Build · 7 min read
How to vet a builder before you sign
We are not the builder — so here is exactly how to check one out yourself.
Published July 16, 2026
Here is the part we say out loud on every builder page: Solvara is not the builder. We plan, coordinate, and make qualified introductions — but the contract to build is between you and the builder you choose. Which means the vetting is yours to do, and it is worth doing well.
The good news is that vetting a builder is not mysterious. It is a short list of checks that separate a professional from a risk, and you can run it on anyone — including the people we introduce you to.
The checklist
Six checks that separate a pro from a risk.
License and registration
Confirm they are licensed and registered to build in your state and county, at the level your project requires.
Insurance and, where relevant, bonding
Ask for current proof of liability and workers-compensation insurance, and understand whether bonding applies to your build.
Comparable completed builds
Look for finished projects like yours — same building type, size, and finish level — not just a polished portfolio.
Real references
Talk to recent clients, ideally at the stage you are heading into. Ask what surprised them, good and bad.
A clear written scope and contract
Everything that matters belongs in writing: scope, inclusions and exclusions, allowances, schedule, and how changes are handled.
Apples-to-apples bids
Have builders bid from the same plan and scope, so you are comparing the same house — not three different ones.
Pause on these
Red flags worth a second look.
- A price far below the others with no clear reason for the gap.
- Reluctance to put scope, exclusions, or timeline in writing.
- No comparable completed work you can actually visit or verify.
- Pressure to sign quickly, or large upfront payments out of step with the work.
Where Solvara fits.
We make this easier in two ways. First, we hand a builder a clear, coordinated plan and scope, so their bids are comparable and their assumptions are visible. Second, we make qualified introductions — meaning we point you toward construction professionals worth your time.
We do not place, approve, or guarantee anyone. The choice, and the contract, are yours. Our job is to get you to that decision with a plan, a budget, and enough information to choose well.
Common questions
Straight answers, up front.
- How do I vet a home builder?
- Check license and insurance, look at comparable completed builds, talk to recent references, insist on a clear written scope and contract, and have builders bid from the same plan so the numbers are comparable.
- Does Solvara pick or guarantee the builder?
- No. We make qualified introductions to construction professionals and hand off a clear, coordinated plan. We do not place, approve, or guarantee anyone — you choose the builder and sign the contract with them directly.
- What should be in the contract?
- At minimum: the scope, inclusions and exclusions, allowances, the schedule, how change orders are handled, and a payment schedule tied to real progress. If it matters, it belongs in writing.
- How do I compare bids fairly?
- Give every builder the same plan and the same scope, then compare line for line. Bids drawn from different assumptions are not really comparable, which is exactly why a coordinated plan helps.
- What is the biggest red flag?
- Unwillingness to put scope and exclusions in writing, and a price that is far below the rest with no explanation. Both tend to surface later as change orders or missing work.
Walk into builder conversations ready.
We get your plan and budget build-ready, then make qualified introductions — so the builders you talk to are bidding the same, honest scope.