According to New Home Source, the average construction time for a custom home is 10 to 16 months, which means you’re looking at a long, stressful process of making that dream come true. However, a custom-built home can feature the exact layout and options that you want. You have complete control of the location, the material quality, and every other detail of the home. If you are considering building a custom home, these tips and guidelines from Fearn Property Specialist can help you get started off on the right foot.

Make a wish list

Before you do anything else, start writing down what you want out of your custom home, and not just the square footage and number of bedrooms. Do you want a large lot? Privacy? Energy-efficiency? With an eye toward value and future sales, many homeowners put extra thought into the kitchen, investing in things like quartz countertops, superior cabinets, and high-end appliances. Brainstorm with all the other members of your household and come up with your house goals, deciding which items are must-haves and which are just bonuses.

Choose a lot

The one thing that you can’t ever change about a house is its location. Look for available lots in your desired area, and talk to Fearn Property Specialist about keeping a lookout for similar properties. Don’t compromise — you don’t want to end up moving again in a few years because you aren’t happy with the location.

Choosing a builder

Perhaps the most important member of your team is your home builder. You need to hire a reliable builder who can deliver what you want within your budget constraints and your timeline. Talk with friends, relatives, and associates who have custom-built their own homes. Get recommendations on who to use and who to avoid. Look for pre-screened, licensed candidates that have outstanding reviews from their previous clients. Interview multiple builders to see if they understand your vision about your home. If possible, visit homes that they’ve actually built. Narrow it down to a few choices and then ask for bids based on your design plans.

As Rainbow Construction points out, before you settle on the property, it can help to touch base with your builder. Sometimes these professionals bring insights that can save you money, trying to turn an ill-fitting property into one that suits your criteria. They can tell you how suitable the land is for building, what utilities are available in the area, and if neighborhood covenants or government regulations restrict building certain types or sizes of structures.

Set a budget

When setting a budget for your future abode, you need to consider all the costs of building a home:

• Land
• Site work (clearing the ground, bringing in utilities, etc.)
• Taxes and permits
• Design and engineering
• Construction expenses (foundation, framing, finishes, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing)
• Contingency fund (at least 10% of expected building costs)
• Landscaping
• Furniture, appliances, window treatments, and décor
• Loan closing costs
• Insurance

Take a serious look at your finances to determine how much you can afford. You will likely need to get a short-term construction loan to get the house built, and then take out a mortgage to pay off that debt.
Hone in on the details

Once you’ve selected a builder and sorted your budget, you need to hammer out every last detail about your home before construction begins. You can change the materials and floor plan now, but once framing gets underway, any major changes can result in additional, large expenses. Before construction, you may want to hire an interior designer to discuss any design elements you’d like to incorporate into your home. To find a local or virtual design professional that works for your budget, you can search freelance job boards.

Your contract with the builder needs to be detailed and clear, including the finalized blueprints, the scope of work, contractors and materials to be used, brands and models of appliances and fixtures, timetable, schedule of payments, warranties, and so forth.

Even with a timeline, you should be prepared for construction delays. Problematic weather, labor challenges, approvals, late shipments, and other things can come up to delay the construction of your home. Stay in constant communication with your builder and try not to get frustrated.

A lot goes into the construction of a home. Even with all the planning, meetings, and details, it’s a worthwhile endeavor, and doing it the right way makes all the difference in the results. Thanks to your diligence, you’ll be moving into your beautiful, custom-built dream home before you know it!

Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay

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