Finding and hiring the right builder is absolutely essential to the successful completion of your home.  To find the right builder we have developed the ten most important questions you should ask.  The questions as outlined below will allow you to weed out the bad ones and help make sure you are selecting the best builder for you. 

The right builder should have the proper core values of honesty, integrity and the desire for excellence.  There is no better way to check for those qualities than to visit and talk with past clients of that builder.  And we’re not talking about two or three references.  Most builders can give you a couple of people that are happy with their work.  Ask for no less than 5!!!  Call them and visit their homes and ask the important question, “If you had to do it all over again, would you hire the same builder?”

Making the right choice on a builder might well be the difference between a bad nightmare and a pleasant dream.  Ask the ten questions below and you’ll be on your way to a successful project.

TEN QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PROSPECTIVE BUILDER

1. How long have you been in business?  This is important because you want to make sure they will be in business when you have warranty issues after the home is built.  Steer away from anyone who has not been in business for less than 10 years.  (Empeco Custom Builders was founded in 1982.)
2. May I have the names, addresses and phone numbers for the last five (5) people for whom you have built homes?  Call and, if possible, visit with at least three of these people and be sure to ask the question, “If you had to do it all over again, would you hire the same builder?”  Additionally, it would be nice if the builder has any letters from satisfied past clients.  (Empeco Custom Builders gives out full information on past clients along with a book that contains over sixty (60) letters of recommendation dating back to 1985.)
3. Is the principal of the company a member of any professional organizations like the National Association of Homebuilders? This is important to determine if the builder is keeping up with the latest trends and technology in the industry.  It also is a strong indication of his/her commitment to the homebuilding industry.  (Empeco Custom Builders has been an active participant in the local and national homebuilders associations for over 20 years.)
4. What is your warranty and is it written?  (Empeco Custom Builders has a TWO (2) year limited warranty and we give it out to all prospective customers.)
5. Do you tend to use the same subcontractors over and over again or do you change frequently? We often get the question asked of us, “Why is important that the builder use the same subcontractors over and over again?”  The answer is that the builder is like a music conductor, keeping a close eye on the progress and making sure everyone is on the same page.  When a builder finds a good subcontractor that has the three core values of reasonable prices, service and quality construction then that is a subcontractor worth keeping.  Empeco is proud of the many, many years of working with our core subcontractors.  We would be happy to provide you with a list of all our subcontractors and suppliers along with their length of service with Empeco.
6. Do you make sure ALL your subcontractors are insured?  An uninsured or underinsured contractor could cost you everything if an employee  is injured on your jobsite.   (Empeco has set minimum limits for all our subcontractors and make sure they have filed their “certificate of insurance” with us before any work begins.)
7. Do you have a strong relationship with a bank?  You want to make sure your builder has the financial stability to weather any storm and that he/she will be around through the whole job and after the job is complete to take care of any warranty issues that may pop up.  (Empeco has an outstanding credit history and is proud to have been associated with Harris Bank Glencoe/Northbrook for over 20 years.) 
8. If there is an error made during the course of construction, who pays to fix the mistake?  (Empeco is the expert in construction and as such, is totally responsible for defect-free construction work.)
9. How many homes do you build per year?  This is a very good question to ask because you don’t want your builder to be overloaded.  (Since our inception in 1982, it has been our philosophy to take on only the number of jobs we can handle comfortably in order to make sure each and every job is given its proper supervision and attention.  We have turned down work when we thought we could not give the job its deserved attention.)
10. Do you have design capabilities or must I hire an architect separately? The best way to have a seamless job is to have one entity be responsible for the entire work.  Hiring an architect independently sets up adversarial relationships.  (Empeco incorporates architectural services into all its construction contracts.  We are a design/build custom homebuilding company.  If there are questions or problems, Empeco is the only one you need to talk to.  There is no finger pointing.)