How To Select a Log Home Company

I have heard it asked many times. The question I am referring to is "Where do we begin". Researching log home packages and prices is part of it but sooner or later you have to narrow it down and make that time spent researching start to pay off. I know where you are at. You have been cutting out articles for a couple of years now, the stack of log home magazines is getting hard to manage, your list of bookmarked log home sites in your web browser is getting longer by the day and you are still recovering from that log home show you attended. It can take hours to sort through all the plan books you gathered at that show. Hopefully you asked the right questions to the reps working the log home booths.

For now we'll assume you have an idea or sketch of what you want to build and where you are going to build your log home at. The first thing is sort through the log home companies on your list and start with the ones that are closest to where you are going to build. A log home company near your build location can offer input on local build costs, building codes and should also have a builder network to draw from. You will notice that most of the national log home companies will have a dealer network. So, if one of the companies you would like to visit is clear across the country you just might luck out and find a dealer that isn't too far away. Getting local support is so important in the success of your project. Even though there are builders looking for work do you want them to learn on your log home? I'm guessing not. Any talented builder can be a log home builder but they may not have all the proper tools and won't know how to bid the project as accurate as someone familiar with the product you select. The best log home package in the world can turn into a headache if it isn't build properly. The log home companies and dealers you contact should all have models or an office used as a model. If they don't have a model or office I would suggest removing that log home company from your list. Meet with the rep and tour the model to get a feel for the product they offer. Remember to ask questions about what is and isn't included because no two log home companies offer the same log home package. Always ask for a list of past customers so you can give them a call. Some may even offer to have you stop by. Allow plenty of time if you do that, you will find log home owners are pretty enthusiastic about their log homes!

Do you have to go with a local company? No, you should go with the company you are comfortable with and listens to what you want for your dream log home. If they aren't local, make sure they get information on codes for where you are going to build. Northern states have higher energy requirements as well as snow loads. Those items would be overkill shipping to the southern states. A southern state company may have to add to their engineering to meet code in a northern state if they were to ship there. I just mentioned shipping! That is another cost to add in the budget if you have to ship cross country. Ask that log home company about shipping, it can add up over the miles and possibly impact your budget.

Touring log home models and interview log home companies takes some time but really is a fun process. You will so so many different log home plans and designs as well as interior decorating tips. Make it fun, take your time at it and that time will pay off when you are ready to start the final planning stages leading to getting your project underway. Thank you to Wild River Log Homes for their help in providing information and photos for this hub.