Homeowners · Builder selection
13 things you should know about your builder
And no—“What does it cost to build per square foot?” is not one of them.
And what “Good” looks like
To move beyond the trap of the “low bid,” you need to interview your builder like a business partner. You aren’t looking for the person who says “yes” to everything; you’re looking for the person who has the systems to handle the “no.”
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What type of projects do you specialize in?
What you’re looking for: Specificity.
A “Good” Answer: “We specialize in $2M+ historical renovations and modern custom builds.” If they say, “We do everything from decks to high-rises,” they don’t have the specialized tribal knowledge your luxury project needs.
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Who will be my daily point of contact on-site?
What you’re looking for: Accountability.
A “Good” Answer: A dedicated Project Manager or Site Superintendent who is on-site daily. If the owner is the “only” guy, your project stops the moment he gets a flat tire.
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What is your Fee Structure for Profit and Overhead?
What you’re looking for: Transparency and a lack of “hidden” markups.
A “Good” Answer: The Fee Structure is X% for profit and overhead, and Y per week or month for site supervision. Clearly defined, clearly disclosed and acceptable.
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How do you charge for site supervision?
What you’re looking for: Clarity on whether this is a fixed monthly cost or a weekly “burn rate.”
A “Good” Answer: “We charge a flat weekly/monthly rate of $Y for a dedicated on-site superintendent.” Beware of builders who bury this in their “percentage fee”—you want to know exactly how many hours of eyes-on-the-project you are paying for.
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Are there any “ancillary” costs on top of the fee and supervision?
What you’re looking for: Hidden line items like insurance, vehicle fees, or tool rentals.
A “Good” Answer: “Beyond the fee and supervision, we pass through General Liability insurance at X% and a flat monthly fee for job site toilets and debris removal.” You want a builder who lists these out upfront rather than “surprising” you on the first invoice.
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How do you handle project management and communication?
What you’re looking for: Technology and systems.
A “Good” Answer: “We use Buildertrend (or Procore) for daily logs, photos, and schedule updates.” You want a digital trail, not a string of “lost” text messages.
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How do you handle budgets and payment schedules?
What you’re looking for: Financial transparency.
A “Good” Answer: “We provide monthly budget-to-actual reports and use separate project accounts.” A good builder isn’t afraid to show you where the money is going.
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Can I see your current insurance and licensing?
What you’re looking for: Professionalism and protection.
A “Good” Answer: “Here is our General Liability and Workers’ Comp certificate, and we require the same from every sub.”
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How do you vet and manage your subcontractors?
What you’re looking for: Loyalty and tenure.
A “Good” Answer: “My plumber and electrician have been with me for 10 years.” You want the builder who has already vetted their team over decades.
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How do you handle change orders?
What you’re looking for: A formal, written process.
A “Good” Answer: “No work starts on a change until the order is signed and funded.” This protects you from a $50k surprise at the end of the project.
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Can I visit a job site that is currently mid-construction?
What you’re looking for: Tidiness and safety.
A “Good” Answer: “Absolutely.” Look for organized material stacks and a swept floor. A messy job site is a sign of messy execution.
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How do you manage the schedule and delays?
What you’re looking for: Proactive planning.
A “Good” Answer: “We update the master schedule weekly and flag long-lead items six months in advance.”
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What is your warranty and post-build process?
What you’re looking for: Longevity.
A “Good” Answer: “We do a 6-month and 12-month walk-through after you move in.” You want a builder who doesn’t disappear the moment the final check clears.
See your project before you build
CRAYDL helps homeowners and builders align on scope, budget, and a coordinated digital twin—before costly surprises show up in the field.