850 N Main St, Waynesville North Carolina 28786
I don't think there's enough space for me to write enough GREAT things I would like to write about Benchmark Builders. I have never built a new home before, and I also did not have a giant budget. I am not experienced in the homebuilding process, either! I bought my lot a year or two prior to building, and Benchmark was one of the first builders I called to ask about the possibilities of building on this lot, before I even bought it. Sharon offered to take a drive over and look at it after work that day, and contacted me to let me know it looked like a good location. When I was ready to build, they were ready to start! They helped me through the process of gathering budget information for my construction loan, and went over and above from a planning standpoint to assist me in ensuring that my house would fit on my small lot -- along with a septic system. They pulled in some big favors as well, to help execute a new survey quickly.
Once building started, I was amazed at how seamlessly the process flowed. Benchmark Builders knows this business very well, and they knew how to orchestrate dozens of moving parts to accommodate changes in my plans, changes in the weather, and they also adapted well to changes in budget as needed. I always felt like I could change things if I needed to, without repercussion, and they were straightforward with additional costs or savings at any time. Nobody can predict exact cost on any build, especially with such a fluctuating market, but they did their best, and this is partly where their immense experience showed through.
They made excellent recommendations about the build from start to end, and offered ideas that would assist me in saving money long-term, including 2 x 6 wall construction which would accommodate better insulation, the grading of the house location, and foundation planning, to allow for a bit more headspace in the crawlspace, as well as other things that you just don't think about if you're not familiar with building a house from scratch. Whenever we encountered problems with something on my plans or with a material source, they had solutions ready for me to consider.
Benchmark has an exceptional array of resources, from the teams they utilize for the labor, to the local providers (lumber, flooring, kitchen cabinetry and countertops, etc.) who could best outfit me with everything I needed for this build. I felt secure in contacting anyone they recommended, and in the products and services that were delivered.
The build was completed early, partly because I was pretty disciplined about not spending extra money or altering decisions that would impact the timeline --but also because of the well-oiled machine that is the Benchmark planning and implementation process. Everything stayed pretty well on track (even with the usual weather issues and unpredictability that comes with building), and they delivered on everything that I was promised in this home.
After moving in, there were a few minor glitches with plumbing and a minor washing machine hookup issue, but they were fixed immediately and with priority attention by Benchmark. It is very clear to me that they stand behind their work, and their strong relationships with their service partners provide huge benefits to hiring Benchmark for a new build. Even six months later, when I was concerned about something with the air conditioner, they responded immediately and connected me with the air conditioning folks, who worked with me to remedy the issue.
The one thing that is hard to quantify, but I feel is so important, is the human side of things. Working with the family that runs Benchmark felt very personal, yet professional. There is a great deal of respect and care given to everything that they do, and in their interactions with each other and with me. To this day, I feel like I'm connecting with friends when I see them or pass by their office and give them a wave. I value all that they h