Today we are going to take a look at how custom home builder reviews can help you choose which builder to go with.
L. Patten & Sons specializes in custom-built homes in Collingwood and the Blue Mountains area. We'd love to put our over 60 years of experience building custom homes to work for you to build you the home of your dreams!
We'll also give you some helpful advice on what to look for when you are reading through custom home builder reviews and which ones to trust. So let's get started.
Learn how to use custom home builders reviews to your advantage
Why Should You Read Custom Home Builder Reviews?
Getting a custom home built is a huge investment; probably one of the largest investments that you will make in your lifetime. That's why it's important to make sure that you choose the right custom home builder to work with.
Checking out online reviews for customer home builders is one of the steps that you can take to make sure you make the right choice. For more useful advice to help you make the right decision, check out our post "Top 10 Ways to Choose a Custom Home Builder."
It's a Good Idea to Look at Custom Home Builder Reviews on Multiple Sites
When you are looking up custom home builder reviews, it's advisable to take a look at multiple sites. In fact according to a Local Consumer Review Survey 2019, 70% of consumers look at multiple review sites before they choose a local business. There are many different review sites available for you to check including Google, Facebook, Better Business Bureau, etc. However, not all review sites are as reliable as others.
Check multiple online custom home builder reviews
How to Spot a Fake Review
The problem with reading online custom home builder reviews is that unfortunately, not all the reviews that you find are legitimate. So how can you tell if a review is real or fake. You can never be 100% sure, however there are some things that you can look for that will help you spot a fake. These include:
The way the review is written seems awkward: Often fake reviews are written by individuals whose first language is not English. When this is the case, you'll notice grammatical and spelling errors. The wording may also seem awkward and not natural.
There is a flood of reviews on the same day: If you notice a large number of positive reviews all posted on the same date, then chances are these reviews are fake.
Image Source: Google Reviews
Make sure that the way the review is written sounds natural
The reviewer only leaves positive reviews: You can check out the reviewer's profile to see other reviews that they have left. If all of their reviews are positive with glowing language and for many not well-known companies, then this could indicate that these reviews are fake.
The reviewer doesn't seem to exist: If the review has a first and last name for the reviewer, you can look up that person on Google to see if they actually exist. Check to see if they have a Facebook or Twitter account with real friends that they interact with and see if they live in the area of the business that they have reviewed.
The image is a fake: If the review has a picture, you can run a reverse image search on it to find the original source of the image. Fake reviewers will often use stock images or an image stolen from someone else's blog.
Image Source: Google
Do a reverse image source to find out if the reviewers picture is fake
Third Party Review Sites Vs Reviews on Builders' Websites
In general, it is helpful to check out reviews that are posted on third party review sites like Google, Facebook, Better Business Bureau, etc. to get a better balanced opinion of the custom home builder's reputation. This is because a company is not going to post negative reviews on their own website.
Are Google Custom Home Builder Reviews More Reliable?
Google has strict guidelines surrounding reviews to help ensure that the reviews you are reading are not fake. Their Google review guidelines include not allowing businesses to:
Ask for reviews from customers in bulk
Selectively solicit positive reviews from their customers
Pay for positive reviews
Have employees submit reviews
According to Google, they have "no tolerance for fake reviews and may take down any review that Google thinks is fake or that doesn't follow Google's review policies."
Check out custom home builders reviews on Google
Star Ratings for Custom Home Builder Reviews
Star ratings can be a helpful and quick indicator of how good a business is. Each reviewer will give a star rating between one and 5 stars and then the site will give you the average rating from all the reviews.
According to a Local Consumer Review Survey, only 53% of consumers would consider using a business that has less than a 4 star rating. A good thing to check when you are looking at star ratings is the total number of reviews.
If a company has only one review with a rating of 4, it doesn't really give you a good indication of their quality. On the other hand, if a company has 10 reviews with a star rating of 4.6, then you can be pretty sure that they are a more trustworthy business.
Image Source: Google
Thinking of Re-locating? Why Not Consider Collingwood
The Collingwood region not only is a great place for a weekend getaway with beautiful ski hills, hiking trails and numerous tourist attractions, but it is also a great place to live.
The area surrounding Collingwood is comprised of fertile fields and rolling hills, wide-open spaces and peaceful forests. If you are looking for a little more space to breathe, then the Collingwood region is a great choice.
Collingwood has so much to offer including restaurants, schools, shops, and parks and everything is nearby and accessible either on foot or by bicycle. The population is a broad mix of retirees, young families, and everything in between.
If you are considering re-locating out of the big city, then why not consider working remotely and building a custom dream home in Collingwood.
Build your dream home in Collingwood
Building a Custom House in Ontario? Trust L. Patten & Sons
L. Patten & Sons brings over 50 years of custom home building experience to every project we undertake. We take pride in building custom homes that are as beautiful to look at as they are comfortable to live in.
We make it our goal to help all our clients realize their dreams. Quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and complete customer satisfaction are what sets L. Patten and Sons apart in the Collingwood and Blue Mountains area custom home building community.
Our home owners can rest assured that their new home will be a source of pride and satisfaction for many years to come! Contact us today to get started on your dream home.