Before you begin the lengthy process of visiting model homes or interviewing custom homebuilders, consider what life stage you are in? Is this your first home, a move up or your ultimate dream home? Most first homes and some move up homes are good candidates for production builders.  If you are planning to build a higher end up move up or your ultimate dream home you should interview custom builders. Use these five questions to help you choose the right homebuilder:   Do You Want a Production  Home or a Custom Home? The internet is a good place to begin your search.  You may also check with local trade associations or visit model homes in desired neighborhoods.  If you want a floor plan that is ready to build by a homebuilder that features standard floor plans, a production builder is going to be your best choice. If you want a custom designed and built home you should focus your search on homebuilders that cater to buyers with your needs and your price range. When you have narrowed down your list, you should interview and visit builders and their recently built homes. Can the Homebuilder Offer Most of Your Desired Options? Production builders tend to have a limited selection of interior finishes and building products.  Custom builders typically have access to unlimited products, finishes and showrooms you can select from.   Most production builders will not allow you to make any design changes or make selections outside their standard offering.  Custom homes can be designed to incorporate all of your needs and you can work with the designer to select the products you desire. Does the homebuilder typically build homes in your desired price range? Good homebuilders provide homebuyers with a price after a reasonable period of time. Production homebuilders typically price the base model of the home at a certain amount and add more charges for upgrades such as marble countertops, crown moldings, and hardwood floors. Custom homebuilders will need design and product selections including interior finishes completed before an accurate price can be quoted.  Some custom builders are better suited for higher end luxury homes while other custom builders are geared towards a more modest price range.  Ultimately it is important to select a builder with a good reputation that you can trust and have a developed a rapport with. Does the Homebuilder Offer a Completion Date that meets your needs? Once you have narrowed down your choice of builders, give some consideration to their ability to start and complete your house in your desired time frame.  While the actual construction time may change due to weather delays or product availability a seasoned homebuilder will allow for such delays in their project schedule and deliver your home as promised. Have You Checked Your Homebuilder’s Reputation? Researching a homebuilder’s reputation is easy if you have a computer with Internet access. Try at least one of the following strategies: (1) check with the local building association for complaints, (2) search on the Internet for customer reviews, (3) contact the Better Business Bureau for good and bad reports, and (4) check the license and insurance of your homebuilder with the state licensing agency. Another option is to ask the builder to provide contact information for recent client referrals. These five questions do not form a comprehensive guide for selecting a homebuilder. Along the way, you will make many choices as you talk with potential builders. You should expect to invest many hours in this home-building process. Find a builder capable of constructing your home at a good value within your time frame. While you cannot expect to build a home without experiencing minor problems along the way, asking good questions of your builder and performing outside research will increase your confidence in your decision.