By: Lanny McInnes
Building a new home is likely one of the largest investments a person will make in their lifetime — and it can be an intimidating process if you don’t know where to start.
Many potential new home buyers have imagined building their dream home, but because they don’t know where or how to start the process, they instead decide to simply buy an existing home. But there are simple steps that can help any new home buyer begin the process of building their new home. The first step is, of course, planning.
Understanding what you need and want — in terms of the size and functionality of the home, your lifestyle and life stage, and the location — will help you determine your current and future needs.
Once you know what your new home needs are and which neighbourhoods may suit you best, the next and extremely important step is to find the right builder.
Deciding who you buy your new home from can be just as important a decision as deciding what and where you want to build.
Each home-building company is unique, so finding the right builder is a key decision.
Home-building companies in Manitoba can range from smaller builders who build only a few custom homes per year to large companies that build hundreds of homes.
Each builder caters to a different type of customer. So how do you know which one is right for you?
This is where some online research can help you get to know the builders in the community or new development you are looking at building in. Visit the development’s website to see which builders are building in the community.
Visit the builders’ websites to get a sense of their history and experience, the types of homes they build, and if they specialize in certain aspects of design and construction.
See if they have a Facebook page and read the reviews.
One of your first stops online while researching a builder is to 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 all MHBA members. To find our builders, just click the “Builder” button on our member listing for a full list 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 is in business for the long term.
Visit homebuilders.mb.ca to find out more.
Once you’ve put together a list of builders and homes you want to learn more about, the next step is to visit the builder’s show homes or contact them directly for an initial discussion. This is how you will learn the details of each builder’s approach to construction, and the different services they offer.
Again, the MHBA website is great source for information on show homes, and can put you in direct contact with the show home you’d like to visit.
When visiting the show home, 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 features and finishes selections take 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.
Show homes are open for summer visits, and the latest in new-home construction in Manitoba will be on display during the MHBA’s fall parade of homes starting on Sept. 8.