Inviting a builder into your home is a major commitment of trust and shared time. Beyond checking licenses and looking at portfolio photos, your primary goal is understanding how they manage the human side of construction.
- “How do you handle communication and updates?” Get a sense of how much you look forward to spending time with a potential builder — do you want to partner with them for the duration of a project that can be exciting but also stressful? Beyond personality, seek out a builder who sets clear expectations for how you’ll communicate: Is it in person, or text? Is it weekly touchpoints, or as needed? How do you know when and how to be available? Lastly, does your potential builder use a client portal so that you have ongoing visibility into your project?
- “What is your process when unforeseen conditions arise?” Every remodel encounters at least one surprise behind the walls. How does your builder support you through these unanticipated bumps in the road? You want a team that brings solutions and budget impacts calmly, rather than stress.
- “Who will be on-site day to day?” Knowing who manages the daily trade work can give you peace of mind and a clearer avenue for accountability. You should try to understand how that person works with your builder so that you know who to talk to and when.
- “How do we track budget and schedule?” Look for an avenue to transparency. You should feel empowered to monitor the health of your project. Furthermore, as the project encounters any needs to change, how will you have regular visibility into the impact of those changes so that no work proceeds without your sign-off.
