Get matched with top custom home builders in Lanse, MI

Hiring a reliable home builder is an essential task, but there are a few questions you can ask a potential builder to ensure you they are trustworthy and up to the task:

• How long do you expect the process to take?

• Are you fully licensed and insured?

• How much of the work will you subcontract?

• Will you pull all of the necessary permits for the job?

• How long is the builder’s warranty you include with your work?

• How do you handle resolution for issues I might have with the finished product?

• How much experience do you have?

A custom home is one that you design from the ground up, allowing you to customize everything from the square footage to the interior layout to all of the materials used. A spec home is one that a builder has designed and gotten approvals for. Spec homes may give you some limited options for the layout and materials, but most of the build is pre-set. Custom homes cost more and take longer to build.

One of the best ways to negotiate with a homebuilder is to forgo price reductions. Instead, negotiate over upgrades and incentives, as many builders are more willing to go down that road than to decrease their own fee. Even if they were willing to take a cut, a reputable homebuilder often knows their worth, so a willingness to negotiate could be a red flag. Beyond that, builders are typically willing to negotiate closing costs instead of offering a discount on the base price.

Ranch and colonial-style homes are often the most affordable to build. They have a common layout with available designs that are easy to adjust in simple ways without having to spend too much on a structural engineer or architect. Both types of homes' symmetry, simple roofs, and often one or two-story plans mean they often fall in the $150 to $200 square-foot range, putting them right around average.