Professionalism: The key to home building

We are pleased that Spokane Mayor Jim West has officially proclaimed the month of June as “National Home Ownership Month.” The Spokane Home Builders Association and its 930-plus member companies, together with building industry associations across the nation, are proud to celebrate home ownership and the significant and positive contributions our industry provides.

Anyone interested in buying a new home wants to find a quality house built by a professional. Often, you can easily identify professionalism when you see it, but have trouble defining it. While professionalism may mean different things to different people, generally there are guiding principles by which home building professionals conduct business. Look for these qualities in any home builder you choose to build your dream home.

•Building professionals believe that homes should be well designed, well constructed and well located in attractive communities with accessible educational, recreational, religious and shopping facilities.

•They feel a strong responsibility to their customers and their community.

•Honesty is their guiding business policy, and they believe in dealing fairly with their customers, employees, subcontractors and suppliers.

•They try to build high standards of health, safety and sanitation into every home.

An important indicator of professionalism is whether the builder or contractor belongs to a home builder association or other professional organization. Becoming a dues-paying member of a building industry association typically means that a builder is an established member of the community. Builder associations encourage their members to research and develop new materials, building techniques and equipment, and improve methods of home financing so that home buyers receive the greatest possible value for their money.

Home builder associations and their members care about their industry and building a quality product that will serve the homeowner and community for years to come. The quality of a new home will in large measure be determined by the skill of the building professional who constructs it. You should evaluate your builder as carefully as you would select the options and features of your new home. When you buy a new home, you are purchasing more than just a structure — you are buying a package of services, and the quality of those services will have an important effect on your enjoyment of the house.

You will communicate frequently with your builder during and after the construction process, so choose a builder with whom you will feel comfortable working and you feel best understands your needs.

One of the best ways to find out about the professionalism of a builder is to ask previous customers. Don’t be shy about visiting some of the builder’s previous communities and ask homeowners about their experiences. By doing your homework, you will be able to shop for a home armed with a sense of confidence and the knowledge that will help you to make the correct decision for your family.

For many people, buying a new home will be the single largest purchase they’ll ever make. Make sure that you protect that investment by buying your dream home from a qualified professional builder.