changing their minds, it’s all part of the business but within reason. That said, there are small changes and big changes. Small changes are to be expected but “we’ve decided to add a guest suite to the second floor” involves multiple issues (see- is my builder ripping me off with change orders). You can make big changes at this point but it’s going to cost you.

Think carefully as you move through the Builder’s process, making the tough decisions along the way. In the end, your home will be better and your Builder will love you for it!

5.-Treat The Builder Fairly. Ok, I get it, building a new custom home is a big investment, perhaps it’s the most personal money Homeowners have ever invested. As such, it has their attention. Working with a local Custom Home Builder is quite a different experience from dealing with a national company. I can always tell when I first meet Clients if they had the production home building, experience, previously. The walk into our first meeting like they have 2 six-shooters mounted on both hips, one eye squinted closed and extra ammunition belts strapped across their chests. It looks like something out of an old western movie. They are loaded for bear! The questions are pointed with a determination not to be ripped off again. They feel like they were squeezed like a loaf of "Wonder Bread" after their last home building experience and determined not to have that happen again. I spend the next several meetings and sometimes the entire time building their home getting them to trust me.

Custom Home Builders are normally small local building companies that build a handful of homes to feed their family and put a few bucks away for their kids college fund and retirement. A Production Builder is some huge corporation that's building 10,000's of homes throughout the country. One is beholden to a bunch of stockholders distributed throughout the world and the other depends upon your support to feed his kids. One hires people that are only as good as the last home they delivered vs a builder that puts his heart into each home that he builds. A Builder that has a team of suppliers and subcontractors that he's created a relationship with over the years vs one that hires the lowest bidder to build your dream home. Custom Home Builders are interested in creating a relationship with their Homeowners, a win, win. Owners and Builder alike should expect to be treated fairly.

6.-Timely Payments. On of the reasons the Owner’s received such a great deal on the price of their home is because they are providing the financing for the project instead of the Builder. In other words, the Builder in not going into his pocket to fund the construction of your home he is using the Owner’s money. The project is being funded by your bank in the form of a progress draw or the Owners are providing periodic draw payments to the Builder from their own reserves. It’s understood that when the Custom Home Builder is constructing your dream home, the funds for the homes progress will be delivered seamlessly as various activity points are met i.e. slab poured, trusses set, appliances installed. Custom Home Builders have lots of money moving through their checking accounts. If they have two or three, $500,000-$1,000,000+ homes going at the same time they may have hundreds of thousands of dollars in their checking accounts. Unfortunately, for the Builder, that situation is only temporary. All the suppliers expect to be paid on the 10th of the month following the purchase of materials and subcontractors on the 10th and 25th of every month, like clock work. In many cases, that may only be a few days after completing their work. Depending upon the subcontractor trade, they may also be paid weekly progress payments (draws) if they have a large crew working on the Owner’s job. The subcontractors are depending upon a paycheck so they can feed their families. Timely payments from the financial institution or the Owners is critical to the progress of the home. Many trades, decide which job to work on this week depending upon the Builder’s payout schedule. If he is not scheduled to make a payout or he is unreliable in making payments, the subcontractor pulls off that job and works on another where the Builder is more dependable. That’s just how the homebuilding world works.The Builder that manages his cash flow properly keeps his houses on schedule and his workers happy.

Change orders basically work the same way. The Builder in many instances is paying the vendors in advance for the change and waiting for your payment to replenish his checking account. The bottom line, it’s a bad idea to be a slow paying Owner if you want your home to be delivered on time.

7.-An excellent reference for future buyers. Local Custom Home Builders rely on past clients for positive recommendations. Unlike, large national builders, Custom Home Builders only do business in their local communities. A great review from a satisfied homeowner goes a long way with a Builder’s perspective new home buyer. Many new homebuyers ask a potential builder for a list of past homebuyers they can call for a recommendation. The Orlando area is a small community and a local Builder’s reputation can make or break him. Being a positive recommendation for a Builder’s past work is a big deal. That’s why, Custom Builders go out of their way to satisfy their Homeowners.

Often, Custom Builders will call past Clients and ask if they would be willing to speak with a current prospect and tell them about their homebuilding experience. Your Builder will really appreciate your help and positive review.

8.-Encourage the Builder to show their home to potential building prospects. It costs a lot of money for a Builder to construct and maintain a model home to show an example of his work. Custom Home Builders that have a model available to show, charge more to build your home because their overhead is higher. A more cost effective method for many Builders is to show a home they already built for somebody else. Besides, there is no more powerful presentation than having an current Owner show their home to a Builder’s prospect. Their excitement and pride of ownership is apparent for everyone to see. Sometimes, Owners are available for the presentation and in others they allow the Builder to show their home while they are away. Frequently, the Owner points out features they really enjoy and share positive stories about their homebuilding experience. It’s a powerful message to a potential homeowner. The Builder they are considering for their new home has a satisfied current Owner that thinks so much of their Builder they are willing to open their home just to help him out. That’s the kind of marketing and advertising no amount of money can buy. Something your Builder will really appreciate.

Smart Builders will schedule a showing appointment that is convenient for the current Owner and provide a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant as a token of his appreciation. It’s a nice gesture and small incentive on the Builder’s part.

Parade Of Homes. Every year the local home builder’s association (GOBA) puts on an event called, The Parade Of Homes (POH). It’s normally conducted during the early spring. It’s an opportunity for Builders to show their work. Frankly, it’s really a big deal in the industry. Some Builders construct a speculation (Spec) home specifically for this even. Most Custom Home Builders encourage their customers that are currently having a home built to enter it in the parade. As an incentive, Builder’s offer a discount on the purchase price of your home, provide free upgrades and pass along incentives from their building partners. The financial reward can be quite substantial for selected Owners. Builders agree to staff the home during the POH’s, have everyone that attends wear surgical booties over their shoes and turn over a like new, completed home, to the Owners after the event. The intention is to creat a win, win for all concerned.

If the timing for your home is right, it’s something you should ask your Builder about. It’s also a great opportunity to show your friends what a beautiful home you’ve created.

9.-Look for opportunities to help the Builder sign more new home deals. They say, satisfied customers tell three of their friends and a dissatisfied customer tell 3,000. If your Builder treated you right, tell your friends! Share your positive experience. There are certainly enough bad Builder stories circulating on the Internet.

It’s often said, word of mouth advertising is the best form of advertising! That may be true, but it’s not enough to keep you in business. It takes a lot of effort for a Builder to get his message heard over all the other advertising out there.

I’ve recently written a book, “Custom Home Building Secrets!” It’s packed full of useful tips for homebuyers. The book is based upon over 30 years of building experience. There’s bound to be helpful information for anyone thinking about building a new Custom Home. I provide a free copy on my web site, www.regalclassichomes.com and distribute hard copies to home buying prospects and current owners. Tell your friends about my book or give them a hard copy to read before they get started in the home building process.

So, if you are a current Owner of a Regal Classic Home, what’s in it for you? Plenty, as they say in Texas,” ya dance with the one that brung ya!” I take extraordinary care of the Homeowners that help me out. If you have an issue with something related to your home, drop me an Email of give me a call. I’ll go out of my way to help an Owner that’s referred new business. Even if you have an issue unrelated to the home I’ve constructed, give me a call I’ll be glad to help. The bottom line, tell your friends about your home building experience, my Blog and share my book.

Thank you kindly,

Mike