The Lawrence Home Builders Association is a great resource for home buyers interested in a custom home.

For many new home buyers, the meaning of “new” means a house never lived in before and built to fit their specifications and lifestyle. If this is your dream, then you will need to hire a builder to make your vision a reality. How do you get started?

The first step is to decide what type of builder fits your needs. Some are spec builders who purchase the land and build a house, speculating they will find a buyer once it is done — or almost done. Others build semi-custom homes, offering a selection of floor plans from which a buyer can choose a favorite and then tweak to fit their styles. Semi-custom homes can be built on the customer’s land or on property owned by the builder. Then there are custom builders who construct a home on the customer’s land according to the customer’s design.

“When I initially make contact with people, I will ask them questions to make sure I’m the right builder,” said Kelly Drake of Mallard Homes. “Do they want the house built in Lawrence? What size and style of house are they looking to build? The first mistake I see is the customer hasn’t been honest with themselves about what they want and how much it will cost.”

One place to start your builder search is with the Lawrence Home Builders Association at www.lhba.net. The members list provides contact information for builders in the area.

Next, once you have a list of builders, schedule interviews with them. Ask how long they have been in business, if they are licensed and insured, and if they offer a warranty on their work. Ask for references. Also, make sure they explain the entire building process and what you should expect.

One handy tip for finding a builder is to drive around an area with newer homes that fit what you want on a warm Saturday morning. Often the homeowner will be outside doing yard work, or there might be a garage sale or two, which will give you the opportunity to introduce yourself to the residents and ask questions about their building experience.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the customer-builder relationship is communication. You should feel comfortable working with someone on such a major project.

“This is a relationship that at a minimum lasts six months to a year,” Drake noted. “Look for somebody that has been around and has experience. Trust your instincts. If someone offers to do the job way cheaper or faster than anyone else, it probably is too good to be true. It is a huge deal for people to build a home, so we owe it to them to do our best.”