Many people looking for a new home in Houston have asked me what to look for in a new home. While most people concentrate on the model home, this does not really give the consumer a real idea of the capabilities of the builder. To get a real idea of what a builder has to offer, start with selecting a community or area of town you would like to live, then find builders in that area. Rather than drive around for hours, save yourself the time by going to one of the online portals such as New Home Source, Move.com,  New Homes Directory to narrow down you search of builders, plans and price ranges. After you have done this, visit the communities first and talk to some of the neighbors about the community and the builders. It is important to get first hand testimonials and evaluate the community. When driving through the community, pay attention to the conditions of the homes under construction. A well run community will have clean job sites, homes that appear to be progressing through construction and have an orderly appearance. One you have narrowed down the builders and toured their models, make a spreadsheet of their standard features to evaluate what is included. This is a good way to compare the value proposition. For me information about selecting a builder or buying a new home in Houston, please visit our website http://www.ourfirstnest.com/