When it comes to building your new Florida home, not all builders are created equal. If you have decided to build a new home in Florida, it is very important that you choose the right home builder for the job. Ideally, you will want to find a home builder with experience, references, a great product, and a great price.

One way to research prospective builders is to drive through the neighborhoods that appeal to you, and write down the contact information of builders who have projects in your desired neighborhood.

Narrowing your search

Once you have assembled a list of potential home builders who either have ongoing projects in your desired neighborhood or have been brought to your attention through a word-of-mouth recommendation, it's time to narrow the list.

First, call each builder and make an appointment to meet with them in their sales office. While you are there, the builder's representative will be able to show you sample floor plans or completed models of their featured homes. You can get a clear picture of the features available on each builder's homes, and the builder's pricing scale.

If you are shopping for a home in the wintertime, be sure to ask about possible discounts for purchasing during the off season, and if the builder offers a discount to buyers who purchase their home directly rather than involving a realtor.

This is also your opportunity to assess the builder's accessibility to buyers and their willingness to answer questions. With the array of quality home construction available in Florida today, there is absolutely no reason for a buyer to deal with a home builder or their representatives if they are rude, abrupt, or unwilling to patiently answer any and all of your questions.

Features of a high-quality home builder

The Florida home builders with the highest quality homes to offer tend to follow a general set of guidelines in their construction procedures. Each builder is different, of course, but high-quality builders have certain things in common.

First, they use the highest quality materials and usually build their homes with solid, poured concrete. It's even better if they use steel-reinforced concrete that is designed to withstand a powerful hurricane. When purchasing a home in Florida, hurricane safety must be a consideration. The highest quality home builders pride themselves on building homes that are above hurricane code. Ask about features such as impact resistant windows and a greater number of roof truss straps.

You can usually spot a low-quality, tract house builder by their inferior building materials, construction that only meets code and does not exceed safety standards in any area, and the cookie-cutter appearance of their homes. Florida home buyers should be wary of these builders. Their homes may be less expensive, but in this case, you definitely get what you pay for.

Choosing a custom home builder for your new Florida home

The majority of custom home builders use the highest quality materials to build their homes. In most cases, these homes are built above hurricane code, exceeding some of the toughest standards in the industry. These homes also have an added bonus for the home buyer who would like to have a say in what their home looks like when it is completed.

Custom homes are usually more luxurious in scale, have a greater selection of comfortable and stylish floor plans, and the home buyers are given a wide array of decorating options, from paint colors to the tile on the floors. The appliances are usually top of the line, as are the fixtures, cabinetry, and counter tops.

Customized luxury is more affordable than you may think

Many buyers who would like to have a high-quality, custom Florida home built do not pursue this desire because they fear that these homes are out of their price range. In many cases, the homes are much more affordable than you may expect. Purchasing a custom home at the right time of year, and directly from a builder can save you thousands of dollars on the purchase price of your new home.

You can often get additional upgrades at no additional cost by shopping around and not being afraid to negotiate terms with a builder. And consider this; if you subtract the cost of remodeling and repairs that may come with an existing home, you may actually be saving money by purchasing a brand new home.