When you’re building a custom home, your builder can make or break your experience! The foundation of every great project is a strong builder-client relationship. So, if you’re wondering how to choose a builder, here’s what really makes the difference!

Open Communication and Trust

During the building process, challenges are inevitable. What defines a great home builder is how they handle those moments.

The best projects happen when there’s trust and open communication. Both builder and client need to know they can have honest conversations without fear of judgment or hidden agendas. When humility is brought to the table on both sides, it takes down walls and makes real teamwork possible.

Additionally, if costly mistakes happen, you need a home builder who can admit errors quickly, present multiple solutions, and, when necessary, take responsibility—even if that means covering the cost themselves.

Mutual Confidence

A great relationship is built on mutual confidence. Homeowners should feel certain that their builder understands their vision and can bring it to life. In turn, a builder needs to trust that the client will fulfill their commitments and extend grace when challenges arise. And while construction can be stressful, a little humor goes a long way—laughter and friendship make the home building process that much more enjoyable!

Unfortunately, some homeowners have had negative experiences and even horror stories from past contractors. We recently worked with a family who took nearly a year interviewing builders after being burned 20 years earlier. But they could tell that we were different. Why? Because details matter. Transparent building contracts, a trustworthy reputation and high quality of work, and genuine care stand out.

If you’re a nervous first time home builder, this blog is for you!

Listening First

Listening is everything. Many clients are making the biggest investment of their lives, and they want to feel heard. We want to know how clients are going to live in their home. Are they raising teens? Planning for grandkids? Working from home? Big into hosting? Understanding lifestyle and family needs allows us to design and build a home that’s truly customized to each client.

If your potential builder is talking more than they’re listening, especially at an initial consultation, that’s a red flag!

Beyond the Build

For us, projects don’t end when the keys are handed over. Many of our clients become lifelong friends. Some invite us back for follow-up projects years later, others let us tour prospective clients through their finished homes. These bonds last far beyond construction.

One of our clients, James Johnson, hired us when he moved to Tucson a few years ago. He was nervous about being taken advantage of and worried about costs. But over time, we built trust and now we’re great friends. His brother even bought the lot next door, and we’re designing his home now. In his own words, “If we moved or the house burned down, we wouldn’t even call anybody else. You’re our guy.”

At Sanctuary, clients are never just another project. We choose to work with people we like and respect because building a home together is a lot like training for a marathon—it’s long, it’s challenging, and it’s incredibly rewarding when you cross the finish line side by side.