How to choose your new home builder With so many neighborhoods popping up throughout the Northwest, finding a new home is not always easy. From picking out location, to the right neighborhood, to the perfect floor plan, the process can seem complicated. Throw in the challenge of selecting which builder to buy from out of the hundreds that are constructing new homes, it can feel downright intimidating. But choosing a reputable home builder at the onset can make the entire buying or building experience something to boast about or complain about. What are some qualities of a home builder one might search for? There are basics, of course. Make sure that they are a legitimate contractor – one that has a Contractor’s Registration, proper bonds and insurance coverage in place. The easiest way to check this is to search on the Department of Labor and Industries website at www.Ini.wa.gov. Contractors can be located under the search features. Another easy reference is to see if they belong to a local Builder’s Association, which in this area is the Skagit/Island Counties Builder’s Association (SICBA). Membership in this trade organization demonstrates commitment to the industry and an understanding of expectations for success in the business. As always, word of mouth can be a great resource to determine the level of quality and integrity in your home builder. When you go to an open house, ask the neighbors how their experience was and if they would buy another home from that particular builder. Another source is the builder’s vendors. Check to see if their team members provide high level products and services and if they warrant their work as well. Although these are excellent ways to begin research on a builder, it doesn’t hurt to probe for additional features that set one builder’s standard of excellence above the next. One added value worth investigation is whether or not they provide a home warranty add if so, what items are covered and for how long. Do they only cover cosmetic fixes like cracks in the walls, ripples in the carpet, warped cabinets or creaks in the flooring form the inevitable settling of the house? Or do they offer more, such as potential issues within the walls like plumbing, or problems with the heating and cooling ducts? Or better yet, do they provide coverage on structural defects that can show up years later? Another aspect to consider is the versatility of the builder. Do they build homes in neighborhoods only? Or are they willing to plan and build a custom home on a piece of land that you own? Quality builders should have teams of professionals that work together from start to finish on building you home. For example, one team will contemplate the best placement of the home on the land, considering views, lighting and privacy. After construction begins, another team will determine the best selection of paint, tile, textures, trim, millwork, flooring and a variety of finishes, including the exact materials and colors to be implemented that will create a unique yet comfortable feel within. Choosing a builder with such seamless systems in place will make the experience smooth and rewarding. Last, is your builder a player in the Built Green arena, constructing environmentally friendly homes that are not only safe on the ecosystem but boast quality and beauty through out? For example, consider Dave and Anna Porter who have decided to take their 100-year-old beachfront home and transform it into an energy-efficient, environmentally considerate residence at Warm Beach for their "Going Green at the Beach" project (www.goinggreenatthebeach.com). Builders who use select products and meet specific criteria can certify their home as being Built Green. For more information visit www.builtgreen.net. Of all the factors involved in home buying, no one is more important than the other, however, choosing who builds your home is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Even through purchasing a house is considered by some an investment or commodity, in essence it is much more; it is about the journey and experience of ownership, which ultimately makes a house into a place to call "home".