When choosing between home builders, make the Better Business Bureau a part of your research. When people have complaints against a contractor or a business of any kind, they will usually file them with the BBB. As a matter of policy, these complaints are made part of the public record and you will be able to see them for yourself. Does having a complaint against them automatically put a company out of the running? Not necessarily. Look at the complaint, see if there was any response, and make your decision on a case by case basis. Obviously, if a company has a slew of complaints, you're probably better off going with someone else.
Of course, you'll want to make sure that any home builders you are considering have their paperwork up to date. A word of advice: don't simply take the contractors word for it. If you believe on one hand that there are dishonest and unscrupulous contractors out there (and you should know that there are), then why on earth would you believe one out of hand if they tell you something. Always check and double check. You'll find that the vast majority of contractors you deal with have been perfectly honest and have excellent reputations to uphold. But that doesn't mean you won't run into the other kind. Just be wary and check with the state and local licensing board to make sure your contractor is up to date on all his necessary paperwork.
Finally, once you've come close to deciding, ask the home builders what kind of references they can provide. If the answer is none, keep searching. If they give you some names, don't be afraid to call them up and ask. People won't agree to be used as references unless they want to be bothered, so go ahead and bother them! You'll get customer testimony right from the source and it can be invaluable in helping you make your decision.
