Some things you learn only by experience. For most people, building a house is something they only do once. It takes not only a lot of physical work to complete but precise calculations to optimize one’s time and budget. Even a simple mistake can cost thousands more to resolve or accommodate in home design.
There are a few things to know when building a house with custom home builders. These experts have years of experience designing and delivering quality homes. If you can equip yourself with knowledge, you will work seamlessly to achieve the house of your dreams.
Here are the eleven things to know when building a house for the first time:
1. Research and plan everything
This will be your home, from the layout of each room to the size. Plan and research. Consider where the furniture will go and what appliances you want for the kitchen. Research your options in flooring, countertops, backsplashes, and light fixtures.
Look at Instagram and Pinterest. Consider how your tastes align with your budget and if there are less expensive alternatives.
2. Save money by building some parts yourself.
You don’t have to pay for labour when doing a job yourself. However, if you make a mistake, instantly your budget increases because you will most likely have to pay someone to fix it. There are some tasks you can do yourself. However, there are others you can’t do with DIY, like plumbing. Based on your experience and availability, know where and when you should hire someone else.
3. Understand building a house is an all-consuming project.
If you decide to build your own home, you are signing up for a massive undertaking. It can feel like a full-time job and one that you will have for months. It is very time-consuming and stressful. Someone who is already overwhelmed with work commitments, a family, or who is already stressed isn’t the best candidate to build a house. You may want to rely on a contractor instead.
4. Hire the right home building contractors.
Even if you build a house, you may be unable to do some jobs yourself. Hire the right people. This is the most important factor in how well your home is built. Interview and meet different contractors before making a decision. Don’t just hire anyone. Always look for someone you trust.
5. Be ready to adjust your schedule.
You may hope to complete building a house within a specified time frame. While a schedule’s important, you must combat weather and climate, unexpected building issues, and contractor availability to meet your timeline. Understand that your schedule is unlikely to remain the same throughout the project and will extend accordingly as you go along.
6. Be ready to adjust your budget.
Thousands of dollars are going out the door weekly to order materials and arrange contractors. Even if you have the funds, it’s money you’ve spent years saving and is now being spent. This is sure to cause stress. On top of that, unexpected costs arise, just like with your schedule. A person can easily end up overwhelmed, spending more than they thought on their dream home.
7. Design your home for the next twenty years.
Many people make the mistake of designing a home that suits them and their lifestyle as it is presently. Eventually, you will outgrow your lifestyle and be in a home that no longer suits you. Try to think about the next two decades of your life when designing your home. Should there be a possibility of having children, for example, ensure you have the bedrooms to accommodate that?
8. Hire a home designer.
You may want to consult a home designer when designing a home. They can provide input on the best approach to the look, style, and feel you want. They can also offer guidance on where to save money and help avoid you making costly mistakes. A home designer brings years of experience to the table that you won’t find researching online.
9. Don’t forget about storage areas.
The top mistake people make when designing their homes is insufficient storage space. They focus on the big rooms – kitchen, bathroom, and master bedroom – and neglect storage closets. Storage is a major aspect of any home and is highly requested by homebuyers. Think about how much storage you’ve needed over the years and consider this.
10. It won’t resemble a home for a long time
For many months, your home building isn’t going to look even remotely like a house. It’ll be a construction site, incomplete and unfinished. Don’t panic. It takes time to build. Everything from how the windows look to the room size can change as the project moves along. If something almost doesn’t look like you thought, look back to your decided-upon home design and wait.
11. Set your move-in date.
A schedule for the home building will shift over time. For some, this will mean moving in before the home’s finished. This is not recommended. Towards the last stages of your construction, allow everything to be finished before moving in. Leaving a basement undone or your backyard unfinished is unsightly. It’s much easier to finish those projects before moving in and often cheaper.
