If a builder’s reference can’t talk about at least one hiccup or how things got sorted when stuff hit the fan, I’d be side-eyeing it too.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I think references are only as useful as the questions you ask. Most folks just ask “Were you happy?” and move on. If you dig deeper—ask about delays, communication, how they handled waste or energy efficiency—you’ll get way more insight. I’ve seen references that looked perfect until I asked about insulation choices and suddenly the story changed. It’s not fluff if you know what to look for, but yeah, it’s easy to get a sugar-coated version if you don’t push a bit.
Most folks just ask “Were you happy?” and move on.
Totally agree—asking the right questions is everything. I’ve had clients rave about a builder, then quietly mention they had to chase them for weeks over a missing tile. It’s wild what comes out if you dig a little deeper.
ARE BUILDER REFERENCES REALLY THAT HELPFUL OR JUST FLUFF?
It’s wild what comes out if you dig a little deeper.
But isn’t that kind of the problem? Even when you dig, you’re still only getting one side of the story. I’ve had clients who were thrilled with the end result but hated the process, or vice versa. How do you even frame questions to get at the stuff people don’t think to mention? “Were you happy?” just scratches the surface, but even detailed questions can miss the weird little frustrations that make or break a project. Maybe references are just inherently limited—people forget, or they don’t want to sound picky.
I totally get what you mean. When we built our place, I called a couple of references and they were super positive, but later I found out one of them had a nightmare with delays that she just “didn’t want to get into.” It’s like, unless you ask the exact right question, you’ll never know about the random stuff—like how the builder’s crew parked on her lawn for two months.
ARE BUILDER REFERENCES REALLY THAT HELPFUL OR JUST FLUFF?
That’s wild about the lawn thing—stuff like that never comes up unless you dig for it. I always wonder if people feel awkward sharing the negatives, especially if they’re still living in the house and don’t want drama. When you were checking references, did you ask about budget surprises? I’m always worried about hidden costs popping up halfway through...
