When purchasing a custom home, you want to ensure that everything is built to satisfy not only your needs but you standards of quality as well. Buying a custom home means you’re spending a good amount of money to get exactly what you want. While you may be paying particular attention to the features of the home (like that game room you really wanted), it’s important to also pay attention to the quality of the construction that made that game room possible. Everything may look wonderful to the external eye, but to catch construction issues, one should probably have an idea of what to look out for.
- Windows & Doors – Your windows and doors should be able to be opened and shut without creaking, sticking, or binding.
- Siding & Trim – The siding should be smooth with all holes filled in. Any paint should also appear smooth and seamless.
- Foundation – There should be no significantly large cracks. While hairline cracks pose no large threat, cracks that are easily noticeable can create future problems for your home.
- Floor – Your floor should not creak at all.
- Dry Wall – Your dry wall should also be seamless with no cracks, bumps, or bulges. You should not be able to see where once piece of dry wall ended and the next began.
- Paint – The paint should be smooth and look natural. Search for running of paint, uneven coats of paint, lumpy paint, etc.
- Ceiling – Look for dark spots or stains. These can indicate a potential leak.
- Stairs – If you have stairs built into your home, be sure that the stairs are the same size and spaced apart evenly. Uneven stairs can cause numerous accidents.
If you are just setting out to find a custom homebuilder, it may be a good idea for you to look at a few of their model homes to see the quality of their construction. A good homebuilder should be able to answer any questions regarding construction process, quality standards, and quality inspection processes. If you are in process of building your custom home, be sure to inspect the 8 areas above. This will indicate how the job is coming along and what you can expect the end-product to look like. If you are at all unsatisfied with the quality of your home construction, speak to your custom home builder so you can be on the same page and issues can be corrected. The last thing you want do is have your custom, dream home turn into a repair nightmare.
