Choosing a builder is one of the most important decisions, if not the most important, you’ll make in the custom home building process. You’ll be working side by side with your builder for one to two years on one of the largest, most meaningful investments of your life.

Coming prepared with the right questions helps you understand a builder’s process, expectations, and approach before signing on. Whether you found them through your architect, your lender, or even a quick Google search, asking thoughtful questions helps make sure you end up with a custom home builder in Wimberley TX you can trust.

1. What Is Your Fee Structure?

Not all builders handle fees the same way. Some use a flat-cost model, which gives you a lump sum but little to no transparency about how that number is calculated. Others, like Black Castle Homes, work on a cost-plus model, where you see the actual budget, bills, and fees.

This transparency means you’ll always know where your money is going. When asking about fees, dig deeper:

• What’s your builder’s fee percentage?
  
• What does project management cost?
  
• Are there change order fees?
  
• Do you stack fees?

These answers will tell you whether or not your builder is committed to honesty and if there may be surprises later.

2. What Are Your Communication Processes?

Vague answers like “we’ll touch base as needed” should raise red flags. You want specifics.

At Black Castle Homes, communication is one of our biggest strengths. We use a client portal where you can access your budget, schedule, invoices, and photos in real time. You can message us daily, and we guarantee a response within 24 hours (or the next business day). We also hold biweekly calls at the same time every two weeks so you never have to wonder when you’ll get an update.

3. Who Attends Client Meetings?

It’s important to know who will actually be in the room with you. Is it the builder? The project manager? Both? There’s no one right answer. It depends on your preferences. But clarity is key so you’re not caught off guard when the process begins.

4. Who Is On Site Day-to-Day?

Builders vary widely in how they handle site supervision. Some provide a full-time superintendent to oversee your home construction. Others rely on project managers who divide their time between multiple jobs.

At Black Castle Homes, our project managers dedicate about 20 hours a week to each project, on site and off. They’re present most days, ensuring your build is progressing smoothly without inflating costs for unnecessary oversight.

5. Can You Provide Referrals?

Referrals are one of the best ways to gauge a builder’s credibility. Ask for past clients, but also ask if their subcontractors or trades are willing to vouch for them too. Subcontractors see how builders operate daily and will give you the most honest insights about payment reliability and jobsite culture.

Whenever possible, request a site visit. Pay attention to whether the site is clean, organized, and respectful. Those details speak volumes about the builder’s standards.

Custom Home Builder in Wimberley TX Red Flags

During your first conversations with a builder, keep an eye out for:

• Vague answers about fees or communication.
  
• Unreliable behavior: being late to meetings, slow responses, or poor follow-through.
  
• Unusually low bids that may look appealing up front but often lead to costly change orders later.

If something feels off in these early stages, trust your gut. Those habits are unlikely to improve later.

The Black Castle Homes Difference

One of our recent clients shared that transparency was the deciding factor in choosing us. With full access to their budget, invoices, and project updates through our portal, they felt informed, in control, and confident throughout the construction process. Instead of second-guessing, they could focus on the exciting parts of building their home.

That’s the difference the right builder makes: not just a beautiful house at the end, but a process you enjoy along the way.

At the end of the day, interviewing a custom home builder isn’t about finding the cheapest bid, it’s about finding the right partner. Ask these five questions, listen carefully to the answers, and you’ll know when you’ve found a builder who’s the right fit for your dream home!

Want to work with us? Reach out today!