Homebuilder Interview Checklist

Homebuilder Interview Checklist

Checklist of questions to ask when interviewing your builder, other homeowners, builder's subcontractors, suppliers, banker, plus other important items to check.

Please provide us with the following information:

Builder #____:___________________________

1. How long have you been in business?

2. Have you or your partners built houses under any other names?

3. How many homes do you build per year?

4. How many homes do you build concurrently?

5. How much time do you spend supervising the building process?

6. Do you supervise yourself or employ a supervisor?

7. What work will you do with your own crew?

8. What work is subcontracted?

9. Do you have written contracts with your subcontractors?

10. Provide us with a copy of your contracts.

11. Provide a subcontractor list. Include names, addresses & phones.

12. How long has each subcontractor worked for you?

13. Provide us with a bank reference.

14. Provide us with a copy of your insurance certificate.

15. Have you had lawsuits brought against you by homeowners?

16. If yes, why, and what was the outcome of the lawsuit?

17. How many change orders per contract do you consider average?

18. Can the Builder initiate change orders?

19. Are there change order charges beyond the cost of changes?

20. Who pays to fix construction mistakes?

21. What warranties do you provide? (some states mandate warranties)

22. Do you or your subcontractors perform your own warranty work?

23. If not, to whom do you contract your warranty work?

Homeowner #____: ___________________________

1. Rate your experience with this builder: good / bad / neutral

2. Rate this builder's communication with you: good / bad / neutral

3. What were this builder's strong points? _______________________

4. What were this builder's weak points? ________________________

5. Why did you choose this builder? quality / price / reputation / other

6. Was your house finished on time?

7. Would you build with this builder again?

8. Did you come in on budget? Over? Under?

9. Has your builder been called for warranty work?

10. If yes has he responded promptly?

11. Did the builder do a good job of managing his subcontractors?

12. Did the builder keep the construction site neat and clean?

13. Was the builder or his supervisor easily accessible by phone?

14. Did he supervise or did he employ a supervisor?

15. Was there adequate on-site supervision?

Subcontractor #____: __________________________

1. How long have you worked for this builder?

2. On a 1 to 10 scale (10 being best) how would you rate his building skills?

3. Does he have a written agreement/contract with you?

4. Does he pay on time? Late?

5. Has payment gotten noticeable better or worse recently?

6. Does he provide you with a written schedule or verbal?

7. Is he easy to contact if you need directions or instructions?

8. Has he ever asked you to correct or fix a mistake on a project?

9. How much of your total work do you get from him -- annual % = ______

10. What is your relationship with the builder?

strictly business / personal friend / other: ________________________

Supplier #____: _____________________________

1 How long have you known the builder?

2 How would you rate his reputation?

3 Does he have an open account with you?

4 If so, what are the payment terms and does he pay on time?

5 How much business does he do with you per year, 1%, 5% etc.?

6 What is your relationship with the builder?

strictly business / personal friend / other: _________________

Banker #____: _______________________________

1 How long has the builder been a customer of yours?

2 How would you rate his reputation in the building industry?

3 Is he financially stable?

4 Has he ever filed for bankruptcy?

5 Do he provide you with annual financial statements?

6 If so do these indicate a healthy business?

7 Has he ever been late on his payment obligations?

8 If so, is this a rare occurrence or somewhat common?

Other Checks:

1. Local Better Business Bureau: _________________________________

2. Complaints on HADD website: ________________________________

3. Credit report results: _________________________________________

4. BBB Business Profile report: __________________________________

5. Bankruptcies on KnowX: _____________________________________

6. Judgments on KnowX: _______________________________________

7. Lawsuits on: ________________________________________

8. Liens against builder: ________________________________________

9. State Attorney's General office for complaints: ___________________

10. State Licensing Board: ______________________________________

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