Whether you are looking to build a retirement or vacation home, the Sarasota area is an amazing choice.
From Longboat Key to Casey Key, our consistent sunshine and vibrant lifestyle are hard to beat. You’ll enjoy world-renowned beaches, over 50 golf courses, 5-star restaurants, year-round festivals, art galleries, botanical gardens – the list goes on and on!
So the choice to move here was an easy one, but finding the right home builder may be more of a challenge.
If you are looking to build a new home in Sarasota, there are many choices for Sarasota contractors to call. How can you begin to decide which contractor represents the best new home builder for you?
- Look for Experience: There are many luxury home builders, but not all of them also offer commercial construction and ongoing general contractor services. Why is this important? These builders are well versed in all types of construction and the zoning laws surrounding them – so if you want to build a large freestanding storage unit, or think you may remodel in the future, you can return to the same builder.
- Peruse Their Projects: Look to see if the contractor is proficient in constructing the type of property you are looking to build. A builder who specializes in ultra-modern contemporaries may not be the best fit if you are looking to build a traditional Key West home. Searching their properties may also give you ideas as to the designs and features you would like to incorporate into your new home.
- Interview Each Candidate: Building a new home is an intensive project. You will want to employ a builder who has not only the experience you desire but a business philosophy which you can get behind. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You may wish to clarify financing options, options, and flexibility in their floor plans, warranty availability, and landscaping packages.
- Determine a Time Frame: If you have a specific time frame to move into your new home, some builders may be automatically disqualified due to their timelines.
- Ask for References: The best people to tell you about the quality of the contractor’s work are those who are living or working in a property they built. Ask for references of those who had a Sarasota-area home built, and ask them about their experiences during the build, and their satisfaction with the property quality since.
- Compare Apples to Apples: When inspecting model homes, look for the quality of finishes, materials and small details. Some contractors may use only the very highest quality tile floors, another may build their own cabinetry onsite. Understand why one builder is more expensive than another, and then you can make a decision based upon whether those details are important to you or not. You can always ask for upgrades or downgrades, and see how that affects the price.
- Look for Community Involvement: Is your home builder a member of local associations, or a member of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce? These organizations point to the commitment of your builder to participate positively in your the community and to being good neighbors.
- Ask for Current License & Insurance Information: While it is rare, there are sometimes cases of home builders operating without a current license or proper insurance coverages. In order to best protect yourself, ask to see these documents. Any reputable Sarasota home builder will have no trouble providing these to you.
Once you’ve done your homework and have a short list of home builders, you can feel comfortable going with your gut. If the company employees seem genuinely interested in you and are friendly and excited about your project, you’ve likely found a great fit.
Welcome to Sarasota! The custom home builders of Lindahl Construction look forward to speaking with you as to your dream home, and how we can help you build it.