The Essential Building a House Checklist: 16 Important Considerations
When deciding to build a custom home, it is a good idea to create a checklist. This ensures that you and your builders both understand what is important to you, and what is necessary for them to complete. There are many steps in your building a house timeline. At ValueBuild Homes, we are committed to following your checklist to ensure everything runs smoothly.
1. Find Your Lot
In order to build a house, you need to buy your land first so you know where exactly your house will be built. Your local realtor can help you find the perfect spot for your new home to be built.
When deciding where to build your home, it is imperative to look for land in a safe area that you and your family feel comfortable living in. When choosing your land with your realtor, consider having your architect come with you. This will ensure you choose land that will best fit your building needs.
2. Design Your Custom Home
You can plan out and design your custom home before or after you choose your plot of land. This stage in building a home is so significant because this will define the entire building process of your new home.
You will need to choose the layout, size, and style of your custom home. However, this is the best part. You are in charge of everything and will work closely with your builders to ensure your home is exactly what you want.
3. Go Over Your Financing Options
When you have decided where you want to build your custom home and how you want to design it, you will need to figure out how you want to pay for the materials and the property. You will not be able to choose a typical 30-year loan with a fixed rate because your bank has so many factors to consider when you build a custom home.
You will need to obtain a loan for construction and get a construction mortgage. These loans are difficult to receive because banks usually do not like to loan money for products that aren’t finished. To receive a loan for construction, provide your lender with your timeline, a list of materials, your budget, and your floor plans.
4. Hire a Professional Custom Home Builder
When creating a building a house checklist, choosing a professional custom home builder is a prime component of your checklist. Finding a professional builder can be difficult. ValueBuild Homes has the best professional builders that can help build your dream home.
Before choosing your builder, check references, visit their current building sites, and let them know you want to communicate openly throughout the entire building process. Professional custom home builders will be honest and open while working with you every step of the way.
5. Hire an Architect
You might need to hire an architect to apply for permits when building your new custom home. Custom home builders can consult you on matters like permits, local zoning laws, your budget, and so on.
However, you will need an architect to apply for permits because many permits require that you have architectural plans with details in place, like square footage, the layout of your new home, and how many stories it is going to be.
6. Prepare Your Land
Now that you have all the details sorted out, it is time to prepare your land to build your custom home on. This is one of the most important parts in the steps to building a house checklist. Your builder will get to work with preparing your land. This means that piping trenches need to be dug out, and you will need to set up the groundwork for our appliances.
7. Set Up Your Foundation
Depending on where you live, your foundation can vary between having a full basement, having a crawl space, or having a slab foundation made of concrete. In North Carolina, most foundations consist of crawl spaces due to the soil being too moist. Basements can be built – if your builder agrees that it is the right decision.
No matter what foundation you choose, it will have concrete reinforced with steel rods. Once the foundation is laid, it will be sprayed with waterproof material before your inspection.
8. Form Your Home Structure
Forming the structure of your home occurs after the foundation is laid. Your builders will begin to frame your home and form the walls and roof. The builders will likely wrap your house to prevent moisture from setting in.
9. Install Major Internal Systems
Once the foundation is laid and the walls and roof are formed, your builders will begin installing your major internal systems. This includes all plumbing, heating and cooling, wiring, and water heaters.
10. Insulate Your New Home
Now that all major internal systems are properly installed, it is time to insulate your home. Insulation is typically present in your basement, attic, and inside your walls.
You will have the option to choose from the four types of insulation, which are cellulose, mineral wool, foam, and fiberglass. Fiberglass insulation is most commonly used to insulate homes because it is cost-effective.
11. Install Drywall
Installing drywall in your new custom home is the last step of finishing the exterior and the foundation of your home. Drywall panels are installed, so the wall’s insulation is properly sealed.
12. Finish the Interior and Exterior of Your Home
Now it is time to finish the interior of your home. This includes adding windowsills, doors, shower doors, bathtubs, casings, or anything else you can think of that isn’t a structural component. As for the exterior, your builders will ensure that everything is painted and your driveway is ready to go.
13. Add the Finishing Touches
In your new home finishes checklist, now is the time for your builders to check that everything is good with your HVAC systems, wiring, and plumbing. Flooring is typically installed during this stage and is the last finishing touch to your new home.
14. Await the Inspection
You are almost at the point where you can sit back and relax in your new custom-built home. First, you have to wait for your local building officials to inspect your home to ensure everything meets code standards.
15. Walk Through Your New Home
Lastly, take a final walk through your new home. This is your last chance to voice any concerns you may have to your builders.
16. Enjoy Your New Home
It is now time to enjoy your new custom-built home! You made it through the difficult past few months of creating your ideal home and creating a checklist for building a house yourself. Now you can take some time to relax and enjoy your brand new custom-built home.
ValueBuild Homes Is Here to Help Create Your Ideal Home
At ValueBuild Homes, it is important for us to go through your building a house checklist together. If you are ready to build a custom home or have any questions about building a custom home, contact us today to start creating your dream home.