It is the largest and most important purchase you will make in your life: your new home.It is the place you and your family will call their own for years—perhaps even generations. However, when it comes time to finally make that big purchase, many people neglect to research just who it was that built their future home in the first place.

Since not everyone can build a house, professional home builders do it for you. A single home-building company can design, planand construct anything from a specialized house to an entire neighbourhood. Their skills, honed through years of practice,and their knowledge of craft and regulations set them in a league of their own. Not all home builders are equal, however, so how can you tell the good from the bad?

A good place to start is to see if they are a member of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA). This is a strong indication that the home builder is a professional dedicated to their craft and their customers, both now and in the future. The CHBA promotes and protects the rights of both the customer and the builder, and ensures fair treatment and superb quality of work.

From there, you should get a list of home builders in your area and research them extensively. Look at the company’s website and research their qualifications and experience. One of the best ways to learn about a home builder is through customer feedback. Find others who have purchased homes or had homes built through this company, and what their experience dealing with this company was like.

Once you have narrowed it down to three or four home builders, contact them and ask to see their show homes. Remember that show-homes are usually dressed up, and do not always represent the home you will be buying; show-homes do, however, provide a good indication of the look and feel of the builder’s style. Afterward, ask to see one of their houses that are on the market; the state of the house is indicative of their skills and dedication to their craft and their customers. Check everything from hinges on cupboards to furnace vents. Donot be afraid to ask questions that you may later regret leaving unanswered. Most home builders are also willing to give you references from previous customers and will let you visit their work sites.

Once you have narrowed it down to the home you want and the home builder you trust, make sure you both go over the contract so both parties understand each other, and clear up any last-minute questions you may have. Remember, too, that most builders offer warranties on their homes, so find out what their warranties cover.

Going through all this may seem excessive, but when it comes to buying a house it is best not to rush or take chances. Research everything thoroughly, and you will not only have the perfect home, but also confidence that it was built properly.