Tips on Building your Next Home New Construction of a home

Tips on Building your Next Home

New Construction of a home is a very significant investment, and building one will be one of the most exciting things you will do in a lifetime. It’s important to be informed and organized when you begin, so that you will be certain to enjoy a successful result. The following is a “nuts and bolts” summary of the basics to help you get started.

It’s all in the Planning

A house is an investment that is meant to last, theoretically forever. So it's wise to plan well into the future when you build your first home. Is your family growing? Do you want a place to entertain? Is it in a location where you'd consider spending the rest of your life? These are big questions to answer but will help you get the right home—a home that will grow with you.

Determine how much you can afford

The first step to building your new home is to determine how much you can actually afford. The amount of home you get for your dollar varies with an innumerable amount of factors, from the cost of your builder, to the type of layout, to the labor involved and the cost of materials.

Pick a builder

The key to designing your new home is communication with the builders and designers who will be involved in the project. You should involve just as much care in selecting your builder as you do in picking your floor plan and location. There is nothing more important than finding a reputable builder who will build you a quality home.

Contact your local home builders association for a list of builders in your area.

Check the real estate section of your local newspaper for builders and projects. This can help you learn which builders are active in your area, as well as which ones are building homes you like that are in your target price range.

Ask a local real estate agent, as well as friends and relatives.

Choose a floor plan and trimmings

Choosing a floor plan can certainly be intimidating. The first thing to ask yourself is whether you would like to use a custom floor plan, or a pre-drawn one. Pre-drawn plans are much cheaper, and can typically be delivered within a few days. On the other hand, custom floor plans will typically cost you about 5-10% of the cost of the home, and take weeks or months to deliver.

Green is Key

A big trend in today’s market is the green home. There are a lot of green, water-saving technologies in a list of price ranges. These days you can easily find a good number of solutions for your bathroom or kitchen that will save you water and energy.

Keep it Affordable

You should put some careful thought into how large or small a home you really want and need. If you are building a large home you can obviously expect to pay more in mortgage payments, maintenance and utilities but if you plan something considerably smaller than what you'll need you could end up feeling like you're living in a birdcage.

In the Details

It’s easy to think about how many bedrooms you need or what you want in your kitchen but don’t forget other details too. For instance, there should be a bathroom on each floor if you are building a multi-story home. You'll want to consider amenities for any guests you might periodically have staying with you