By DENNIS FLOYD

President, Home Builders

Association of Midwest Georgia

Everyone interested in buying a new home wants to find a quality house built by a professional. But professionalism is one of thise concepts where you know it when you see it, but you may have trouble defining it.

There is no single definition of professionalism, but there are certain principles that a building professional will practice.

· Building professionals believe that homes should be well designed, well constructed and well located in attractive communities with accessible educational, recreational, religious, and shopping facilities.

· They feel a strong responsibility to their customers and their community.

· Honesty is their guiding business policy, and they believe in dealing fairly with their customers, employees, subcontractors and suppliers.

· They try to build high standards of health, safety, and sanitation in every home.

An important indicator of professional groups. Becoming a dues paying member of such groups usually means that a builder is an established member of the community. Builders associations encourage research to develop materials, new building techniques, new building equipment, and improved methods of home financing so that home buyers may receive the greatest possible value for their money.

Builders associations care about the image of their industry. If a builder in the association acts in an unprofessional manner, it is a bad reflection on the other members. So a builder who belongs to an association will have a greater incentive to conduct business in a professional manner than a builder who does not belong to an association.

The quality of a new home will in large measure be determined by the skill of the building professional who constructs it. You should shop for a builder as carefully as they shop for the features of a home. When you buy a new home, you are not just buying a structure. Along with the structure comes a package of services, and the quality of those services will have an important effect on your enjoyment of the house.

Do not rush through the process of choosing a building professional. Set a reasonable timetable for your search, and do not make your decision until you feel comfortable about what you are doing. You will be in frequent communication with your builder during the construction process and after you move into the house, so try to choose a builder with whom you will feel comfortable working.

One of the best ways to find out about the professionalism of a builder is to ask previous customers. Try to visit some of the previous homes and ask the residents about their experiences with their home and their builder. Don't be shy about approaching people. In most cases, a builder's previous customers will be quite open with you. If they are unhappy with their homes, they will let you know. And if they are happy, they will want to give the builder more business. Try to talk to at least three or four homeowners. You should not try to rely on the views of only one person, because that person may be atypical.

When shopping for a new home from a particular builder, you try to talk to people who have gone through the same experience that you are contemplating. By doing your homework, you will be able to shop for a home with a sense of confidence and knowledge that will help you to make the correct decision.

Buying a new home will be the largest single purchase you will ever make. Make sure that you buy it from a qualified professional builder. If you want more information abou the builders in this area, you can call us at 770-716-7109.

(Dennis Floyd is president of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia.)