Regardless of if you are searching for a house in Austin, Dallas, or Houston, odds are that you won’t find one that checks off all the boxes on your wishlist. If this is the case, your next step may be locating a home builder to create your custom home instead. The job of a home builder is complex, and you need to know what they can offer you. Let’s dive into what factors set the standard for home builders in Texas.
They should study the site’s topography.
Before getting started, home builders must determine whether the land is suitable for development. In order to provide sound advice about build and utility placements, it is key to know what lies both on and below the surface. Texas has a diverse geography, spanning from mountains to swamps to deserts. Central Texas, specifically, is made up of prairies and lakes, with the Hill Country consisting of rugged hills and thin soils over limestone bedrock. By understanding what makes up the land you are building on, your Texas home builder will know not only how to handle the build, but also options for landscaping and erosion control. The owner of Bat City Builders, Dawn Price, has a background and degree in hydrogeology, making her quite knowledgeable about the geological aspects of homebuilding.
They should comply with applicable laws.
Home builders should have a full disclosure practice. From start to finish, they need to protect the homeowner by keeping the necessary licenses and insurance policies on hand. It is also critical to your project that zoning regulations, local laws, and environmental regulations are thoroughly considered. An example of this is the Residential Design and Compatibility Standards in Austin, otherwise known as the McMansion Ordinance. This says that you cannot build an extremely large house right next to a tiny one. Defining an acceptable building area for each lot minimizes the impact on surrounding properties in residential neighborhoods, thus protecting Austin’s older neighborhoods.
They should carefully consider your budget and time.
Your home builder needs to involve you in conversations about the construction process and building schedule. They must also plan times for you to tour the site so that you can see the latest updates. One of the many hats that home builders wear is the role of records and schedule keeper. Having a construction timeline that is on track means that everyone on the team is doing their job in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Home builders should have excellent management skills that ensure all workers and materials will show up at exactly the right time, or else they should be able to quickly adjust to changes in plan.
They should have a collaborative relationship with other professionals.
A number of tasks are going to have to be done simultaneously. Once again, your home builder will be the one coordinating with the players and products, so they are going to have to plan for future outcomes for all sectors. They work alongside a wide array of professionals, including architects, engineers, carpenters, electricians, and plumbers. Because home builders are inspecting safe working practices, being able to communicate is so important to the overall process. With networks of materials suppliers and trade contractors, home builders should have an easier time with their supervisor role.
Make sure that you pair with a home builder that is ready to meet your needs. Bat City Builders is a design-build company that prides itself on providing you with honesty and reducing your stress. Contact us if you are looking for a custom home builder in Texas.
Photos, in order of appearance, by:
- paulbr75 on Pixabay
- MJ Tangonan on Unsplash
- Burst on Pexels