Market Trends
Top 5 things to consider before choosing your custom home builder
From picking or designing the floor plan to watching it take form, building your dream home is a rewarding experience that you will enjoy every day while living there. There are many things to decide on while building your dream home like paint colors and cabinet design, but it is also important to choose the correct custom home builder to help you along in the process. Here are 5 aspects to consider when choosing a home builder to help you bring your dreams into a reality.
Reputation/References
Researching potential custom home builders is an important part of the selection process. Asking to talk with past clients is a good way to gauge how much they enjoyed working with the builder during construction and after the home was complete. Being a member of local associations like the Home Builders Association is a good indication that they are a permanent fixture in the community and, at the very minimum, have the respect of their peers. It is always a good idea to check the Better Business Bureau to make sure there aren't any negative indications.
Experience/Education
Understanding how a custom home builder got into the business and the number of years they have been building indicates the longevity they may have. All builders are very opinionated about the products they install in their homes and should be able to discuss the positives and negatives about the products they use. Building science is an evolving field and you want to make sure the company that is bringing your dream to life has the knowledge to make sure it will last for a long time.
Licensed/Insured
Insurance is a necessary burden in this industry to protect everyone involved. General liability, workman's compensation, builder's risk and auto are a must when considering someone to build a large investment such as a home. Checking with the Labor, Licensing, and Regulation board to make sure the builder is licensed to conduct the work is not a bad idea. Municipalities do this for you, but it doesn't hurt to check.
Warranty offered
The building business is a cyclical industry and if for some reason the builder is unavailable after the home is completed, you will need to know who will stand behind the work. A comprehensive homeowner manual should explain the systems installed in your home and be able to answer questions about your home.
Personality Fit
Building a home is a complex process that requires a good working relationship with your custom home builder. Open lines of communication and having a good personality fit will improve the experience of the construction process. When talking with references you should ask how easy the builder was to work with before, during and after the home was completed
Building your dream home should be a wonderful experience that you will enjoy for years to come. By doing a little research and asking the correct questions, these 5 things will give you a better understanding on who to choose to build your home.
About Stan O'Brien, President & CEO, Paradime Construction
Columbia, SC
Raised in Charleston S.C., Stan O'Brien was surrounded by amazing Architecture. This encouraged his early interest in design, specifically home design. Many early photos show him drawing homes at a very young age. He focused this skill in high school by taking drafting classes and eventually attended Clemson University to study architecture.
Education
After his freshman year at Clemson, Stan realized that he wanted to get into more of the "nuts and bolts" of home building. Along with his time-consuming Architecture curriculum, Stan began taking classes in Construction Science. He graduated in 1992 with a Bachelors in Design and in 1993 with a Bachelors in Construction Science, I went to work for a home builder in Winston-Salem, NC.
Experience
Throughout High School and College Stan worked for many different construction companies that offered me valuable experience in everything from tract building to the manufacturing of architectural details. After college, he spent 5 years with a company in North Carolina that provided a full spectrum of home building services to its customers. They developed the land, designed, built, and sold the homes. He was exposed to a number of different aspects of the building industry including home design, supervising construction managers, and even getting involved with development.
Company
Having been raised and educated in South Carolina, with friends and family here, Stan decided to return to his home state and start Paradime Construction, Inc. which has been building homes in Columbia since 1999. Columbia has seen a thriving economy over the last few years and is a great location for home buyers. Centrally located, Columbia is a short trip to both the beach and the mountains. Our capital city is the perfect size and offers a wide variety of attractions that draw many people to move here and settle down. Paradime Construction, Inc. is proud to be a part of this great city.
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