How to Choose the Right Builder for Your St. George Custom Home

Building a dream home takes a lot of work. Building one in St. George, Utah, requires the expert hands of a custom home builder. Right now, southern Utah is one of the leading places to build a new home.

The current housing market is expanding at an alarming rate, with buyers coming to St. George from all over the country. If you are looking into what is available, now is a great time to make your dreams come true with a custom home builder.

Custom homes are exactly what the name implies— custom. Custom home builders bring your dream home to life. Unlike tract or spec builders, who only have the capacity to allow a few personalized touches in a home's design, custom builders have the experience and options available to fulfill your every wish.  

Everything from the location of your new home to the type of floor plan you use is up to you. Your southern Utah builder will work closely with you to take the vision you have in your head and translate it into a real-life masterpiece. 

You can partner with a builder at any time during the beginning stages of the process before selecting a lot or after you hired an architect or designer. Then, once you purchase a lot, your builder and designer can work together to design plans that fit the lot and achieve your project goals.

While choosing the right custom home builder is an important step in the home building process, it can also feel like a daunting one. The experienced team at Dennis Miller Homes put together a guide to ensure that whichever decision you make is the right one. 

Follow these steps to choose your St. George custom home builder confidently.

 

How to Choose a Custom Home Builder

Start Researching Home builders in Southern Utah

The first step to finding a home builder is by creating a list of potential builders. You can start your search by...

  • Researching building contractors in St. George, Utah online.
  • Contacting the southern Utah home builders association to obtain an updated list of custom home builders with a license to construct homes in your area.
  • Asking local real estate agents for references they prefer to work within the custom home building industry.
  • Reaching out to friends and family for recommendations. Ask about any home builders they know or who have worked with them directly. 
  • Searching for custom home builders in the St. George newspaper or any other local publication, including ads or articles written to highlight the building contractor. Then, make a list of potential builders based on qualifications and price range. 

Once you have a list of prospective home builders, you can start narrowing down your options by reading client testimonials and reviews posted online. Reviews can give you a clearer understanding of how a home builder operates.

As you read, assess every review, whether it is good or bad. You can also contact any reviewers who left their information. Ask them about their experience and whether they would use the builder again.

Narrow Your Selection to Two or Three Custom Home Builders

Working off of your previous list, begin to reach out to custom home builders. You can start by submitting forms on the builder's website, contact page or placing a phone call directly. 

In your first initial conversation, test the waters. Begin to understand how the builder communicates with their clients. Do they seem friendly? Do they have experience constructing the type of home you envision building? 

It would help if you also asked about their current availability. Do they have a schedule opening that fits your timeline? How long does their typical home-building process take? If your timelines don't align, ask them for outside references that might. Or, if the builder seems to fit your criteria, arrange a time to meet face-to-face. We recommend meeting with two or three builders before settling on your top choice. 

Meet Face-to-Face with your potential custom home builder

The first meeting with your future custom home builder in St. George is crucial. It will set the tone for your entire experience. Since the custom home building is a more intimate process, it will require extensive collaboration between you and your builder. You need to assess your compatibility with each candidate to determine which option is your best choice.  

Remember— you can never ask a home builder too many questions. Communicate what you need and ask them for thorough answers. Get as many specifics as possible. Never hesitate to ask for further clarification. What seems insignificant might end up being an important detail to inform your final decision.

You can also ask prospective builders about their experience, whether by looking at their luxury home project gallery or visiting their recently built homes in person. As you look at previous builds, look at the quality of the work. Inspect the trim, carpeting, architectural features, and more.

Then, ask the builder for additional references and contact information. These references will provide honest insights to help you make your final choice.

In our How to Choose a Custom Home Builder blog post, we highlighted a few other questions you can ask previous clients when you contact them, including:

  1. Are you happy with your new home?
  2. Did you enjoy working with your builder?
  3. What would you say are their strengths?
  4. Was your project finished on time? If not, what were the reasons for delays?
  5. Did the builder communicate the schedule?
  6. Did the builder ask for decisions on time?
  7. Did you feel your original budget estimate was thorough?
  8. Did the project finish within the predetermined budget? What were the reasons for overages?
  9. Were your project's finances clear and transparent?
  10. How did the builder react in stressful situations?
  11. What role did the builder take once the project began?
  12. Who specifically worked on your project? Who would you request if you were building again?
  13. Was the project clean and organized?
  14. Were there certain subcontractors on your project that you would strongly recommend or avoid?
  15. How has the builder responded to warranty issues since you moved in?
  16. If you were building another home, would you choose this builder again?

Choose Your Home Builder with Confidence

The most successful course for a St. George buyer building a custom home is to choose the builder you will be working with and work closely with them to acquire a lot and create a design to build their dream home. Luckily, after following all these steps, your final choice should have the experience, references, and compatibility you need to move forward with confidence.

St. George Custom Homes from Dennis Miller Homes

Dennis Miller Homes is a premier home builder in St. George, Utah, with over 35 years of experience. We offer buyers the red carpet experience, from architectural design to the final walk-through. Our team is committed to quality work and an exceptional home-building process. Together, we can create a southern Utah home that is functional, affordable, and luxurious.

As a family-owned and business, we care about our clients. We are passionate and dedicated to creating amazing experiences. When you move in, you can expect to be excited about your home yet sad that the home-building experience is over.

Choose Dennis Miller Homes to ensure that you and your custom home matter. Trust us to deliver home-building services designed to meet your needs. Contact us to schedule a consultation.  

CONTACT