News

Hillsborough Builder Collins Design-Build

The Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties (HBADOC) held their Annual Installation Banquet at The Cotton Room in Durham, North Carolina. A new slate of Executive Officers and Board Members were elected, including new HBA President Chad D. Collins, President of Collins Design-Build, Inc who offers new homes in Hillsborough NC.

Decades in the building industry, Hillsborough Builder, Chad’s commitment and team approach has earned him numerous top housing industry awards, including the Triangle Sales and Marketing Council’s MAME Building Company of the Year in both 2007 and 2008. The National Home Builders Association Certified Green Home Professional of the Year in 2014 and the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham County Builder of the Year in 2014.

“Members of the HBADOC have access to the most influential, successful and forward thinking business people in our area and I accept this position and its responsibility with honor” Hillsborough Builder Chad stated.

The Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties exists to serve its members and to ensure that the industry meets the needs and expectations of the community for quality construction, environmental stewardship, and leadership in charitable and service causes. With over 600 members who perform over 80% of the residential construction in three counties, the HBADOC is undeniably a key play in the Triangle Region’s future economic and community development.

Goals include an inaugural Remodelers Tour showcasing the fine remodeling work crafted by our members and open to the public.

The HBADOC is also making efforts to address the critical need to encourage and promote careers in the construction industry by developing a strategic plan called Building Our Future. This initiative includes laying the groundwork for a new training facility that will deliver technical training for the home building industry.

For more information to purchase land to build your Certified Green Home contact REALTOR Brooke Fulford, REALTOR  Contact: 252-294-8899 / brooke@westandwoodall.com

Though builders might generally use similar tools and materials when building homes, not all are alike when it comes to things like technique, training and customer service. Finding the right builder whose business approach aligns well with your personal preferences is essential to a pleasant home-building experience.

When a potential Home Buyer walks in our office we encourage them to talk to several builders. I promote using a builder that is a member of the local trade associations such as the Home Builders Association or the Chamber of Commerce. You want to select a builder that has experience with the type/style of home you want to build. You want to assure the builder is not only licensed and insured but properly licensed and insured. I also think it is important that the builder has experience within the governing municipality as well.

The builder will be asking you plenty of questions during your initial meeting to discuss the home you envision. But the questions you ask the builder are equally important to determine if it’s going to be a positive partnership. Consider asking the builder about the following:

Work Experience – You will want to find a builder with extensive experience building homes similar to the one you want. Ask to see examples of floor plans and designs they’ve done before to ensure their company can deliver what you need. You should also ask if they have or are working toward any professional designations, which show that the builder has advanced training in a particular area. The North Carolina Home Builders Association offers several designations that are recognized by the Licensing Board for General Contractors. The Accredited Master Builder designation requires numerous hours of course work. The National Association of Home Builders also offers many course to achieve designations. A few examples of such designations include a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), a Graduate Master Builder (CMB), and a Certified Green Professional (CGP).

References – Any high-quality builder should be ready to provide you with several names and phone numbers of satisfied customers. If they can’t, consider that a red flag and walk away. When reaching out to those former clients, ask about how well the builder followed through on the initial plans, and if the builder met their expectations regarding budget and timing. Don’t forget the most telling question of them all: If they could do it all over, would they hire that builder again?

Communication Style – Many builders will do their best to accommodate your communication preferences. But it’s always best to establish expectations as early as possible. The frequency (weekly, monthly, as-needed, etc.) and method (phone, text, email) of how you communicate early on with each other is something that will set the tone throughout the whole building process.

Lastly, visit a current site the builder has under construction. Look around not at the colors or selections of the home but how is the material staged? Is it on the dirt exposed to the elements? Or is the material stacked neat and accounted for? This may be a good indicator of a builders organization skill set. Controlling materials is a must to achieve budget goals.

About the Builder:

Chad & Emilee Collins

Chad Collins is an Unlimited Licensed General Contractor, Licensed Home Inspector, and award-winning custom home builder based in Hillsborough, North Carolina. As the founder of Collins Design-Build, Chad has earned a reputation for creating luxury, timeless custom homes throughout Orange County, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and the surrounding Triangle region. His projects are known for exceptional craftsmanship, high-performance construction, universal design, and premium client experience.

Recognized as one of the Triangle Business Journal’s top custom home builders, Chad blends extensive construction expertise with thoughtful design to build homes that are beautiful, durable, healthy, and highly energy efficient. His credentials include Accredited Master Builder, Master Certified Green Professional, and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist—distinctions held by only a select group of builders statewide.

Chad’s 30 plus year career began in building materials, retail, and field operations, quickly earning him leadership roles with local, regional, and national home builders. His ability to streamline operations, lead high-performing teams, and deliver luxury homes with exceptional quality helped him close more than $6 million in custom home projects in a single year and win the 2001 Builder of the Year award.

As the founder of Collins Design-Build, Chad has earned numerous industry honors, including National Certified Green Professional Builder of the Year, Home Builder of the Year for Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties, MAME Building Company of the Year, multiple STARS Awards, Parade of Homes Gold Awards, and multiple Best Green Built Home recognitions. His firm also builds certified green homes and ENERGY STAR homes as a standard—not an upgrade.

Chad is widely respected as a leader in North Carolina’s building community. He has served as President of the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties, Regional Vice President for the North Carolina Home Builders Association, and President of the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce. In 2018, he was appointed by the Governor to the North Carolina Home Inspectors Licensing Board.

In addition to building award-winning custom homes, Chad is a residential construction expert witness, assisting attorneys, homeowners, and insurers in cases involving construction defects, building standards, and accessibility issues. His professional background and extensive field experience make him a trusted authority in courtroom, arbitration, and litigation support.

Chad is also an approved Continuing Education Instructor for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors and a recognized speaker for the National Association of Home Builders. He has written and taught courses on green building, construction management, and aging-in-place for contractors and university programs, including Duke University’s OLLI Continuing Education Program.

Categorized in: Collins Design Build News

This post was written by Collins Design Build