Like in any relationship, you need to be in sync with the team building your next home.
Choosing a custom home builder can be an overwhelming process, and there are many companies to choose from in Knoxville and East Tennessee. You don't want to go with just any construction company; instead, you want a team that understands your family’s unique home needs and preferences, one that will build the house of your dreams, on time and on budget.
Whether you're building a primary residence or a secondary lake home, you want a builder who gets it. Helping Knoxville homeowners build their dream homes is our passion, and we take it seriously. That's why we’re sharing our best tips to use when considering your next custom home builder in Knoxville - or anywhere else.
Before you get to the business of looking for a custom home builder, you need to know what you want. That doesn’t mean you need to get a degree in architecture and start swimming in floor plans, but you do need to spend some time thinking about the basics: location, style, and budget.
You probably cringed when you started thinking about the price, but it’s a critical component of this process. We know, somewhere along the way, you or someone you know gave a budget to a slick used car salesman, and, wouldn’t you know it, that was the exact price of the car in question. Rest assured, reputable custom home builders do not do this. Having a budget in mind helps save you time and hassle when meeting with a home builder to talk about your vision.
Location, style, and budget are all significant factors, but they are only pieces of the puzzle. Step one is going to be getting to the heart of what kind of life you are looking for. Take a moment and imagine your family in your next home. What are you doing? How do you feel? What kinds of memories will you be making? What type of community will best make that possible?
For example, would you love to live minutes from Knoxville, on a lake where you’ll have more time to spend fishing and boating with your family on those warm summer days? Are you a nature lover who wants to be close to miles of walking trails to spend mornings discovering? Would you enjoy living in a thriving community that offers a lot of events where you can enjoy time with neighbors and friends?
Once you have those answers, it’s time to find the custom home builder who can help make your dreams a reality. Here’s what to look for.
It should go without saying that you should choose a home builder with experience, but more than that, it makes sense to choose one that is skilled in building the style of home you and your family are looking for. For example, if your dreams include a one-of-a-kind custom lake home with second-floor decks and generous lower-level patios, it will likely save you time and money to choose a home builder who specializes in those types of custom homes. They will know the best ways to approach unique project customizations like that.
When you meet with prospective custom home builders, be sure to ask about their experience and what you can expect during the process. Take a look at their portfolio of homes and projects, plans they’ve built, and recommendations they might have about the home site or lot you plan to build on. A great builder will have a lot of terrific insights to help you maximize space, home placement, and design features.
The best home builders will also have a great team behind them to lend their expertise to every project aspect. More than just managing timelines and construction labor, you need confidence that you’re working with a team of experts during each phase of the building process, from site selection to design, planning to construction, all the way to finishes and landscaping. You need a team who will do their best work on your behalf.
For example, Tennessee National clients work with a dedicated custom homes specialist to select a house plan with their desired floor plan and exterior style. Together, they make any necessary adjustments to turn a house into a dream home.
From there, the building experts carefully bring that dream to life, working with quality partners who specialize in their areas of the building process. Throughout our building projects, clients also meet with our design team to create the perfect look and style for their new homes.
Construction project managers oversee work and schedules, while clients have one point of contact for updates, selections, budgeting, and changes, making the entire process stress-free, a must when building a new home.
When you’re building in an existing community, it makes sense to partner with a company with housing development experience. They can share their vision and future amenity projects planned for the property and are generally more invested in any new resident’s satisfaction.
In short, they’ll bring a unique perspective to help you build the perfect home to fit your family’s style and preferences in a way that maximizes all the benefits of your new community.
Your home will be under construction for several months, and you will want regular updates during each major step of the process. While you’re considering home builders, be sure to ask questions, such as how often you should expect to receive progress updates and how often you’ll meet. Share any type of contact preferences you have. Like with any relationship, you want to be in sync with your builder about needs and expectations.
You’ll also want to make sure that your prospective partner will have a keen eye on your bottom line. Several variables during construction can impact pricing, such as fluctuating costs of lumber and other materials. Be sure that you feel comfortable that your builder will keep on top of those fluctuations, notify you appropriately, and help work with you on any possible adjustments elsewhere if you desire.
Every company says they are committed to quality customer service, but that’s not always true. When you first make contact with any prospective company, start assessing their level of attentiveness. Do they return calls and emails promptly, do they set - and meet - expectations of when they’ll get back to you? Do they treat you like just any customer, or do they really listen to your needs and ideas? You’ll want a building and design team who takes time with you, walks you through the process, and offers the right amount of options to build the home of your dreams.
Client testimonials are a great way to gauge how past customers felt about their experience and whether it’s safe to place your trust in the builder. Ask for their overall impressions, what they liked about working with the builder, and something that would have made their experience better. Take special note of how the company handled any issues that arose during the build.
The bottom line is that the right custom home builder for you and your family should meet your needs and give you confidence in their ability to deliver on their promises. If you’re looking for a lake home community you’ll fall in love with, come see us at Tennessee National, just minutes from Knoxville and Lenoir City, TN.
We will help you find - or build - the perfect home for you and your family.
