For the most part, the quality of your new home will be determined by the abilities of your builder. Your search for the builder who can best satisfy your particular needs is similar to choosing your personal physician: just as you would want a doctor certified in his specialty to treat your allergies or deliver your babies, so you would want a professional builder to build your home. Contact your local housing association of find out more information regarding their Registered Builder program.

Learn about the kinds of warranties builders offer. You do not want to wait until you move into a house before finding out how problems can be corrected. Registered Builders are committed to the Home Builders Association’s Code of Ethics and are required to provide a written warranty for their homes. The Registered Builder Committee functions as a review board for fair conciliation of disputes arising from disagreements between builders and customers over the correction of the occasional defects that occur. Registered Builders are required to let their buyers know who will be responsible for correcting problems with such things as major appliances.

Most Registered Builders back their warranties with insurance that guarantees correction of warranted-for defects even if the builder is unable to.

In the Registered Builder program, disputes arising over warranty coverage are conciliated at no cost to the consumer by an impartial third party, far more efficiently, quickly and less emotionally and financially draining than a lawsuit.

Thus, if you have a problem with your new home you have dependable recourse if it was built by a member of the Home Builders Association. Otherwise, you’re on your own.

Once you select a builder, you will want to work closely with him or her. Close cooperation is essential, especially if you are buying a custom-built home or a home that is still under construction. If the builder asks you for a decision, try to give an answer as quickly as possible after giving the matter thorough consideration. Try to stick with your decision: change orders cost time and money.

You will want to check on the progress of construction every now and then, but when you do, try to stay out of the way of workers, and abide by safety rules. Feel free to ask questions, but if you want to change something, put your instructions in writing and expect to assume the cost of the change.

Stay in close contact with your builder during the final stages of construction, because unexpected delays can push back your move-in date. Supply shortages, bad weather, and other factors beyond the control of your builder could delay the completion of your house.

A good builder, however, will do everything possible to avoid such a delay. Remember, just as in any profession, credentials and experience count toward getting the job done well. There are many Registered Builders from which to choose, all of them accomplished, experienced professionals in their field or they couldn’t have become Registered Builders.

Choosing a builder with whom you can work and communicate is up to you, but by beginning with a Registered Builder, you can have confidence in your builder’s professionalism and abilities.

Housing for the disabled

If you or a member of your household is wheelchair-bound, has a sight or hearing impairment, or any other disability requiring special features in your home, you usually can find a builder to accommodate your needs. If you contact a builder when a home is in the preconstruction or early construction stage, the builder may be able to install the following items:

• Wheelchair ramps
• Custom handrails and grab bars
• Specially designed water closets
• Special shelving and kitchen cabinetry
• Special wiring
• Wider doorways
• First floor set at grade level so ramps aren’t needed
• Visual fire alarms
• Mirrors, lavatories and other items set at special heights.

Depending upon the items and when you make the request, a builder may be able to install some special features either free or at cost. Other customized items may be treated as normal change orders for which you would be charged the normal level of profit.