Choosing a builder for your custom home, major renovation or knockdown rebuild is a big decision.

You might have searched local builders online, looked through project galleries, read reviews and spoken to a few different companies, only to find that everyone seems to offer something slightly different.

And comparing builders isn’t always as simple as comparing the price at the bottom of a quote.

You’re also choosing the people who will be involved in your project for a significant amount of time, so it’s worth understanding how each builder works before deciding who’s right for you.

Look Beyond the Finished Homes

Looking through a builder’s previous projects is a good place to start.

It can give you an idea of the type and scale of work they regularly undertake and whether they have experience with projects similar to yours.

If you’re planning a major renovation, for example, look for evidence that the builder regularly works with existing homes. If you’re considering a knockdown rebuild or custom new home, look at the types of new-build projects they’ve completed.

But don’t stop at the finished photos.

Look at how the builder talks about their process. Who will be your main point of contact? Who manages the project during construction? How are updates provided? What happens before you reach the building contract?

The experience of working with the builder matters too.

Understand What You’re Comparing

If you’ve received pricing from more than one builder, make sure you’re comparing more than the final number.

Look at the scope and inclusions behind each price.

What has actually been included? Are there Prime Cost or Provisional Sum allowances? Have selections been made? What information was available when the price was prepared? Are there items excluded that appear in another builder’s proposal?

Two builders can provide very different prices for what initially appears to be the same project, simply because they’re not actually pricing the same scope.

Ask About the Process Before Construction

Whether you’re building new, renovating or knocking down an existing home to rebuild, a lot needs to happen before construction can begin.

Ask each builder how they approach the early stages of a project.

When do they become involved in the design? How is the budget considered as the plans develop? Who coordinates engineering, approvals and selections? At what point is detailed pricing prepared?

Understanding the process can tell you a lot about what working with that builder will actually look like.

Find Out Who You’ll Be Dealing With

It’s also worth understanding who will actually be involved once you’ve signed the contract.

The person you initially meet may not necessarily be the person managing your project during construction.

Ask who your day-to-day contact will be, who supervises the work on site and how you’ll communicate throughout the build.

At Manning Homes, our clients have direct contact with both Jake and Emily throughout their project, with Jake remaining actively involved on site and our client portal providing access to communication, progress updates, photos and scheduling.

Different builders will have different structures. What’s important is knowing what to expect before you make your decision.

Choose the Builder That Suits Your Project

There’s no single builder who’s going to be the right fit for every client or every project.

One builder may specialise in volume homes, while another focuses on custom projects. Some may primarily build new homes, while others have experience working with the additional considerations that come with major renovations or knockdown rebuilds.

Some businesses are structured around larger teams, while others offer more direct involvement from the builder.

Rather than simply asking “Who should we build with?”, it can help to ask:

Does this builder’s experience, process, communication style and approach suit the kind of project we’re planning?

That gives you something much more useful to compare.

Take the Time to Find the Right Fit

Choosing a builder isn’t something you need to rush.

Take the time to understand how each builder works, what’s included in their pricing, who you’ll be dealing with and whether their experience and process suit the type of project you’re planning.

The more you understand before making a decision, the easier it is to compare builders on more than price alone.

Planning a custom home, major renovation or knockdown rebuild in Forster-Tuncurry or the surrounding area? Get in touch with our team to learn more about Manning Homes, our process and whether we might be the right fit for your project.