Building a home and making sure you’ve covered all the details can seem like a daunting task. Many organizations, including the Alberta New Home Warranty Program (ANHWP) and the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) have simplified the home buying and building process through comprehensive, consumer-friendly guides made available to the public either at their offices or through their websites.

Buyers should make some qualifying decisions on their own even before they choose a home builder. A lot depends on where you choose to live, your lifestyle and the kind of home you envision yourself in. This list can form the basis of questions when you begin to narrow down your search.

Home shoppers should be aware their relationship with a builder can span a length of time, beginning from the planning, through building and beyond the possession date. “For this reason, the choice of who to build with is one of the most critical decisions a homebuyer makes,” says Sky Wensel, president and CEO of the Alberta New Home Warranty Program (ANHWP).

One way to trim down your choice of builder is by checking or calling your local home builder’s association. Member builders of the Calgary Region Home Builder’s Association (CRHBA), for instance, must carry a third-party warranty and must conform to the CRHBA’s of ethics. “Any reputable builder or renovator will supply the information in terms of references and contacts so buyers can do their homework,” says Donna Moore, executive officer of the CRHBA.

Most builders also have their own websites, and you can get a sense of a builder’s priorities in what information they have as well as samples of past projects.

A buyer has the right to ask questions, no matter how small or inconsequential it may seem. Ask about a builder’s history, experience, how many homes they have built, and if they are in the business for the long haul.

Verify if they are also members of reputable organizations such as the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), or if they offer service warranties from warranty providers like ANHWP.  If the builder seems reluctant to supply you with answers, move on to the next.

“Look into a builder’s background such as if they have won service awards. Generally, these are builders with few consumer complaints,” says Wensel.

So now you’ve narrowed your choices as to builder and community. Visit the builder’s show homes. As you go through the model homes, quality check as to soundness of construction, workmanship and attention to detail. Ask about energy efficiency, use of space, extras and upgrades, and even the layout of the home. Most builders these days will provide future buyers a comprehensive brochure as to specifications, materials, and renderings of the community and their show homes.

Time and again it’s been said that no matter how you like the product, part of the selling process is the way a salesperson handles your questions. In general, a good sales person listens to your needs, know their products inside out, and give you a sense of well-being that they’re committed and supportive. “One thing buyers need to ask is what type of service and how it will be provided over the course of the construction and building process,” says Moore. In other words, how will the builder communicate with you throughout the process?

Sometimes, confusion sets in when buyers come away with different expectations. To avoid this and other future conflict, confirm everything in writing. You should be able to discuss openly everything that concerns you, such as future modifications to the floor plans, pre-construction meetings, quality control, after sales service and warranty, etc. The builder should also be able to provide you with a written contract. If the builder refuses or tells you he cannot, it may be time to look elsewhere.

If there is an issue between a consumer and a builder, or any member for that matter, the associations have a process in place where consumers can lodge a complaint against a specific company. “There is an arbitration process where the warranty program would get involved and step in to try to arbitrate the situation. Sometimes it’s just a matter of straightening out their lack of communication,” says Ainsley.

Builders are aware of the strong competition amongst those in their industry. The ANHWP has partnered with J.D. Power and Associates in a province-wide customer service satisfaction survey that will give buyers the edge when it comes to choosing the best among the builders in Alberta. “Once the survey is out, we encourage homebuyers to respond. The results will be tabulated and homebuyers will be creating information about all our builder members,” says Wensel. The survey results will be available in September 2008.

Building a home is an exciting process, one that is “manufactured live,” as the ANHWP puts it, considering all the skills needed to see it to fruition. Remember to review the contract with your lawyer before you sign on the dotted line. After all, a home is a satisfying experience worth waiting for.