This was not easy. We have spent the past several weeks looking for a suitable builder to build the house, and we will in all likelihood continue to spend several weeks on the task. We have a list of five builders that we are working our way down. The cost estimates are all over the place; quality varies greatly; and they all structure their proposals differently, making comparison difficult.

One builder quoted very cost-effectively, but when we visited a couple of the houses he built, we didn’t feel comfortable about him being able to keep the quality we were seeking. Another builder showed us some houses that were absolutely gorgeous – showcase homes with marble flooring, custom-made staircases and wide glass panoramas. Unfortunately the price tag was significant. The three remaining builders are relatively close to each other in terms of cost, and we are spending our weekends evaluating their proposals. Ease of communication turned out to be a bigger factor than we expected; we like those who respond quickly to questions, and worry about those that don’t.