Begin with a consistent brief
Give each builder a similar description of your intended home, site situation, desired timing, and priorities. If one conversation assumes an owned lot and another includes a land search, the proposals will not be describing the same work. Record the assumptions alongside each answer.
Make the specifications readable
Ask for a clear explanation of included work, options, allowances, and exclusions. If an item is described differently across proposals, ask for clarification instead of assuming it is equivalent. The purpose is to understand scope, not simply find the lowest number on a summary.
Understand how decisions and changes work
Ask when you will need to make selections, who documents them, and how a requested change affects scope, pricing, or schedule. Discuss who your regular point of contact will be and how updates are communicated. A clear process matters when the project gets busy.
Ask about the relevant experience
Discuss comparable projects, the builder’s familiarity with the type of site, and references you may contact with permission. Verify applicable professional licensing through the responsible source. Florida DBPR provides an official license-search portal; a marketing badge is not a substitute for checking the relevant record.
Know which documents need separate review
Ask for the documents that explain the proposed relationship and its responsibilities. Have the appropriate adviser review legal, financing, or technical questions before you rely on an interpretation. This checklist helps structure the conversation; it does not interpret a construction contract.
Your conversation checklist
- Are all builders responding to the same project brief?
- What is included and what is excluded?
- How are allowances and selections explained?
- Who documents changes and keeps me informed?
- Which claims, references, and licenses can I verify?
Use this guide to prepare questions. Confirm project-specific legal, financial, technical, and approval details with the relevant professionals.