1. Reliability and reputation
Communities and their local businesses go hand-in-hand. Based on the connection local businesses have to their community, they are encouraged to portray honesty and integrity. The community sees this as a part of themselves—a strong business makes a strong town and vice versa. When you find an independent business that has been in the community for decades, chances are, they hold good weight. Most businesses work hard to maintain a carefully established reputation for themselves and their community. A local homebuilder will give your project the attention it deserves because his ongoing success, and the town’s, demands it.
2. Knowledge and expertise
A local builder has extensive knowledge of the area’s building codes and regulations, deeper awareness of zoning, entitlement processes, and a stronger grasp on economic standards. They understand the conditions of your region and state are in at all times thus knowing the demands in location, price, size, and accessibility.
They know not just regulations, but more importantly the people. Other than being in sync with the places that offer (or will soon offer) shopping, dining and entertainment, local builders recognize the needs of new home seekers whether they are first time buyers, empty nesters, or growing. This gives them the advantage of knowing where and what kind of home best suits their buyers from authentic Indiana architecture design to streetscape to amenities and more.
Knowledge about these diverse elements means a local builder can combine everything to help give you your ultimate dream home in the best location.
3. Part of the community fabric
“Local owners, typically having invested much of their life savings in their businesses, have a natural interest in the community’s long-term health,” explains Jeff Milchen, co-director of the American Independent Business Alliance. “Community-based businesses are essential to charitable endeavors; their owners frequently serve on local boards and support numerous causes.”
Locally owned businesses create communities that are more prosperous, entrepreneurial, connected and generally better off across a range of metrics, writes Stacy Mitchell is co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
4. Money stays in the community
When a consumer buys local, significantly more of that money stays in the community. A study in Portland, Maine found every $100 spent at locally owned businesses contributed an additional $58 to the local economy. By comparison, $100 spent at a national chain store in Portland yielded just $33 in local economic impact. If residents shifted 10 percent of their spending from chains to locally owned businesses, it would generate $127 million in additional local economic activity and 874 new jobs, according to the report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy.
“On a dollar-for-dollar basis, the local economic impact of independently owned businesses is significantly greater than that of national chains,” the study concluded.
That might be even more true for local home builders, who are employing local subcontractors and often using locally produced materials. They are able to select products based on the needs of the locals, not on national sales.
5. Better customer service
Getting help from a large corporation can be nightmarish. Chances are your call will be transferred several times and you might never have the option to speak to a real person. In contrast, the owner of a local company has a vested interest in listening to your concerns and trying to find ways to help.