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Buy a quality home from a professional builder

Everyone interested in buying a new home wants to find a quality house built by a professional. Professionalism is a concept that is difficult to explain, but "you know it when you see it." There is no single definition of professionalism, but there are certain principles that a building professional will practice.

• Building professionals believe homes should be well-designed, well-constructed and well-located in attractive communities with accessible education, recreation and shopping facilities.
• They feel a strong responsibility to their customers and their communities.
• Honesty is their guiding business policy, and they believe in dealing fairly with their customers, employees, subcontractors and suppliers.
• They try to build high standards of health, safety and sanitation into every home.

An important indicator of professionalism is whether the contractor belongs to a home builders association or other professional groups. Becoming a dues-paying member of such groups usually means a builder is an established member of the community. Through our national association, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA) encourages research to develop new materials, building techniques, building equipment and improved methods of home financing so that home buyers receive the greatest possible value for their money.

The quality of a new home will, in large part, be determined by the skill of the building professional who constructs it. You should shop for a builder as carefully as you shop for the features of a home. You are not just buying a structure when you buy a new home, you are buying a package of services; the quality of those services will have an important affect on your enjoyment of the home.

Do not rush through the process of choosing a building professional. Set a reasonable timetable for your search, and do not make your decision until you feel comfortable about what you are doing. You will be in frequent communication with your builder during the construction process and after you move into the house, so try to choose a builder with whom you will feel comfortable working.

For most people, buying a new home will be the largest single purchase they will ever make. So, make sure you buy it from a qualified professional builder.

Advantages of owning a new home

For quality, value, safety and convenience, a new home will be one of the smartest purchases you will ever make. There are many advantages to purchasing a newly constructed home.

1. New home warranties Options available for new home buyers range from specific warranties by individual builders to third-party limited insured warranties against major structural defects. Manufacturers of new products and appliances in a home offer warranties as well.
2. Lower maintenance costs Buying a new home eases the nagging questions of, "How long before it breaks down?" With a new home, the answer is simple - a substantially longer period when you are the first to use it and are establishing its history of use.
3. Floor plan options Builders of new homes often have a range of floor plans from which to choose. Builders also offer the ability to upgrade materials, or eliminate or add rooms or walls as may be requested by the buyer.
4. Low financing opportunities Securing financing is the biggest headache for most home buyers. Typical questions buyers have include: "Am I getting the best rate?" "How much are my closing costs?" "Will I need an inspection before I can get a loan?" "Where do I go?" Most homebuilders have done the legwork for buyers. They've worked with a variety of lenders, negotiated the best rates for their types of housing and have convenient service policies.
5. Choice of interior and exterior finishing A new home makes it possible for buyers to be the decorators before moving in without the cost of searching for and replacing the finishes as they would in a resale home. With a new home, it may be possible to make selections for things such as carpet style and color, wall coverings, appliance colors, lighting fixtures and exterior paint colors.
6. Favorable pricing Competition among home builders to provide the very best value makes new homes less likely to be overpriced. Buyers can compare features, benefits and options with other new homes on the market to determine the ultimate value of a new home.
7. Value appreciation Homes, like any purchased product, have a life expectancy. Statistics say the typical home will need remodeling after 25 to 30 years. Since new homes have a longer life, appraisals are generally higher than on a comparable existing homes, making conditions favorable at the time of resale.
8. Modern appliances Appliance manufacturers introduce new models every year, and home builders are able to offer the latest, state-of-the-art equipment at the time of completing a new home. Because home builders pay for entire inventories of homes, they can purchase appliances at a lower cost and then pass those savings on to home buyers. An added benefit is that new appliances come with full-term warranties.
9. Home site selection Being able to select a home site is an important as selecting the type of home that suites a buyer's needs. Homebuilders often have a selection of home sites that may be on a corner, near a lake, cul-de-sac, green belt and many other locations.
10. Energy efficiency A home built today must, by law, adhere to stricter energy codes than homes built in years past, when such codes either did not exist or were more lenient. This translates into a direct savings to home buyers.
11. Latest in building materials Low maintenance is one of the most important features to today's home buyer. Buyers don't want to worry about painting every three to five years. New technology in building materials has made it possible for homes in the 1990s and beyond to require less maintenance, especially on the exterior of the home.

Cost of a new home

How is the purchase price of your home determined? The lot, materials and labor account for the biggest portion of the price. The lot is approximately 25 percent of the purchase price; materials are 25 percent and labor is 16 percent.

The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties believes:

• Homeownership should be in reach of every American
• Each house should be well designed, constructed and located in attractive communities
• Each home should be built under the free enterprise system