15 Questions to Ask a Home Builder in Wichita Before You Sign
Ask these 15 questions before you sign with a Wichita home builder: experience, pricing and allowances, process, and warranty, with Sharp Homes' answers.
Choosing a builder is the single most important decision in your custom home, more important than the plan or the lot, because the builder shapes everything else. The right questions surface how a builder really operates: how they price, how they communicate, and what happens if something goes wrong.
Here are 15 questions to ask a home builder in Wichita before you sign, grouped by what they reveal. A confident builder will answer all of them directly. We have included how Sharp Homes answers each, so you have a benchmark to compare against.
Key Takeaway
Choosing the builder matters more than the plan or the lot. Ask about experience and licensing, pricing and allowances, the process and your main contact, and the warranty. A confident builder answers all of them directly.
Questions About Experience and Track Record
Start with the basics of credibility. You want a builder with a real history and references you can check.
- How long have you been building, and how many homes have you completed? (Sharp: 60+ years, 1,000+ homes)
- Are you licensed and insured? (Sharp: Sedgwick County License #10653, $10M liability)
- Can I talk to past clients, including repeat buyers?
- Can I see completed homes in person, not just photos?
Learn more about Sharp Homes and the family behind it.
Questions About Pricing and What’s Included
This is where builders differ most. Vague answers here are a warning sign.
- Can I see a sample contract and spec sheet before I commit?
- How do allowances work, and how are they set? (Sharp: Craig adjusts allowances before signing to reflect real homeowner choices)
- How and when will I hear about cost overages? (Sharp: throughout the build, not at closing)
- What is included in the base price versus an upgrade?
- What are ‘specials’ on this lot, and how do they affect cost?
Want to see how this works in practice? Read how Sharp prices a build, allowances included.
Ask Us All 15
Put these questions to us directly. Call 316-775-2129 or contact Sharp Homes and we will answer every one, honestly.
Questions About Process and Communication
How a builder runs the job day to day determines your experience for the next six months.
- What is your build process, and how long does it take? (Sharp: documented five stages, about 5 to 6 months construction)
- Who is my main point of contact, and how do I reach them? (Sharp: a named superintendent, plus Craig’s personal cell number)
- How will I follow progress? (Sharp: Buildertrend project management)
- Can I modify a plan or bring my own? (Sharp: in-house architect can modify or build your plan)
Walk through the build process stage by stage.
Questions About Warranty and After the Build
The best builders do not disappear at closing. Ask what happens after you move in.
- What warranty do you provide? (Sharp: 1-year third-party ProHome warranty plus a 12-month defects period)
- Who handles service requests after I move in? (Sharp: a dedicated warranty team)
Read more about our warranty and service after closing.
Choosing a Builder FAQs
Common questions about vetting a Wichita home builder.
What is the most important question to ask a home builder?
How they set allowances and handle cost overages. Pricing transparency reveals more about how a builder operates than almost anything else. Sharp sets allowances at what homeowners actually choose and communicates cost throughout the build.
How do I know if a builder is trustworthy?
Ask for their license and insurance, references including repeat clients, and completed homes you can see in person. A confident builder answers all of these directly. Sharp holds Sedgwick County License #10653 and has built over 1,000 homes in 60+ years.
What should I ask about the building process?
Ask about their documented process and timeline, who your main contact is, how you will follow progress, and whether you can modify a plan. Sharp uses a five-stage process, a named superintendent, Buildertrend, and an in-house architect.
What questions reveal hidden costs?
Ask how allowances are set, base price vs. upgrades, and ‘specials’ on the lot. Vague answers on any of these are a warning sign.
Why does the builder matter more than the plan?
You can modify a plan, but you cannot fix a builder mid-project. The builder shapes pricing, quality, communication, and what happens after closing, which is why the questions above matter most.
Craig Sharp is President & CEO of Sharp Homes, the third-generation owner of a family builder that has completed more than 1,000 homes across the Wichita area over 60+ years. Craig is personally involved in design and has 40+ years of construction experience.
