Choosing the Right Builder
Sunday, May 4, 2008

When you decide to build a home, there are many decisions to be made; what style of house, what is the size of the home you are looking for, where to build. Very often the most important factor of homebuilding is overlooked - how best to choose the right builder for you. A Builder's reputation and integrity should be at the forefront when determining who will work with you to construct not only a new home, but complete your vision of the final outcome.

There is so much written about home construction projects gone bad, horror stories of poor quality, lack of communication and spiraling costs that equate to no more than bad memories; but what about the good stories?

The Collier Building Industry Association lists over 440 builders in the area, each with their own reputation and history in Collier County for homebuilding and construction. One custom homebuilder, Distinctive Communities, Inc., has quietly and consistently risen to the top, focusing not only on the quality of construction but the quality of the customer service and relationships they form with their clients along the way.

Terrabella, an estate villa neighborhood located in Pelican Marsh has become an enduring favorite to savvy homebuyers because of its, elegant charm, quality construction and premium North Naples locale. As the Developer and Builder of Terrabella, Distinctive Communities allowed homebuyers the opportunity to make custom changes to fit each of their individual styles and tastes, an option that not only lead to beautiful custom homes, but helped to create an environment of uniqueness, with no two homes being alike. Thru every step of the process homebuyers were treated with respect and flexibility, one of the cornerstones of Distinctive's success. Dealing directly with the builder, the mission of customer satisfaction is secondary only to the value and beauty built into each home they construct, and in the end each homebuilder was elated at the final product and the experience they had along the way. "Distinctive was a pleasure to work with, not only willing to make extensive alterations, but offering some great ideas. I had little opportunity for onsite inspection or follow-up (during the building process); therefore it was extremely satisfying to have the home completed on time, on budget and with no surprises." Says Tom, a delighted homeowner who lives in Terrabella.

Quality builders have one major factor in common: Experience. The knowledge and history of the company's principals is at the core of a success story when building a custom home. Project managers, superintendents, subcontractors, they all play a vital role in the production of a new home, so it is important to ask your potential builder about their partners as well. Top builders know that the relationships they have with their employees and vendors are as important as the relationship they build with their clients. Distinctive Communities, Inc. has built a reputation around their quality custom homes in prestigious planned communities throughout Southwest Florida. Known for their spacious open floor plans, homeowners work directly with the builder, the project coordinators and design team to create an environment built around trust and open communication. "It is our goal, if not our passion, to assure our buyers the highest quality of design, materials and dedicated local craftsman", says David Sturdyvin, a builder who prides himself on the trust and respect he has earned from his former clients. Homebuyers can choose one of many standard floor plans, or work directly with the Architect to create a home that reflects their individual lifestyle and tastes. Currently Distinctive offers a variety of single family floor plans ranging from 3200 square feet to over 5000 square feet.

Another factor to explore when choosing a homebuilder is their work philosophy. Do they consider your home a "production house" or a custom home. There is an important difference between the two and the philosophy that surrounds it. Communication is at the center of project excellence when creating a custom home, and a viewpoint of open communication and the implementation of problem solving action plans will go a long way in creating a happy customer and obtaining value in your home.

Based on the number of factors involved in a custom home project, in reality problems do happen, but it is how the situation is handled that makes the difference. "Professional is the perfect term to describe the employees (at Distinctive) that we dealt with during the building process, they were a joy to interact with as we saw our dream home become a reality. Knowing that we were doing this process long distance, the staff went out of their way to assist us during every phase." Says Terry a homeowner in Olde Cypress "No matter was too inconsequential to be dealt with, and each matter was seen in a timely manner" If something should go wrong, you want someone reliable and trustworthy that you can depend on taking care of the problem, especially if you live out of the area in which you are building. You will need someone on your side looking out for your best interest while overseeing the important planning, developmental and construction phases of building your home.

Experience, Open Communication and commitment to excellence are the building blocks of a true custom home, it takes more than concrete and wood to create a sound and valued investment that you will enjoy for many years to come. When choosing a homebuilder to construct your dream, Reliability and Honesty should lay the foundation for your new home, and your time should be spent enjoying the fruits of your labor not worrying about unresolved issues that may have arisen.

Anyone interested in more information on building a custom home, remodeling or touring one of their models built by Distinctive Communities in Marsala at Tiburon, Olde Cypress or Caprini at Miromar Lakes, should contact Distinctive Communities directly at 239-594-9596. Specific information can also be obtained on their website: http://www.DistinctiveCommunities.com.

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