5 Ways To Spot An Untrustworthy Custom Home Contractor
Red Flags Aren’t Always Easy to Spot. Use This Guide to Identify the Right Home Builder for You in Columbia, MO
Are you considering building a custom home in Columbia, MO? There are several builders in the area who can get the job done, but how do you choose the best one? Not all home contractors are reputable, and it can be easy to get sucked into a cheap build that never actually pans out. Make the smart choice when choosing a custom home contractor. Find the best option for your build when you look for these five signs of an untrustworthy home builder.
1: A disreputable custom home contractor in Columbia, MO won’t be able to share their license, insurance, or other credentials because they don’t have them!
The first step to hiring a home contractor in Columbia, MO is to look into their credentials. You should be able to find them online without much digging. In today’s digital age, if a contractor doesn’t have a website or social media presence, they may rely entirely on word-of-mouth references. But… this could also be a sign that they have a bad reputation and were forced to remove their online presence. A lack of a digital footprint could also signal the custom home contractor you’re researching is unlicensed and uninsured. By flying under the radar without an online presence, they could be getting away with performing illegal and unsafe work. With a few simple checks, you can see if a custom home contractor is even worth contacting.
If a contractor passes your initial online check, you can start digging into their formal credentials. Contact the builder and ask to see a copy of their contracting license and insurance. A reputable builder will be happy to provide this information ahead of the initial consultation. If they can’t provide these documents within a reasonable amount of time, or they simply refuse, it’s time to move on. This is not a builder you want to work with.
During your consultation with the builder, ask for a list of previous clients you can contact directly. By reaching out yourself, you are opening up the floor for an unbiased review. This is one of the best ways to get an honest review about the builder. Contractors who refuse to connect you with previous clients either don’t have them, or their clients will have nothing kind to say about them.
Don’t skip any of these steps when you’re vetting a custom home contractor in Columbia, MO. It could put you in serious hot water later, both financially and legally. No one wants to get tied up in a lawsuit because a contractor couldn’t deliver on their promises. Do your research and make the right choice the first time.
What simple checks can you do before you decide to meet with a Columbia, MO custom home builder?
- Look for an up-to-date website
- Check out their Google Maps profile for reviews
- Go through their social media profiles
- Search their name on local message boards
What documents & checks should you review BEFORE you sign a contract with a custom home builder in Columbia, MO?
- A copy of their license
- A copy of their insurance/bonds
- References directly from previous clients
- Verify details with the state licensing board
2: A good custom home construction company won’t bully you into signing a contract
Building a custom home is one of the biggest commitments you’ll ever make, and one of the most expensive, too. You deserve to take all the time you need to decide who you’ll work with when designing and building your dream home. If a contractor is pressuring you to sign a contract or make a handshake agreement, you could end up making the worst decision of your life if they turn out to be untrustworthy.
You should always sit down and read the entire contract before you sign it. If you’re unsure about certain aspects, you can even consult with an attorney to help you understand every angle of the contract. Don’t rely on the builder to walk you through the contract because their only goal is to have you sign on the dotted line. If anything in the contract makes your hackles rise, walk away. You should never be pressured or hoodwinked into committing to a custom home builder. A good custom home builder will let you have all the time in the world before you decide to build your dream home with them.
3: Cheap bids aren’t a good sign of a reputable custom home builder. Steer clear of home contractors who offer unbelievably low bids
Building a custom home can be expensive, especially if you want to use the best materials to ensure your home’s features last and last. While a low bid from a seemingly reputable builder may be exciting at first glance, it could be low because they’re using cheap materials and cutting corners. A shady builder could be hiring unlicensed subcontractors who can create serious safety hazards in your home. While this may save the builder money, the danger of electrical fires, leaking pipes, and improperly installed gas appliances could cost you so much more than money.
When your builder presents a bid, it should outline the estimated costs of your build and list the major details a less reputable builder would skip. While you can save costs elsewhere in the build, like using your old furniture rather than buying new, you shouldn’t let a cheap bid thrill you. Instead, it should send you running for the hills.
4: Custom home builders in Columbia, MO who don’t provide a detailed contract should be avoided at all costs
You’re spending a LOT of money with your custom home contractor. If they don’t provide you with a detailed contract and scope of work, how will you know where your money is going? Without a binding contract that holds your custom home contractor to the scope of work you both agreed on, you could end up with an incomplete home or, worse, one that will never pass inspection without a serious reinvestment with a different contractor. Yikes.
Make your custom home build run smoothly from the start by choosing a home contractor who gives you a detailed contract and scope of work that covers the costs, timeline, and expectations throughout the entire build. When a contractor doesn’t provide a contract or a proper scope of work, it gives them the opportunity to delay your build, avoid communication, and not deliver on your expectations for your dream home. Avoid this nightmare by choosing a contractor who binds their work to a legal contract.
5: Poor communication is a big red flag for custom home construction companies in Columbia, MO
Sometimes the red flags you see in a potential friend or romantic partner are the same red flags you’ll find in a custom home contractor. If someone can’t communicate with you in a timely, effective manner, it’s a relationship you don’t want to start. It’s no different with a contractor. Builders who aren’t willing to meet with you regularly to provide project updates cultivate little trust. They may use their lack of communication to hide problems on the job site, and if you don’t know what’s going on at your custom home build, you could end up paying for it later.
When you talk to previous clients before you ever sign a contract with a custom home builder, ask their references how the contractor communicated during construction. If they struggled to return calls, provide detailed updates, or hid issues from the homeowners, run away, don’t walk, from this builder. If they couldn’t offer good communication with their previous clients, it’s unlikely they have improved their service since then.
When You Want a Reputable Home Builder in Columbia, MO, You Want Rave Homes. We Bring Our Perfect Reputation to Every Custom Home Construction Project We Complete
Reputable. Reliable. Skilled. Rave Homes is Columbia, MO’s trustworthy custom home builder. Our builders can provide everything you need to build trust in our construction company. From licenses and insurance to great reviews and a robust gallery of past work, we have all the green flags homeowners can trust when choosing a custom home builder. Contact us today to schedule your consultation. It’s all green flags with Rave Homes in Columbia, MO.
