Beyond the Bid: 5 Hard Questions You Must Ask Your Custom Builder
Building a custom home in East Idaho isn't a transaction; it’s a marriage. You are going to be legally and financially tied to this person for the next 12 to 18 months.
Most homeowners start the interview process by looking at photos of finished homes. They say, "I love that kitchen!" or "Look at that trim work!"
But looking at a portfolio only tells you that they can finish. It doesn't tell you how painful the process was to get there.
As an architect-led team, when we sit down to vet a builder for our clients, we don't just look at the pretty pictures. We look under the hood. Here are 5 "Hard Questions" we ask—and that you should too.
1. "Who will actually be on my job site every day?"
The Trap: You meet the owner of the building company. They are charismatic, organized, and confident. You sign the contract because you trust them.
The Reality: Once the contract is signed, you might never see the owner again. You get handed off to a Project Manager (PM) or a Site Superintendent. If that PM is inexperienced or disorganized, your project will suffer, no matter how great the owner is.
The Fix: We ask to meet the specific Superintendent assigned to your project before you sign. We want to know their workload. Are they managing 10 other homes in Rexburg, or just yours and one other in Jackson?
2. "How do you handle 'The Bad News'?"
Construction is imperfect. Materials get delayed. Subcontractors get sick. Winter hits early.
I always ask builders: "Tell me about the last project that went off the rails. How did you handle it?"
If they say, "Oh, we never have major issues," run. They are lying.
I want to hear: "We had a lumber delay, so I called the client immediately, presented three options, and we adjusted the schedule together." We are looking for transparency, not perfection.
3. "Are you financially solvent enough to handle a draw delay?"
This is an uncomfortable question, but it is vital.
In custom construction, bank draws (payments from your loan) can sometimes take weeks to process. If a builder is living "paycheck to paycheck," a delayed draw might mean they can't pay their plumber. If the plumber doesn't get paid, he walks off the job, and your house sits empty for three weeks.
We vet builders for financial stability. We want to know that they have the cash flow to keep materials moving even if the bank paperwork is slow.
4. "What software do you use to track my money?"
It is 2025. If a builder is tracking your $1.5M budget on the back of a napkin or a messy Excel spreadsheet, that is a red flag.
We prefer builders who use professional management software like Buildertrend or CoConstruct.
These platforms allow you to:
See the schedule in real-time.
Approve Change Orders digitally (no "he said/she said").
See exactly where every dollar is going.
If they aren't using modern tools, they are likely wasting time—and time is money.
5. "Can I speak to your current clients?"
Every builder has a list of "Raving Fans"—past clients from three years ago who love them.
I want to talk to the client whose house is currently being framed.
Are they happy right now?
Is the site clean?
Did the builder show up yesterday?
The current client is in the messy middle of the "marriage." Their feedback is the most honest data point you will get.
The "Expert" Difference
You can ask these questions yourself. But here is the secret: Builders answer differently when an Architect is in the room.
When we ask about "Scope Gaps" or "Financial Solvency," they know they can't bluff. They know we speak their language.
If you want an expert on your side of the table to ask the hard questions, that’s what we do.
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