Home Buyer Information and Resources
What does it really take to build a house? Today’s new homes reflect changing market preferences and integrate elaborate designs and consumer desires into the floor plans and construction of the homes. A successful builder must understand the home’s complex systems, pay close attention to detail and coordinate a team of various contractors to build and sell a quality product.
One goal drives the professional builder - a satisfied customer. Happy customers will recommend a builder to other prospective home buyers, helping the builder’s business to grow. The task of constructing a home isn’t as simple and straightforward as you might think so be sure and do your homework before choosing a builder for your new home. Following is a sampling of advice on how to choose a builder who is right for you and your family, as well as helping hints, tools and resources to make your home-buying experience a rewarding one.
For more information on any of these topics, visit the Home Buyer/Consumer Information pages of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA) Web site at www.atlantahomebuilders.com, call (678) 775-1471 or e-mail consumer@atlantahomebuilders.com.
Academy for New Home Buyers Class
Building or buying a new home is one of the most important lifestyle and financial decisions a person can make. The more knowledge a buyer has, the more confidence he or she will feel when deciding on a right home. Many first-time new home buyers are in the dark when it comes to critical decisions in the purchasing process.
The HBA offers a free quarterly class to educate and guide first-time home buyers through the process of buying or building a new home. Potential buyers will gain knowledge from industry leaders explaining the builder selection process, contracts and warranties and the importance of shopping the market. The two-hour class will feature professional advice about such topics as:
- leaving your emotions out of the buying process
- working with your real estate professional
- choosing a builder
- communicating with your real estate professional and builder
- what the contract really means
- learning about the construction and inspection process
- things to know before closing
- what to do after taking ownership of your home
The next Academy for New Home Buyers class will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 19, at the HBA Housing Center. Although the class is free, pre-registration is required.
What Do Those Initials Mean?
If you’ve been looking to buy a new home, remodel your current one or just need a contractor to repair your weathered roof, chances are you have met several building industry professionals and have a collection of business cards and price quotes to shuffle through. Some of these individuals have initials such as GMB or CGR after their name, like doctors have M.D. So what do these letters mean?
These initials help consumers identify building professionals who have completed the requirements needed to receive and maintain a national professional designation.
- The Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) and Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designations are earned by members of the industry concentrating on building and remodeling, respectively.
- A Graduate Master Builder (GMB) is an advanced designation attained, for example, after fulfilling the requirements of a CGB or CGR.
- The Certified Graduate Associate (CGA) is earned by individuals who support the construction or remodeling process, such as plumbers and electricians, as well as real estate, financial and accounting service firms.
In addition the above, the HBA offers classes to earn the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS); Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP); Certified Trade Contractor (CTC); Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM); Registered in Apartment Management (RAM); and Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS) designations.
Course requirements vary for each designation, and all certifications require annual continuing education to maintain the designation. Building professionals learn the latest in the industry in courses such as Building Codes and Standards; Construction Contracts and Law; Customer Service; and Quality Construction, and the HBA offers more than 70 classes a month to achieve these designations.
These initials are an indication that the individual has taken time to expand and enhance his/her knowledge and professionalism in the building industry through education. As a consumer trying to decide on which builder, remodeler or contractor to hire, knowing what these initials mean goes a long way in choosing who ultimately gets the job.
Benefits to Choosing an HBA Member
Members of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA) and other local homebuilders associations across the country are recognized as leaders in the homebuilding industry. HBA members believe and affirm that home ownership can and should be within the reach of every family and that homes should be well designed, well constructed and located in attractive communities.
HBA members have dedicated themselves to the research and development of new materials, new building techniques and improved methods of home financing, to the end result that every home buyer may obtain the greatest possible value for every dollar.
As with any professional trade association, membership is voluntary. Honesty is the guiding business policy of HBA members, while high standards of health, safety and sanitation are built into every home. Members also agree to deal fairly with their respective employees, trade partners and suppliers.
Following are some points to consider when choosing a homebuilding professional.
- Does the professional offer a warranty service? HBA members may opt to use the Homeowner Handbook, a one-year limited warranty program that includes a comprehensive guide to maintenance for the life of a home.
- Does the professional offer a list of references? HBA members are required to provide a list of references that are checked by the HBA prior to membership approval.
- How does the professional handle disputes and warranty claims? What types of disputes has the professional dealt with throughout the past three years, and what were the outcomes? HBA members are encouraged to respond to all claims in writing and to handle all disputes through arbitration services.
- Does the professional maintain adequate insurance coverage? Throughout their membership, HBA members are provided competitive rate pricing programs for workers’ compensation, general liability and health insurance, as some are required by law.
- Is the professional timely and ethical with business practices? HBA members are committed to quality customer service and ethical business practices.
- Does the professional take part in continuing education for all employees? The HBA offers an extensive education and credentialing program for all homebuilding professionals.
- Does the professional make safe jobsite practices a priority? HBA members are encouraged to utilize ongoing training and safety practices.
- How many years has the professional been in business? HBA members provide this information upon membership and annually thereafter.
- What is the average scope (number of jobs and volume of each job) of the professional projects each year? HBA members provide this information on an annual basis.
When researching a builder for your new home, remodeling job or even a small maintenance task in your home, verify if the company is an HBA member.
Publications to Guide You Through Building Process
The HBA offers several resources to educate home buyers before and after building a new home. Learn more about the building process, as well as how to maintain your new home after closing using these helpful books.
The Building Process and Choosing a Builder Brochures - These are two excellent brochures if you just need a little information. The Building Process will provide you with basic information on building you new home and what to expect. Choosing a Builder helps you ask for important information that you may not realize you need. It’s very important that you know what to ask your builder for before starting your new home.
Building Your New Home - This 52-page booklet answers your questions, from giving an overview of the construction process to explaining why requesting “slight changes” can affect the schedule and budget. The chapters cover preliminary steps, the construction process, the construction sequence and the new home walk-through.
Homeowner Handbook - The Homeowner Handbook is an easy-to-read guide to home maintenance and care. Published by the HBA, the Handbook details simple steps you can take to preserve and protect your new home. The Handbook clearly states homeowner maintenance items, builder warranty items, safety tips and helpful hints and also establishes building performance standards. Many HBA members use the Handbook as a new home warranty.
Dispute Resolution
The HBA and the Certified Professional Homebuilder (CPHB) program provide more than just information on the homebuilding process and builder credentialing; assistance with the dispute resolution process is provided, as well.
The homebuilding process combines thousands of components, including local, state and national codes and a multitude of building, electric, mechanical and plumbing processes, all of which are usually done by at least a dozen different trades working together to create a finished home for the buyer. Although all builders strive for perfection, it is impossible to guarantee that a home will be built that way.
While HBA members and Certified Professional Home Builders strive for customer satisfaction, disputes can arise from time to time. If you should find a defect in your home, first locate your home warranty and follow the warranty process provided by your builder. If you have followed your builder’s process and still feel your concern has not been addressed, you may contact the HBA’s dispute resolution hotline to register your concern.
All concerns must be made in writing and should be addressed to the HBA Consumer Affairs Manager. The concern should follow the HBA’s dispute resolution guidelines and model letter, which were compiled with assistance from the Better Business Bureau and Clark Howard’s Consumer Action Center.
A copy of the dispute resolution guidelines can be found under the Consumer/Home Buyer Information section of www.atlantahomebuilders.com or by calling (678) 775-1470. Although the HBA and the CPHB program have no legal authority to make demands of performance from either the builder or the home owner in the resolution process, the goal is facilitate communication between the home owner and the builder.