Building a custom home in the Poconos can be a rewarding adventure. It can also be nerve-wracking for those who are new to the process. Plenty of homeowners who’ve traveled that road before will tell you that one of the key factors determining which outcome you experience is the builder you choose. 

If you’re considering building a custom home in the Poconos, what should you look for in a custom homebuilder to ensure your experience is rewarding instead of nerve-wracking?  Here are a few ideas. 

• Capability: Obviously you want to work with a builder who knows how to build well. But not all homes are created equal; there’s a big difference between building a standard tract home and building a custom home. You’ll want to find a builder who has the expertise needed to build the specific kind of home you want. That means being able to adjust plans and come up with creative ideas that will really work. 

• Flexibility: What does a “flexible” builder look like? We’re not talking about yoga positions. What we mean is that your builder isn’t so locked into an existing plan that he or she can’t make adjustments. You want to find a builder who will listen to what you want and then make changes to the plan in order to deliver what you asked for. Here’s a post that discusses in greater detail the importance of having a flexible builder.  

• Locations: You’ll often hear real estate agents talk about the importance of a home’s location, but it’s also important to take a look at where your prospective builder works. Some builders will only work in their own developments. That may be OK if it’s really where you want to live. We have a number of great developments where we’re actively building. But we also work with clients who have their own property and want to build there. Or if you’re looking for a space in the Poconos that’s not in one of our developments, we can help you find the right property for you somewhere else. 

• Experience: Working with a builder who has been around the block a time or two can give you a whole lot of confidence. It’s awfully comforting to know that even if you run into a snag, you’re dealing with a seasoned builder – one who can draw from years of experience to resolve problems as they arise. We’ve been building custom homes in the area for more than 36 years, so there aren’t many issues that can take us by surprise. We may not have “seen it all,” but there aren’t a lot of building-related situations we haven’t encountered. 

Building your custom Poconos home should be an adventure, but it shouldn’t be a white-knuckle ride. Choosing a capable, flexible, experienced builder who builds where you want to live can ensure that your building adventure has a happy ending.