Working With Pros
10 Times to Hire a Builder
These pros can help you with a custom home, a major remodel, an in-law unit or a vacation home
Wondering if it’s time to hire a homebuilder? Some builders work on custom homes with individual clients in collaboration with the homeowner’s architect, while others are also developers, purchasing land and creating communities of customizable homes. If you’re thinking of building a home or undertaking a large-scale remodel, a builder could be a key member of your team. Here are 10 times it makes sense to work with a homebuilder to bring your dream project to life.
(If you want to learn about other home pros, go to the bottom of this story for links to other stories in our 10 Times to Hire series.)
(If you want to learn about other home pros, go to the bottom of this story for links to other stories in our 10 Times to Hire series.)
2. You’re Planning a Major Remodel
Homebuilders don’t work just on new constructions — if you’re looking to take on a major remodel, a builder could bring the expertise you need to see your project through. G. Terbrock Luxury Homes completed a full interior and exterior remodel of the Missouri home shown here, including installing all-new floors, walls and ceilings.
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Homebuilders don’t work just on new constructions — if you’re looking to take on a major remodel, a builder could bring the expertise you need to see your project through. G. Terbrock Luxury Homes completed a full interior and exterior remodel of the Missouri home shown here, including installing all-new floors, walls and ceilings.
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3. You Want to Customize a New Build
Have your eye on a pretty new community development in your area? Developers sometimes get a bad rap for designing cookie-cutter homes, but not all developments fall into this trap. In fact, the right community can offer a good opportunity to get a new home customized to your needs without going through a lengthy design-and-build process — which can be just right for some homeowners. In the community of this Illinois home shown here, from Timber Trails Development, the plans include a choice among three series of customizable homes plus a townhouse option, and 20 acres of dedicated open space with trails.
Browse products for your new home
Have your eye on a pretty new community development in your area? Developers sometimes get a bad rap for designing cookie-cutter homes, but not all developments fall into this trap. In fact, the right community can offer a good opportunity to get a new home customized to your needs without going through a lengthy design-and-build process — which can be just right for some homeowners. In the community of this Illinois home shown here, from Timber Trails Development, the plans include a choice among three series of customizable homes plus a townhouse option, and 20 acres of dedicated open space with trails.
Browse products for your new home
Photo by Karl Neumann Photography
4. You Want to Add an Accessory Dwelling
Also known as a guest cottage, granny unit or in-law, an accessory dwelling unit is a bonus building on a property that can be used for guests or, depending on local regulations, even be rented out. An accessory dwelling can include some or all of the usual home amenities, like a kitchen, bath and laundry, and for that reason it’s important to have a builder on board who can navigate permits, building codes and local ordinances.
4. You Want to Add an Accessory Dwelling
Also known as a guest cottage, granny unit or in-law, an accessory dwelling unit is a bonus building on a property that can be used for guests or, depending on local regulations, even be rented out. An accessory dwelling can include some or all of the usual home amenities, like a kitchen, bath and laundry, and for that reason it’s important to have a builder on board who can navigate permits, building codes and local ordinances.
5. You Want to Update an Icon
If you live in a historic or iconic home, it’s vital that any pro you choose to work on your project be well versed in the period or style of your space. The owners of the Eichler home shown here couldn’t say enough about the builders at Paris Construction Service — these pros have renovated more than 50 Eichler homes, and specialize in the details of these icons of modern design.
Houzz Tour: Updating an Eichler While Preserving Its Spirit
If you live in a historic or iconic home, it’s vital that any pro you choose to work on your project be well versed in the period or style of your space. The owners of the Eichler home shown here couldn’t say enough about the builders at Paris Construction Service — these pros have renovated more than 50 Eichler homes, and specialize in the details of these icons of modern design.
