It can be very frustrating to purchase a home in today's market. Prices are up compared to only just a few years ago, mortgage rates are high, and inventory is limited.

Even though inventory numbers seem to be increasing slightly month over month, it has in no way kept up with demand.

So now, more buyers have been turning to building a new home instead with the added feature of being able to customize your new home to your liking. The additional benefit is that the home is brand new and most likely won't have any major repairs surprise you a month or two after you've moved in.

However, before you do this, here is a list of things you should do.

Look at photos of your builder's past work.

I mean not just photos of this current project, but photos of the last few projects. No photos available? This may mean that the builder is new. New may mean no experience, and that may mean more costs for you down the road. It's always best to go with an experienced builder.

If possible, you should also take a tour of the builders work. Sometimes they have more than one project on the go, so you can visit the other project sites to view finished work.

Look up reviews on the builder

Even though the builder might have a beautiful finished product, how did home owners find their experience working with that builder? Some builders have a hard time communicating. This can be very frustrating and can cause a pause in the process which just means your home won't be ready on time.

Your home's completion can be delayed which may force you to pay for temporary housing and storage.

Some builders are known to miss update requests. This leaves the homeowner not knowing if they are on schedule or not.

Sometimes they will up charge for items that were supposed to be included. Example, granite counter tops are included but the sales team try their hardest to sell you another type of countertop.

Do your research

Before you sign a contract with a builder, find yourself a good Real Estate Lawyer. They can protect you from certain learning moments in a new construction contract.

A common one is that builders may sneak in an escalation clause allowing them to charge up to 10% more in the event that their costs came in higher.

You or your Lawyer can negotiate that out of the contract.

Questions to ask others that have worked with the builder.

• Were they responsive and how well did they communicate?
• Did the home get completed on time?
• Was the builder honest or were there some 'learning moments'?
• How was the quality of the finished product?

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