6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Custom Home Builder in Memphis

Building a custom home can be a significant investment. Before you choose a builder, you want more than beautiful photos and an impressive portfolio! You need to know how the builder handles budgets, communication, construction, contracts, site conditions, and the inevitable decisions that come with building a home from the ground up.

That is especially important in the Memphis area, where a custom home project may involve different municipalities, permitting requirements, lots, utilities, site conditions, and neighborhood requirements depending on where you plan to build.

If you’re interviewing custom home builders in Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Arlington, or the surrounding communities, start by asking these six questions.

Questions to Ask Your Local Home Builders

Are You Properly Licensed and Insured for My Project?

This should be one of the first questions you ask any custom home builder. Don’t be afraid to ask a builder for their license information and proof of appropriate insurance too. You should also ask:

• What type of contractor license do you hold?
• Does your license cover the type and size of my project?
• Do you carry general liability insurance?
• Do you maintain workers’ compensation coverage when required?
• Are the subcontractors you use properly licensed when licensing requirements apply?

A reputable builder should be comfortable answering these questions. Licensing and insurance don’t guarantee that a builder is the right fit, but they are important pieces of your due diligence.

Can I See Examples of Homes Similar to the One I Want to Build?

A builder’s portfolio can tell you a lot, but don’t just look for the most impressive house in the gallery, look for projects that are comparable to your own plans. You can also ask:

• How many custom homes have you built?
• How recently did you complete similar projects?
• Can you show me examples of different architectural styles?
• Have you built homes on lots similar to mine?

A good portfolio demonstrates more than design ability. It can also demonstrate experience coordinating the many moving parts involved in custom home construction.

How Will You Develop and Manage My Budget?

A custom home budget isn’t simply a number attached to a floor plan. Your total project cost can be affected by the homesite, site preparation, utilities, foundation requirements, materials, finishes, labor, allowances, selections, and changes made during construction. Ask the builder to explain exactly how the budget is developed and how costs will be tracked once construction begins.

Transparency matters because surprises are much easier to prevent than to resolve after construction is underway.

Who Will Actually Manage My Home During Construction?

The person you meet during the sales process isn’t necessarily the person who will be managing your project every day. Before signing a contract, find out who your primary point of contact will be and how involved the builder will be throughout construction.

You should understand who will supervise the job site, coordinate subcontractors, handle questions or problems, and provide construction updates. It’s also worth asking how frequently you’ll communicate and how decisions or changes are documented. A builder should be able to explain the communication process clearly rather than simply promising that they’ll “keep you updated.”

Will You Help Evaluate My Lot and Meet the Local Requirements?

Before finalizing your plans, the builder should help identify potential issues with the property. Depending on the location, these could include terrain, access, utilities, drainage, soil conditions, setbacks, easements, neighborhood restrictions, and other site-specific considerations. 

Local permitting is also important. The Memphis area includes multiple municipalities and jurisdictions, so requirements can differ depending on where your property is located. For example, Collierville has its own residential permitting process, while Memphis and Shelby County maintain their own residential building-permit procedures. Some communities may also have additional requirements for foundations, site plans, or other stages of construction.

How Are Changes Handled?

Before you sign anything, make sure you understand what you’re actually buying. Custom homes involve a large number of selections and decisions. Flooring, cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, lighting, appliances, doors, trim, exterior materials, landscaping, and other choices can affect the final cost.

Ask the builder to walk through the contract with you and explain what is included, what is excluded, which selections are covered by allowances, and what happens when you choose something above the allowance.You should also understand how change orders work. If you decide to make a change after construction has begun, how is the additional cost calculated? How is the change documented? When does it become part of the official project cost? And when is your approval required?

Building a Custom Home? Start With the Right Questions

Choosing a custom home builder is about more than finding someone who can construct a beautiful house. It’s about finding a team whose process, communication style, craftsmanship, and approach to budgeting fit the way you want to build.

Upchurch Builders works with homeowners throughout the greater Memphis area, including Arlington, Atoka, Bartlett, Brighton, Burlison, Covington, Mason, Moscow, Rossville, Munford, Millington, Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, and Piperton.

Ready to start planning your custom home? Contact Upchurch Builders to discuss your project and learn more about our custom home building process.