For most people, building a custom house is a once in a lifetime opportunity and can be really exciting! It can also, however, be intimidating, especially if you're not adequately prepared or have the right team behind you.
If you're thinking about building your custom dream home, here are some questions you should ask yourself before getting started.
Where are you going to build your house?
This is unsurprisingly the number one question to ask yourself before building your house. Location is everything. You’ve probably been looking for a while and know it’s not easy to find the perfect lot. But there are also many factors that make the perfect lot, well… perfect.
Is it expensive to build on?
Will you be able to keep all the trees?
Can you fit the size of the house you want on it?
Having someone who can give you guidance before you purchase your lot means you know what to expect in terms of overall costs as well as how the house would be best laid out, saving you time during the design process and frustration when it’s time to build.
Other points to consider:
Does your daily life fit in this new location?
How is the commute? Maybe visit it during various times of the day to get a true feeling of the location.
What feel does the neighborhood give you?
Surely, you can think of a hundred other questions about the practicalities of where you're planning to live. Remember this: the more you know up front, the better.
What’s most important in your new home?
Do you have a specific need or feature you want included in the design?
What is missing from your current home that you want to make sure is included in your Dream House?
On the other hand, are there things you absolutely love in your current home that you’d like to replicate?
Has your family outgrown certain spaces or perhaps you now need better use of other spaces?
Will your family structure change in the near future?
Do you need to consider better accessibility?
These are just a few questions that might help you as you write down a list of “Must Haves” and “Would Like to Haves”.
Knowing what matters to you will give your Builder a good sense of what to focus on when helping you design your home and how to best allocate your budget.
How about that Budget?
Last but not least… Money.
How much can you afford?
How much do you want to finance vs pay out of pocket?
How much should you budget for?
Budgets can be easily drained by ambitious designs and tempting options. While the price of the lot and the size of the house will be your biggest factors, smaller items add up quickly. For example, a metal roof may not be as appealing when you find out how much it costs, or a full stone façade may become brick with stone accents to accommodate what you want to spend. The right Builder will guide you from the beginning of the design process to make sure your budget meets your design requirements and there are no surprises when it is time to sign the contract.
If you're thinking about building a house, please let us know... We would love to earn your business! Visit us at our Model Home or call us at 817-724-7777 for an appointment.
