Say yes to your dream home

Making the decision to build a new home can seem like a daunting task.

For many people, it’s the largest investment they will make in their lifetime. It can be an intimidating process with a multitude of choices to make. In fact, many potential new home buyers imagine building their dream home but decide instead to buy an existing home because they simply didn’t know where or how to start the building process.

Buying a resale home is commonly seen by many as an easier option, but that, too, has its own complexities, especially in a tight resale market. As a result, building a new home has increasingly become the best option for many homebuyers. And there are tips that can help anyone begin the process of building their new home.

The first step is, of course, planning. And summer is a great time to do the planning and research needed to determine what you want and need in a new home. Pinning down your preferences — in terms of the size and functionality of the home, your lifestyle, life stage and location — will help you determine which neighbourhoods are best suited to your current and potential needs.

The next step is to find the right builder. Deciding who will build your new home is just as important as deciding what and where you want to build. Each home building company is unique, so finding the right builder for your specific needs is a key decision. Home building companies in Manitoba can range from smaller builders who construct only a few homes per year to large companies that build hundreds of homes. Each builder caters to a different type of customer. How do you know which one is right for you?

This is where online research can help you get to know the builders in the community or new development you are considering. Visit the development’s website to see which builders are working in the community. Visit builders’ websites to get a sense of their history and experience, the types of homes they build, and whether they specialize in certain aspects of design and construction.

Check to see if the builder is a member of the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association. A quick visit to the MHBA website’s “Our Members” section provides a full listing of our builder members. Membership in the MHBA is a strong indication that a new home builder is a professional who is committed to customer satisfaction and safety, and is in business for the long term. Another key resource is the Better Business Bureau. Any complaints listed against a builder will be posted on the BBB’s website. Check social media and ask for customer references directly from the builder to learn more about them.

Once you’ve put together a list of builders and homes you want to research, the next step is to schedule a visit to the builder’s show home or contact them directly for an initial discussion. While they get the most public attention during our Spring and Fall Parade of Homes, builders’ show homes are available to visit year-round. Visiting a show home or talking to the builder is how you will learn the details of each builder’s approach to construction and the different services they offer.

Make sure you ask the builder to explain how their company deals with the buying process, their after-sale service and what is covered under their third-party new home warranty. Have them explain how and when final feature and finish selection takes place, what the payment milestones are, and how those milestones are defined. Find out what their policy is regarding on-site visits and the pre-delivery inspection.

These are all important questions to have answered before making a final decision on which builder is the right fit for you.

Lanny McInnes is president of the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association.

lmcinnes@homebuilders.mb.ca