We’re the first to admit: there’s a lot of fun to build a custom home from the ground up. There are plenty of exciting choices to be made, from picking out the tiles for your kitchen wall to selecting the hardwood floors for the dining room. But all the stress and worry about making sure that everything is perfect can turn your custom home building project into a nightmare.
The key to a hassle-free custom home construction is having a clear plan from the beginning. To help you, we’ve created a list of four essential steps you need to follow to make sure that everything goes smoothly.
- Shop Around for the Right Custom Homebuilder
Ask for references and speak to the homeowners before hiring a home builder. Make sure they completed the project on time, took into account the client’s desires and preferences, and had a good follow-through. Ask the clients if they are happy with the quality of work and if they would work again with the builder if given the opportunity.
Never select a homebuilder solely on bid. A high bid doesn’t always guarantee the best quality, while a low bid often means that there will be extra costs as the construction advances.
Last, but not least, try to hire locally. A reputable local homebuilder will likely have numerous quality subcontractors and suppliers to work with, meaning that there won’t be any delays or additional costs for certain materials.
- Choose the Area Carefully
Research everything about the neighborhood: the schools, the parks, the crime rates, the ability to walk to town, and so on. Drive around the area, checking for restaurants, farmer’s markets, shopping, etc. Try to imagine yourself living in the neighborhood and carefully think about any drawbacks that could affect your life.
- Don’t Overbuild
Compare your custom home design plans with other houses in the area before setting on style. You don’t want your house to be the most expensive on the block because you won’t get a good return on your investment if you decide to sell it. Also, a bigger home will cost you more – the more rooms you have, the bigger the energy and water bills. It’s just basic math.
- Consider Legal Backing
Every person who decides to build a custom home, no matter how big or small, should have a lawyer. Building a home is a major investment. There’s no underestimating how hard it is dealing with all the paperwork and bureaucracy. Even though it might seem like an unnecessary cost right now, a small fee paid up-front to a lawyer could save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong during the building process. Not to mention that you will have peace of mind knowing that you are covered.
Building the custom home of your dreams is a difficult process. There are so many things you need to factor in that it is easy to forget something if you don’t have a plan. Hopefully, these steps will help you turn your construction plan into a hassle-free process.
If you’re looking for custom home ideas, download our free eBook below and get a taste of how our process works.
