21 PROFESSIONAL TRAITS CLIENTS ARE LOOKING FOR IN A BUILDER

Whether you are doing a commercial or residential building project, building is generally a complex and costly undertaking. There are a lot of blocks that have to fit in the right place in order to complete a building project successfully. You have to work on the legal aspects, cost aspects, design, codes and approvals and numerous other considerations.

In this kind of environment and given the amounts involved, mistakes can be very costly. If you are planning to build, you must therefore work with a professional builder that has the right mix of expertise, niche-focus, experience and who offers you competitive rates for your project.

The first step, however, is in finding the right custom builder. What are some of the traits that would be an instant giveaway that you are working with a real professional? Here some 21 qualities that clients look for in a professional builder:-

#1. They are Qualified

Perhaps one of the most important factors is to establish that the builder is qualified for the job. Do they have the right training and qualification as builders? If they do, they will proudly display it on their website or brochures. Qualifications are not always a guarantee of success but it is a good pointer that the person at least knows what they are doing.

#2. They are Licensed

Licensing is more than just a piece of paper. It shows the builder has met certain professional thresholds and can be trusted with a building project. Licensing is also of critical importance for insurance purposes. In tandem with the licensing should also be the certifications from relevant industry bodies.

#3. They are Experienced

They say nothing beats experience. If a company has been building homes for decades, then there is at least a track record of performance that you can rely on to gage their quality, professionalism and workmanship. Builders who have had an extensive building experience will also have developed creative problem-solving skills and built the necessary industry networks and knowledge needed to pull off serious building projects.

#4. They are members of a trade body

Membership in trade body shows accountability. These bodies have their rules, regulations and best practices and if a builder has membership in these, they must have met certain professional and ethical thresholds. Besides, you can resort to these bodies for redress if you feel a contractor has not lived up to your expectations.

Housing Industry Association

In Australia, a professional builder should be a member of trade associations such as the local Master Builder Association (MBA), the Australian Housing Industry Association (HIA), Building Services Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA) and Association of Professional Builders among others.

#5. They are Insured

Does the builder have a liability and a workers’ compensation insurance coverage? The last thing you want is to work with cowboy contractors who will take off once things go awry. Make sure they have home owners warranty insurance, if you are building a home you need to be using a residential builder or new home builder with this insurance.

#6. They have references

A professional and honest builder must have a list of up to date references that you can contact to ascertain the quality and professionalism of their work. To go a step further professional builders today even have up to date video references of their latest projects discussing the build experience with the clients they have worked with. Nothing builds trust more than this.

#7. They have a portfolio of completed projects

A reliable professional builder will have a nice portfolio of the building projects that they completed in the recent years. These portfolios are in quality display books and on their websites and Houzz accounts.

#8. They can give you reasonable building estimates

They should give you up front and accurate cost estimates for the project as well as competent builder advice. There shouldn’t be room for hidden costs. Professional builders know how to do cost estimates and deliver a realistic itemized budget for the project. Check if there are price guarantees and how long the prices are guaranteed for. If they give you a one page quote run away FAST!

#9. Transparency

If they are hiding something, then they have skeletons in their closets. Either they are incompetent or unethical. A professional builder should readily proffer all the crucial information that you request.

#10. They offer a warranty and guarantees

A professional builder who knows they deliver excellent quality work with great workmanship will readily offer you generous warranty and guarantees for the project.

#11. They offer great customer service

First impressions can give you a clue about the company’s corporate culture. How is your experience with the builder the first time you make contact? Are they knowledgeable, attentive and professional? How promptly do they reply to your inquiries? If their customer service is lousy, don’t expect miracles in their building services.

#12. The professional builder has a process

The most reliable builders have a process for handling new building requests that is proven and cost-effective. When looking for a new builder, ask them about their process. It should be detailed and tailored to meet every custom building need.

#13. Capacity to complete projects

What is the builder’s capacity to take up diverse kinds of projects and deliver? How big or how small are they? How many staff do they have? Do they use sub-contractors? Do they have the right equipment? Do they have reliable tradies that will ensure the quality of workmanship is up to standard?

#14. Has an excellent reputation

Look at the reputation of the builder. Do they have lots of independent and verifiable customer testimonials? If the contractor is good, their reputation will generally precede them.

#15. Good communication

Good communication is key to the seamless realization of projects. A professional builder must also be a great communicator. Both of you will need to brainstorm and develop building ideas or iron out various complexities and good communication will create a perfect environment that will aid in work efficiency. Poor communication affects productivity and the work ethic and will, ultimately, negatively impact your project.

#16. Commitment to the Project

The right builder has a deep sense of commitment towards the realization of the project right from the first sketch to the application of the final touches on the building. They will work with you round the clock in helping you realize your building needs and addressing any issues that may arise. They will offer builder tips and do follow-ups on every need and ensure you derive maximum value from their industry knowledge. They ensure the building work is done as efficiently as possible without compromising on the quality, value and workmanship.

#17. Quality Standards

Clients must put a premium on the quality of outcomes of the builder. Do they use the tried and tested building methods? What quality control methods do they deploy to maintain high standards? Do they aspire for the highest quality standards and in ensuring customer satisfaction?

#18. Attention to Detail

The right builders are often meticulous and pay the closest attention to detail to every aspect of the building work right from start to finish. They are meticulous about everything right from the design to budget, materials, legal issues and timeframes.

#19. Budget

What is their price range for building projects? Does that range lie within your allotted budget for the building project? What items will the professional builder incorporate in their cost estimates? You must hire a builder that you can afford.

#20. Payment schedule

How will the builder be paid? Determine how you will stagger the payment for the various phases of the project. Ask what percentages of the payments will be due and the stages at which these payments are to be delivered. The payment schedule must also be in sync with your bank’s schedule.

#21. Organisation

The right professional builder must have a high level of organisation. Their time management, work-flow as well as their organisational skills must be up to par with your expectations. They must have a system in place in the building company through which they handle service requests for the duration of the construction so to avoid confusion and chaos. They must also have a system in place for addressing arising disputes and issues promptly and professionally.