Finding a contractor is the chief consideration when building a house. You need to find a contractor you can trust who can construct your Lake Oconee, Georgia, dream home within your budget and timeline restraints. 

With plenty of contractors to choose from, it can be tough to weed out the right fit for you. But by asking the right contractor questions, you can quickly decide whether a contractor is experienced, capable, and passionate enough to build your home. 

In this blog, our experienced Lake Oconee builders team has detailed the questions to ask your contractor. These home remodeling questions will help you determine who you need to hire and who isn't worthy of making your new home dreams come true.

Contractor Hiring Tips: These Are The Questions To Ask Your Home Builder

The excitement of building a home can make the entire process feel like a haze, which is why you need to ensure you know the questions to ask a contractor in an interview. Getting the answers to the questions below will make the entire building process smooth sailing. 

1. Are You Licensed and Insured?

One of the most important questions for home builders in Lake Oconee is 'are you licensed and insured?' This is one of the first questions to ask your builder at the initial meeting. Honestly, if their answer is no — or if they try to skirt around the question — you're better off leaving right then and there. Working with an unlicensed or uninsured builder puts you at risk. 

It means liability falls on you in the event of an accident, and it also means your project could be shut down if your contractor doesn't adhere to permits and construction standards. Since there are plenty of licensed and insured builders — like PAXISgroup — for you to choose from, why take the risk? 

You should also ask what types of insurance they carry. You'll want to hire someone with general liability, workers' compensation, professional liability, and builders' risk.

2. How Do You Handle the Design Process?

We feel the design and pre-construction process is as important as the building process. Over the years, PAXISgroup has found that delays and cost overruns can usually be substantially mitigated through a comprehensive pre-construction services design phase. 

So, another of the questions to ask contractors is, "Do you have a designer you work with who has a proven track record?" If they do, you'll avoid surprises in the construction phase. Plus, it'll allow you to begin customizing your home before they begin breaking ground. 

3. Can I See Your Work?

Lake Oconee custom homes can be beautiful, so once you know a contractor is licensed and insured, it's time to get to the fun stuff. Ask to see examples of the contractor's previous projects. They should have some photos to show you — perhaps examples of stunning project spotlights on their website — or they may even be able to let you tour a current build or spec home. 

While you look everything over, ask yourself whether their work demonstrates an ability to do the home style you want. You also must be sure to tell the contractor if there's a particular style or feature you want to include in your custom home. That way, they can show you past projects similar to what you want in your new home and save you wasting time if they can't do what you need doing.

4. How Much Will It Cost to Build My Custom Home? 

Once the contractor has a good idea of what you want in a custom home, you should ask how much they think it'll cost to construct it. Before asking this question, identify how much you're willing to spend — that way, you can compare their estimate to your budget. If you're unsure how to set a budget or want to know more about custom home building, download our free guide! 

Once a contractor gives you an estimate, you should ask two follow-up questions. First, ask, "What does your cost estimate include?" Some contractors may only include basic expenses in their estimates but then tag extra fees down the line. 

Next, ask, "What additional costs might I have from the construction, home, or development?" and "What is a realistic expectation related to typical change orders on a project like mine?" This will give you a fuller picture of how much you'll actually spend by the time the project has wrapped.

5. How Much Can I Customize My Home, What's Included, and What Upgrades Can I Choose From? 

What makes a house a home are your personal touches, the little things that you love, which help your life run smoothly and provide everyday luxury. But you'll only be able to customize your home to the extent of the extra features, customizations, and upgrades your contractor offers. 

So, ask your builder what features, finishes, and other elements are included in the base price of their homes. Then, ask them to see what upgrades they offer and what the selection process looks like. Working directly with a selection coordinator with experience in your home will allow you to make choices that meet your stylistic needs while fitting within budget constraints. 

6. How Long Will My Project Take?

Planning your life around constructing a custom home can get complicated, especially if the timeline keeps moving around. While any project may have delays or complications, you should ask your contractor for a detailed timeline. 

Understanding the entire lifecycle of a project, from design through move-in, should be something a builder can walk you through. The timeline will be a crucial resource as you plan your future. Plus, it allows you to assess the contractor's plan and ensure it meets your standards. 

While at it, ask what complications might arise when building a lakefront home. The construction of custom lake homes poses unique challenges, including potential flooding, unstable ground, and other water-related issues. Your contractor should be able to address specific complications and how they would handle them if a problem arises.

7. What is Your Warranty?

Before you sign a contract, you should also ask what kind of warranty your potential contractor offers. Contractor warranties may apply to plumbing, concrete flooring, windows, air conditioning, heating, electrical work, and other permanent home fixtures. 

However, the warranty length depends on each contractor and each feature. You can get a better understanding by asking for an example of builder guidelines that the contractor uses to manage their trade partners. This should give you a clear understanding of what is considered the industry standard and homeowner maintenance for the future.

While it may not be the first question you think to ask a home builder, it's an important one. No one wants a newly constructed custom lake home with a defect that cannot be fixed!

8. Who Will My Point of Contact Be? 

Lake Oconee home construction can be complicated, so you'll want to have a go-to person to whom you can direct questions or voice your concerns. You should also have access to an integrated platform the design-builder uses throughout the design and construction process.

Working with a design-builder helps simplify the communication process, but no matter who your contractor is, they should provide you with a point of contact.

9. What Sets You Apart From Other Builders?

You want your custom home to be perfect — everything you've ever dreamed of — and your builder should want that, too. They should be excited about your project and passionate about building a home that fits your personality and lifestyle. 

Of all the homebuilder questions, this one allows contractors to distinguish themselves from their competition, discuss their passion, and explain why they work in the home building industry. Ask about their core values and how they relate to how they do business daily. We recommend picking a contractor whose personality and story resonate with you—it'll make for a more satisfying home-building experience! 

10. How Do You Manage Permits and Inspections?

It's no secret that navigating the permitting and inspection process can be challenging, especially in Lake Oconee, Georgia. That is why you must ask your contractor how they manage permits and inspections. 

A reputable contractor will have a transparent process for obtaining necessary approvals and managing inspections throughout the construction process. They should also be able to explain this process to you to help you understand it and prepare for any issues that might arise with permitting. 

Plus, working with a custom Lake Oconee builder who knows permitting and inspections will give you peace of mind that your home-building project complies with local building codes and environmental regulations, preventing potential delays or legal issues.

11. Do You Have Experience Building Lakefront Homes?

Not just any contractor is going to have experience building lakefront homes. Building a lakefront home comes with unique challenges and opportunities, so you'll need to specifically ask a contractor if they can accommodate building your dream home in this region. 

Unfortunately, sometimes contractors will lie and say they do when they don't. So, asking for examples of previous lakefront projects they have completed is essential to confirm they know their stuff. 

But why does it matter if they have lakefront home-building experience or not? Simple, experienced contractors will be familiar with the intricacies of site preparation, floodplain considerations, and how to build you a home that gives you the best possible lake views by utilizing the lake Oconee's natural beauty.

Speak With PAXISgroup Today And Ask Us These Questions!

Now you know the questions to ask a home builder to determine if they are the right fit for your home-build project. If you want to try these questions out with a Georgia-based custom home design builder, contact PAXISgroup. 

We're expert lakefront home builders, and we'll take the time to answer any and all questions you throw at us! Keep in mind that PAXISgroup isn't just in the business of building homes; we're in the business of building lifestyles, so we're eager to help you.