5 Ways to Achieve Perfection in Your New Home Build

Home builds have a bad reputation as being complicated and stressful, but that doesn’t have to be the case. With the proper planning and people at the helm, it can even be fun. Here are 6 ways to achieve the perfect home build.

Make a budget

The single most important factor that will determine every other aspect of your home build is your budget. Research what you can afford based on your income, current debt and lifestyle, and see what your options are for mortgages and down payments. Financial sites like consumersadvocate.org provide information on different loan types. Keep in mind that your budget should include not just the construction cost, but any design fees you may incur, plus other fees, like permits or utility hookups. Do thorough research about the area where you’ll build. Will there be HOA costs? Are there already water/sewer hookups? Is it prone to flooding or other weather-related issues? (If it is, you may be required to spend more on specialized insurance, and maintenance costs will likely be higher than expected.) And be sure to have at least 10 percent of the overall project cost budgeted as a contingency, in case things come up (they will).

Find the right builder

Finding the right design build firm will make or break you project. It’s vital to research and compare options. Check references, check online for reviews, even check out their work in person if you can. If you’re not sure what to ask, check out the National Association of Home Builders’ website for suggestions. Not only do you want to make sure your builder is reputable, you want to get a feel for how you’ll get along. You’ll be working closely with them and spending a lot of time together; it’s important to find a team whose personalities and communication styles match your own.

Have a plan

Making big changes once construction starts drives up costs, so you’ll want to have a clear plan in place before they even move the dirt. Think about where you want the house to be on the lot, what direction you want it to face, and how that will affect its sound, lighting and overall feel. Keep an eye toward the future. If you don’t have kids now but would like to, make sure you have ample bedroom and living space. If you want this to be the home you stay in through your golden years, think about how it should be arranged if you have less mobility when you’re older. Looking ahead can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Don’t forget the details

Home builds are full of details, big and small. From the home layout to carpet swatches to light fixtures, you’ll have a million little decisions to make. It may be tempting at some points to speed through some of those decisions, just to get them out of the way. But this is your home, and you’ll be looking at and noticing those details every day, for years.

Communicate

Home builds have a lot of moving parts, and things are bound to pop up and change. That doesn’t have to equal a mountain of stress, as long as you and your builder communicate well and stay on the same page. Before you start building, maybe set up a timeline and preferred methods of communication. And always make sure you have an outside inspector come through to make sure each phase of the process is up to code.

With a little planning, you might find your home build to be a fun and rewarding process! If you’d like more information, please contact us at 636-462-3500 or email us here.