Home Builder Austin

How can I find a "good" builder in Austin, Texas for a 2,500 sq. ft. architect designed modern home?

I already have the plans, building permit and financing ready to go, but I need a General Contractor who is sober, competent, honest and can start immediately. This is not a hypothetical situation - I need a builder.

Public Comments

1. Building Permit Dept of City Hall. Ask for their list. The list may have roofers, cement, etc.. all on it. But, now if you find a name of someone in yellow pages, etc... , you will know if they are licensed & bonded with the city. NOTE: after pick a contracter, have them add price of building permit to your bill. You do NOT get it yourself; any inspection problems must be fixed by the one who got the permit.
2. Seems like if you had a real architect, he would have had a list of good contractors he has worked with before.
3. Drive around and talk to some people in a newer subdivision or area with similiar homes to your new one and find out who built theirs. Call a local trade school, BBB, real estate brokers or agents or union hall for references. If you find someone, contact owners of the builder's previous work to check quality, price and timeliness/built on schedule or not. Have the builder pull the permits.
4. First check with friends, family members and co-workers who have built homes in the last few years and ask for recommendations. These people will be very honest about the builder they hired and can give you specific instances about things they did or did not like with their builders. You can check with your local building department. Often they can provide names of reputable builders in your area. Consider checking with various lumberyards. The workers at the lumberyards deal with contractors everyday. They can usually give you a pretty good indication of what builders in the area are skilled and knowledgeable. A lumberyard near my house even has a bulletin board where contractors will post their business cards. Check your local stores for names. Drive around your area and check out new job sites. Talk with the contractors and builders. You might just find someone you like. We are getting ready to build a house and friends recommended the website below. There are a few good articles on this site about things to look for when hiring a builder such as do you get along with them well, do they listen, do they inform you of what is going on and will they stick to the building time line. This site suggests interviewing builders and checking references before hiring and provides questions and a form for interviewing. It is well worth checking out. http://www.thehouseplanshop.com/17/content/Who-Will-Build-Your-Home%3F.php
5. Dwell magazine is a good resource for this because they (and their former tv show) both feature lots of projects based in Austin. I would bet that the resources (builders, as well as details) are listed.