Building a home, especially if you are building your first home, is an exciting albeit stressful experience. The best way to ensure success when it comes to constructing your home is to remain involved in the entire process. This can pose a difficulty if you are building in a different state or city than you currently live in. There are still ways to be involved even if it is remote, and the more involved you can be, the better. This ensures that you end up with the house of your dreams.
UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL SIDE
Before you can start building, you’ll need to know the costs and make sure you can afford it. If you can’t afford the house you want, it’s probably a better idea to wait one or two more years and save up, then end up with a home that you aren’t entirely satisfied with.
If you’re purchasing a house plan, you can go through that agency to get an estimate of costs. If you are building from scratch, it’s a good idea to talk to your realtor for recommendations for a builder. Speaking to the builder about your plans will help you get an idea of how much it will cost before you go ahead and purchase the land.
Getting a loan to build a home works a little bit differently than buying a home that is already made. You’ll need a construction line of credit, and then after the house is built, you’ll get a mortgage to pay that line of credit off. If you go speak to your bank or mortgage broker, they will be able to help you with estimates and get things set up.
TRY TO BE SUSTAINABLE
With houses going up left and right, it’s time to think about the effect we have on the environment around us. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t build a home, you should just be conscious of construction material and practices that go into the construction of your home. Make sure that you discuss this with the builders of your home before you get started and get locked into a contract. You want to focus on energy efficiency, as well as the use of recycled materials whenever possible.
BE PICKY WHEN SELECTING YOUR BUILDER
Your builder is responsible for bringing your dream home into reality. It may seem like a big job for you, and while this is so exciting for you, this is just a normal day for your builder. Make sure that you find a builder that sees your vision, and respects it. If they are pushing back and fighting you on the things you want to be included in your dream home, then they aren’t a good fit for you. A personal referral is going to be the best way to find someone who is going to do a good job, but you should also check the National Association of Home Builders(NAHB). Not all builders are created equal, so make sure that you do extensive research, and meet with a few different builders, before making your final decision. You want someone who not only does quality work but is also punctual.
BUILD WITH THE INTENT OF RESALE
Even though you are building your dream home, you always have to keep the possibility of needing to resell your home in mind. It’s unlikely it will be the last home you ever own. You want to make sure that the features you are installing are things that will appeal to the general public. It’s very possible that the exact items you think are charming, someone else will think it is tacky. This shouldn’t discourage you from putting the things you want into your home, but if you want something unique and out of the ordinary in your home, try to find a way to make it easily removable. For example, removable wallpaper or backsplash stickers. These will look like the real deal you’re seeking, but they can be taken down easily by the next tenants of your home. Think timeless in design, and bring accessories and home decor items in that speak to your individuality.
