Red Flags to Watch for When Hiring a Custom Home Builder
Hiring the wrong builder can turn your dream home into a costly nightmare. As you research Vancouver builders, watch out for these red flags that could signal poor communication, quality issues, or hidden costs.
1. Vague or Incomplete Contracts
If the contract doesn’t clearly define:
- Scope of work
- Materials
- Payment schedule
🚩 Walk away.
2. No References or Poor Reviews
A trustworthy builder should have:
- Multiple recent references
- Google or Houzz reviews
- Case studies or testimonials
✅ Related Reading:
What to Ask Before Hiring a Custom Home Builder
3. Lowball Quotes
If one quote seems too good to be true, it probably is. Unethical builders may underprice jobs and later demand expensive "change orders."
4. No Insurance or Licensing
Always ask for:
- BC Housing (formerly HPO) registration
- Liability and workers' comp coverage
5. Poor Communication Early On
If they:
- Delay replies
- Don’t listen
- Push back on questions
…expect those issues to worsen during construction.
Avoid the stress. Partner with a licensed, transparent custom home builder trusted throughout Vancouver.