Houzz Tour: Updating an Eichler While Preserving Its Spirit
6. You Want an Epic Treehouse
If you have your sights set a bit higher than the typical treehouse, consider hiring a builder to bring your playful vision to life. This treehouse in Vermont doubles as sleeping quarters for overnight guests. Steel Construction oversaw the construction of this truly epic treehouse, which includes a wood-burning stove, a sleeping area and a lounge and is insulated for year-round use.
7 Magical Treehouses and Backyard Forts
If you have your sights set a bit higher than the typical treehouse, consider hiring a builder to bring your playful vision to life. This treehouse in Vermont doubles as sleeping quarters for overnight guests. Steel Construction oversaw the construction of this truly epic treehouse, which includes a wood-burning stove, a sleeping area and a lounge and is insulated for year-round use.
7 Magical Treehouses and Backyard Forts
7. You’re Looking to Add On
Want more space? After you work with a designer or an architect to come up with plans, a good builder can bring your addition to life. Some builders may also offer design services in a design-build model. In the space shown here, from Farinelli Construction, a two room addition opens onto a brick patio, blending beautifully with the rest of the home.
Want more space? After you work with a designer or an architect to come up with plans, a good builder can bring your addition to life. Some builders may also offer design services in a design-build model. In the space shown here, from Farinelli Construction, a two room addition opens onto a brick patio, blending beautifully with the rest of the home.
Architectural design by Markalunas Architecture Group
8. You Need a New Garage
Garage seen better days? Whether you’re tearing down and starting from scratch or remodeling an old garage, a builder can help you create a functional, sturdy and stylish garage that meshes with the architecture of your home and is built to code.
8. You Need a New Garage
Garage seen better days? Whether you’re tearing down and starting from scratch or remodeling an old garage, a builder can help you create a functional, sturdy and stylish garage that meshes with the architecture of your home and is built to code.
General contractor: Earthtone
9. You Want to Build a Straw Bale Home
If you’re interested in building a straw bale home or another home that requires a special building method (like adobe), it’s helpful to seek out a builder with that type of specialty experience. While other builders can certainly take on a new method, if you already have your heart set on a certain way of building, it makes sense to research builders who are known for it.
11 Reasons to Live in a House of Straw
9. You Want to Build a Straw Bale Home
If you’re interested in building a straw bale home or another home that requires a special building method (like adobe), it’s helpful to seek out a builder with that type of specialty experience. While other builders can certainly take on a new method, if you already have your heart set on a certain way of building, it makes sense to research builders who are known for it.
11 Reasons to Live in a House of Straw
10. You’re Dreaming of a Vacation Home
If you’re ready to build your dream vacation home, chances are it’s something you’ve been thinking of for a long time. Choosing the right builder is especially important if you don’t live in the area where your home is being built. Call references, check out past work and make sure insurance is in order before signing a contract.
Your turn: Have you worked with a homebuilder you loved? In the Comments, share what made the experience work well for you.
More 10 Times to Hire
Architect | Builder | Closet Designer | Color Consultant | Contractor | Design-Build Firm | Interior Designer | Kitchen Designer | Landscape Architect| Landscape Contractor | Professional Organizer
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10 Tips for Choosing and Working With a Builder
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If you’re ready to build your dream vacation home, chances are it’s something you’ve been thinking of for a long time. Choosing the right builder is especially important if you don’t live in the area where your home is being built. Call references, check out past work and make sure insurance is in order before signing a contract.
Your turn: Have you worked with a homebuilder you loved? In the Comments, share what made the experience work well for you.
More 10 Times to Hire
Architect | Builder | Closet Designer | Color Consultant | Contractor | Design-Build Firm | Interior Designer | Kitchen Designer | Landscape Architect| Landscape Contractor | Professional Organizer
More on Houzz
10 Tips for Choosing and Working With a Builder
Get design ideas
Find a builder
Browse products
After working with an architect to draw up plans for your custom home, it’s time to get bids from builders to bring those plans to life. The architectural plans for the home shown here were designed by Stocker Hoesterey Montenegro, and the home was then built by Coats Homes.
So You Want to Build: 7 Steps to Creating a New Home