Austin is one of the best and most unique cities in Texas, and arguably, the nation. In recent years, it seems most of the country has gotten the memo and are moving to Austin in record numbers. As a result, the Austin housing market is super competitive and the cost of housing is hitting record highs.
So what options do you have when you work in Austin, but don’t want to pay a fortune for a house that’s several decades old and needs a lot of work? The answer is to build your own home in Pflugerville. You’ll be close to Austin and get the added benefit of choosing the perfect home design and layout for you.
But how do you know who to choose to build your new home? We can help you make that decision with these considerations for finding the best home builders in Pflugerville, TX!
Conceptualize What You Want
The first step in finding a home builder is to frame your search based on the type of house that you want. After all, you wouldn’t want to pick a home builder that specializes in class ranch-style homes to build you a modern masterpiece, right?
Start by considering what style home you would like. If you don’t have a specific type of home in mind, search current real estate listings to get an idea of the typical housing styles you are most drawn to. The most common types of homes in Texas are ranch-style, but you’ll also find plenty of craftsman, colonial, and modern-style housing in Pflugerville and Austin.
Next, you’ll want to think about essentials like the size of the house you want and whether you need more than a standard two-car garage. Once you have that down, you can get down the interior style and special considerations like making sure your new home is energy efficient.
Start Your Search for Home Builders in Pflugerville, TX
Next, you’ll want to start a wide search for home builders in the Pflugerville area. Many home buyers begin this process this through a simple Google or Yelp search, and, if you know anyone who has had their home built, asking for recommendations from friends and family. Then, browse the builder’s website to see if they have a portfolio or a section of the site dedicated to images of the homes they’ve built in the past.
If you’re interested in something specialized, like an energy-efficient home, check to see if the builder has experience in building homes with that specification. Taking this step will allow you to narrow the broad list of home builders in this area down to builders who have experience building your preferred style of home.
Narrow Your List By Looking for Reviews
Next, you’ll want to continue to narrow your list of home builders by looking for publicly available reviews online. Yelp!, Angie’s List, and Google Reviews frequently have a significant amount of reviews available. You’ll want to look for reviews that discuss the home’s overall quality, the time it took to build, and how closely the builder stuck to the budget.
Keep in mind that it is difficult to make every single customer happy. Don’t discount a home builder entirely because of one or two negative reviews when the rest are positive. But, if the builder’s negative reviews are consistent with each other, then keep that in mind if you choose to schedule a meeting with the builder.
Finally, do not be afraid to ask the builders you contact about the negative reviews you saw if you find any.
Contact Potential Home Builders
Once you’ve completed your research on both what you want and have leads on home builders in which you are interested, you’ll want to reach out the builders to request a meeting. This step also helps you narrow down potential builders because the builder may or may not have time in their schedule to build your home in your timeframe.
Create a List of Questions
Before you start working with potential builders, you’ll want to take some time to compile a written list of questions to ask them. Even if your mind is a steel trap, writing down your questions is an important step because nerves or other issues can cause you to forget about asking critical questions.
What kind of questions should you ask?
The most important questions you should ask are about the budget and timeline. Be sensible, if a home builder makes promises that seem to be too good to be true, they probably are.
Meet with Several Potential Builders
Even if you’ve found a home builder that you think will be perfect for, you should plan on meeting with other builders. Getting quotes from several builders will help you determine, on average, how much your new home will cost to build and how long it will take to build. Then, you can weed out builders who are asking too much or are making promises they cannot keep.
Your home builder will either meet you at their office or, if they’re building a major development, they may meet you and the development to show you a model home and go over customization options.
Request References
Once you’ve met with potential home builders and have narrowed down your list, you will always want to ask for references. Good home builders not only have good references, but they are willing to share them with new clients.
When you contact the references, ask them broad questions about the quality of the home they received from the builder, how much they paid versus the cost they were quoted, and how long it took to build versus how long they were quoted. You can also ask questions about things like professionalism and the home builder’s communication skills and style.
Ask About Warranties
Good home builders stand by the homes they’ve built. That’s why you should always ask potential builders about the type of warranties they put on their work. A warranty will protect you in the event that something happens in your home due to a flaw in the builder’s craftsmanship.
If a particular builder doesn’t offer a warranty of their own, you may be able to purchase independent warranties like home warranty service agreements and structural warranties. Either way, you’ll have peace of mind that your investment is protected.
Discuss Materials and Special Considerations
This is the fun part! Once you have your home exterior and interior layout cemented, you can discuss the types of materials the builder will use in your home and how they can meet any special requests that you may have.
Finally, once you’ve worked through all the individualized customizations and concerns, you will have a final quote from the final home builder contenders.
Finalize Your Budget and Hire a Home Builder
Once you have an in-depth quote from a few home builders, you’ll be able to compare the quote to your budget and timeline and select the home builder that you feel most comfortable with. Then, you’ll reach out the home builder and sign on the dotted line. Soon, you’ll be in your own brand new and fully customized home in Pflugerville!
Get Ready to Move Into the Home of Your Dreams!
Finding great home builders in Pflugerville, TX doesn’t have to be a difficult or painful process. It does, however, take a bit of diligence and research on your part. Never shy away from asking a potential home buyer questions about budgeting, materials, or the timeline for completion.
With a little work and patience on your part, you’ll soon find yourself in the home of your dreams. And, as a bonus, you’ll get the peace of mind of knowing that no one has lived there before and, unlike expensive home renovations, there won’t be any surprises that drain your budget.
Ready to start looking for a home builder to construct your dream home? You’re in the right place. Contact us today to see what we have to offer!