You’ve made the decision to buy a new home. The next and most important step in the process is choosing the right home builder for your project. Whether you’re choosing a newly constructed home, building on your own lot, or having your home custom-built, the builder is a partner who should be easy to work with and share your goals.

The best way to start is by perusing the new home listings in the area where you wish to build or buy your new home. When you find homes for sale that appeal to you, get in touch with the builder of those properties to begin your interview process.

In order to determine if your potential builder will be a good match for you, request that the builder provide addresses for current projects, as well as those for homes completed several years ago. You’ll want to visit these addresses to see how the job sites and completed projects look. If possible, try to speak with the owners of finished homes to find out how pleased they were with the builder’s work, how well the work has held up over time, and how the builder dealt with any home-warranty issues.

As you’ll be dealing with your builder for a considerable length of time, it’s critical that you find someone you can get along with. When the inevitable issues arise, you will want someone who will work with you to find the proper resolution and make the process of building a new home as enjoyable and rewarding as possible.