Boston is a city filled with historic charm, luxury amenities, and many cultural offerings. Over the years, the city has become one of the most highly sought-after places to live in Massachusetts, drawing many to the area for its unique blend of historic buildings and contemporary venues. With high competition surrounding the city’s best homes for sale, many looking to live in luxury are choosing to build their own piece of Boston real estate and create their dream home themselves. However, a new home will only be as good as the builder behind it. Follow our tips to be sure you have the best Boston home builders behind your new Boston home. 

Before you begin researching area home builders, be sure to have a clear plan for what you want. Think about how big you want the home to be, what features you want, and if there are any architectural elements you want to include. Many builders have a specific area of expertise that may make one expert builder more suited for your project than another. Some contractors may have an extensive portfolio of huge multi-million dollar mansions, while others might be more experienced with small, artfully crafted bungalows. 

Having a plan in place before you start looking will give you something to show potential home builders before they commit to the project. Some may be excited to create the property to your exact specifications, while others might need to make some changes before they feel comfortable with the project. Having an experienced builder is essential, but having one who can share your vision for the home is important too. 

There are currently over 2,000 homebuilders in Massachusetts. If you’re looking to build a new home in the Boston area, you must pick out the best one for your location and project from a list of thousands. Before settling on the right contractor for your property, your options must be thoroughly researched. Checking out their website, looking through testimonials, and doing a Google search can help you learn a lot about them before reaching out. If you want to partner with a qualified Real Estate Agent team, we at Ricardo Rodriguez & Associates have the expertise and connections to help you find the right builder for your project. Below are some qualifications to keep an eye out for in your builder.

Having an experienced builder can make or break your project. Especially when designing a high-end or luxury home, you want to ensure your home builder has experience with homes similar to the one you want. A lot goes into the construction of a home. Your builder will have to display expert craftsmanship and manage a knowledgeable team to be able to bring your home to life. Research how many years each builder has been in business. Look into any local projects they have been a part of. The more years of experience they have and the more homes built in your area, the more likely they will be to deliver quality craftsmanship for you. 

Try to get in touch with people who have worked with the builder in the past, and if you cannot, look for reviews online. References from a home builder's past customers can be very telling about how they handle customers and how their work turns out. If most customers are happy with their work and feel heard throughout the building process, that’s a good sign, but be on the lookout for red flags, as some builders can leave much to be desired in a finished project. 

In Massachusetts, general contractors are not required to hold any certifications to work in the state. However, if you are looking for someone to build your dream home, they will need to be licensed. In Massachusetts, unlicensed contractors cannot get building permits. Therefore, it is essential to find a builder with a general contractor license to ensure your project can move forward smoothly. 

Once you have a narrowed-down list of home builders in the Boston area, it is time to start learning more about what might make one more suitable for your project than another. Every builder will have their own process for getting the job done. Contractors working in the same area may source their materials from different locations, hire tradespeople differently, and have different procedures in place to make sure the job gets done right. 

Your dream home should be built with durable, high-quality materials that will last for decades and increase the value of your home. Ensure your home builder commits to using high-quality materials in their projects. Some builders cut corners when purchasing materials so they can save you money and make a bigger profit. However, in the long run, having a builder who understands the importance of using the best construction materials will give you a more beautiful, longer-lasting home. 

No home builder can complete your home from start to finish with a few specialists. On average, it takes 22 subcontractors to build a house. During the construction of your home, you are likely to see tradespeople working on the HVAC system, masonry, concrete, plumbing, electric, and much more to complete your property. In most cases, your home builder will be responsible for hiring these people and making sure their job gets done right. Because these workers will be completing some very important areas of your home, you will want to ensure your builder has a system to hire the best in the area and ensure the work gets done on time.  

A lot goes into building a home and ensuring it is safe for decades. You will want to ensure the builder you hire has a process for ensuring all of the work on the house is finished to the highest standard. Many contractors use third-party inspections throughout the construction process, so you can rest assured that everything from the foundation to the electrical system was done right. 

From your very first contact to the last day on the job, you will want to have an open line of communication with your home builder. There are a lot of moving parts that go into creating a luxury dream home. You want to ensure your vision comes to life and that your contractor will listen to your dreams for the home. Ask them how they will fix a problem if you do not like how something turns out. Before settling on a builder, be sure they are open and willing to listen to what you want.

If you want to move to the Boston area or need advice for finding a great local home builder, contact an experienced real estate agent. Give us a call at Ricardo Rodriguez & Associates to learn more about the home-building process and how we can help you through every step of the process.