Presented by John Kraemer & Sons Inc.
In gearing up for the 2015 Midwest Home Luxury Home Tour—starting the first weekend in June—we’ll be talking to some of the builders on this year’s tour. This week, we’re featuring John Kraemer & Sons, home #4 on the tour.
There’s a lot of research and planning that goes into building the home of your dreams. John Kraemer & Sons breaks down five things that will help in the process:
1) Do your research
Choose a builder with a good reputation for quality, customer service, and ethics. Asking friends and colleagues about their personal building experiences will be very telling. A good referral from a friend or colleague says a lot. On the other hand, if they had a poor experience with their contractor, odds are high that you will, too.
2) Look for financial stability
Choose a builder who is financially stable. When interviewing builders, ask for not only a client reference list, but also a financial reference list which includes contacts for banking relationships. A financially stable builder should have no problem furnishing this list for you. You can also check with the State of Minnesota labor department to inquire about a builder’s license status, as well as if they have any judgments against them. Building a home is a large investment, and you’ll want to work with someone who will be in business during and after construction to warranty your home.
3) Take time in design/planning
Take your time in the design/planning stages. When working with a builder and an architect through design, it is important not to rush things. Of course, everybody gets excited when they want to build a new home. However, if you take your time to design your dream home, it will be a better thought-out design, and you will be much happier with the finished product.
4) Have a detailed construction schedule
Have your contractor put together a detailed construction schedule. This schedule should include everything from groundbreaking, all the way to move-in day, and all of the milestone and selection dates in-between. Scheduling is a “team sport,” and having a detailed construction schedule will ensure that everyone is working towards the same goal of completing the home on (or ahead of) schedule.
5) Utilize high-quality building materials
Spending more on high-quality windows, waterproofing methods, and framing materials on the front end will save you from maintenance issues and headaches in the long-term. In other words, do not cut corners that will affect the longevity of your home just to save a buck.
To learn more about this home and the other homes featured on the 2015 Luxury Home Tour, please visit luxuryhometour.net.
Presented by John Kraemer & Sons
Photo by Landmark Photography
Builder: John Kraemer & Sons
Location: Wayzata