Building Your Dream Home from the Ground Up
Dream Home
When it comes to buying a home or building it from the ground up, there is a lot to consider. Building a custom home provides you with more freedom and be a part of your home’s creation.
It can be a pricey venture but is definitely worth it. Are you ready to build your dream home but unsure of the process? We can help you with that!
Perks of Building Your Home
There are some incredible benefits when you decide to build your home instead of buying including:
- Freedom to Customize – One of the best parts of building your dream home is having the ability to personalize it to fit your tastes and lifestyle. You’re able to choose everything from the lighting to the layout, the paint color to the cabinet styles, the flooring to the style of doorknobs, and so much more! How do you want your home to reflect you? Are you looking for a gorgeous patio space to entertain friends or something more lowkey and modern? The possibilities are endless.
- Lower Maintenance – Older homes are full of character and often need some kind of repairs in the first year. Your new home will be completely up-to-date, meeting current building codes, and featuring brand new systems and appliances. New appliances and many homebuilders also offer limited warranties as well.
- Low Energy Costs – When you build your home you’re able to ensure that you have the latest energy-efficient systems and materials installed, saving you money on your energy bills.
- Little to No Competition – When trying to buy your home, you have to face competition from other buyers. You may face bidding wars, losing out on your top choice because you weren’t quite fast enough to put an offer in. When you build, the only competition you may face is in buying the lot for your home.
The Importance of Budgeting
Setting your budget is an important first step when building a custom home.
You’re able to choose what your limit is and gives you an expectation of what you’ll be spending. When creating your budget it’s important to take into account the costs of material as well as labor.
You can build your own spreadsheet to do this or check out online resources to help you out. Not sure where to begin? Start by looking at the average cost to build a home to help you estimate the cost.
It’s important to remember to keep a somewhat flexible budget. As the process goes on, some things may cost more or less than you expect.
You may also decide to add in some small last-minute details as well, like a garage or mudroom.
You should also remember to be realistic about the cost of building your dream home. Homeowners on average will spend anywhere between $150,000 to $425,000 to build their new home.
Choosing the Right Construction Company
Trying to choose the right builder for your home can be a difficult process.
You want someone who will stick to your budget, walk you through the process, and build you something that you will love for years to come.
Here are some tips that may help you with your decision:
- Do Your Research – Search for local builders and check out their reviews and photos of their work. Some of the best ways to find possible builders for your home are to contact the local builders’ association and get a list of builders who construct custom homes in your area, ask family members or friends for suggestions, or perform an in-depth search online.
- Prepare a List of Questions – It’s important to meet with potential builders and get to know them. You should prepare questions for them to learn more about their process. It’s also important to ask for references and ask if they offer warranties.
- Check Out Their References and Review Their Work – It’s important to see the work that the potential builders have done to make sure that they can meet your needs. References will be able to let you know if there have been issues and what the builders did right.
- Shop Around for Quality and Value – Visit home shows and attend open houses that are sponsored by builders to get to know their work. You want to find someone who will provide you with a quality home that fits your budget.
Breaking Ground
Once you’ve found the right builder, it’s time to move on to the planning stage. The right builder will be able to assist you with planning out your home before beginning construction.
They’ll listen to you and take into account the details you want to be included while also providing helpful tips and insight.
If you’ve chosen a general contractor for your project they’ll also be able to help ensure you have all the proper permits to begin construction and will be in charge of proper garbage disposal on the job site.
The construction process is long but really magical when you’re building your dream home. The next steps are:
- Preparing the Land and Grading
- Pouring the Foundation
- Framing the Home
- Installing Custom Windows and Doors
- Installing the Roof and Siding
- Installing Essential Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC
- Putting Insulation In
- Hanging Drywall
- Installing Flooring Underlay
- Painting
- Completing Full Electrical
- Placing the Counters and Cabinets
- Completing Full Plumbing
- Installing Flooring
- Completing HVAC
- Hooking Up Water Lines and Sewage
- Final Walk-Through
During the process, multiple inspections are completed by a city inspector to ensure that everything is up to code.
And depending on your budget and what your builder offers you may even have landscaping completed before the final walk-through.
Building your home from the ground up can be a long process but it’s truly an exciting one watching your new home come together piece by piece.
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Category: Housing
