Custom home building is rewarding in so many ways. From the plotting and planning right through to the first brick-lay: you are building your dream home from scratch. This gives you so much flexibility when it comes to floor plans and designing your home just the way you’d want it. However, a house is a lot of responsibility – and building one is no exception.
There are many things to consider when building a custom home, but here are the top 11 you should keep in mind.
1. Think About Your Future
When custom home building, it is important to keep your future (and the future of your family) in mind. What you think works well for you now might not work the same way in ten years.
If you do not have children but think you might have them in the future, design your home with that in mind. Or if you are building a house you’d love to grow old in, consider having stairs against the wall for a lift in the future or consider the benefits of a downstairs room.
Truly, you need to think about everything before you get started – including the “minor” details like kitchen countertop space, having enough rooms for the office or home gym you’ve been wanting, but also how large your yard will be and how many bathrooms you’ll need.
2. Plan for Storage
You are in charge of designing your custom home, so you have the option to add as much space for storage as you need.
You can create lots of space for storage in your basement, add additional closets (such as walk-in wardrobes or pantry space), or even design the roof with attic space in mind.
We know that planning for storage is not an exciting part of building a custom home, but it is a good step in the right direction when planning your future in your new home.
3. Do Your Research
In order to ensure you get your dream home, do your research on the best custom home builders in your area, like ValueBuild Homes in Carolina. It is important that you choose a custom home builder who will work with you as a team to make your dream come to life.
If you choose an inexperienced home builder or one who isn’t licensed, you will run into some serious issues during the custom home building process – and the hassle is way more time-consuming than the extra research it takes to make the right decision.
4. Custom Home Building is Rewarding
Building custom homes is more rewarding than you would think.
When purchasing an existing home, there is always the possibility of something going wrong. Whether an appliance breaks or there are issues with the electricity or plumbing, you will likely have to spend a lot of money to fix the issue
If you build a custom home, you will not have to worry about maintenance costs for years because everything will be brand new. In addition, you will be living in the place of your dreams.
It is difficult to find a home similar to what you have in mind for your dream home when buying an existing building, no matter how much you think you can customize it.
5. You Need to Set a Budget
Before beginning to build your new custom home, you should set a budget to determine what you can and can’t afford.
The budget should include:
- A price of all the amenities you chose
- The cost of materials (and land)
- Labor costs for architects and designers as well as builders
- Local tax requirements
- And more
It is also wise to set aside extra money for any surprises that can occur when building your custom home. This way, you will be prepared if an unexpected custom home building cost comes up.
6. Create a Plan
When planning to build your custom home, you should have a clear plan outlined so you can guide the whole process.
Discuss this plan with your custom home builder to ensure you are all on the same page. If you have a clear plan, you know your home will be built exactly how you are envisioning it to be. Planning properly will help you stay ahead of the game and save money and time.
7. Consider the Location of Your New Home
While you might not give it much thought at first, choosing the location of your land is a major decision when building a custom home.
You should consider how close you are to essential amenities, like grocery stores, hospitals, schools, churches, stores, and anything else you can think of. Keep in mind that the location you choose to build your home in will affect the property value of your home in the future if you decide to sell it.
8. Be Aware of the Regulations
There are always building regulations to build a new home based on what state you are in. It is essential to follow these regulations so you can avoid getting fined for not following them.
Some common regulations include placement of smoke alarms, having defective or missing ground fault circuit interpreters (GFCI) in your kitchen and bathrooms, bathroom venting violations, and having the right materials used when building your home.
To avoid violating regulations, carefully read through your contract with your builder.
9. Prepare Yourself for Mistakes
Even if you planned every detail as thoroughly as you could, there is always the possibility that a mistake will be made. This is another good reason why setting aside extra money is a good idea.
In case an item breaks, you will have money set aside to order the materials you need so they arrive on time. Even if your preferred option, like a light fixture, is out of stock, you can purchase one that is in stock and a little more expensive than you expected.
10. Connect With Your Builder
It is so, so important (and we can’t stress this enough) to have a good relationship with your builder. At ValueBuild Homes, the builders feel it is important to connect to homeowners. Without connection, you are not a team. The process of building a custom home is time-consuming and sometimes stressful, but with the right builders, you will get the home you have always imagined.
11. Plan Out Furniture Placement
Planning your furniture layout is important when building a custom home.
Take into account how much living space you know you want and build your house accordingly. The last thing you want is to feel cramped in your new home. Ensure your living room is large enough to fit the furniture you are expecting to set up in that room, and so on.
ValueBuild Homes Can Create Your Custom Home
There are so many benefits of custom home building. ValueBuild Homes is more than happy to help you create the home you always imagined. If you are considering building a custom home and would like to discuss your home building options, contact us today!