Are you ready to create a home that you love? Are you excited to build it from scratch, embracing what you enjoy? Working with a builder to design your place is a thrilling event, one that not everyone has the chance to do.
On the one hand, it delivers personalization and flexibility, but it also demands patience and savvy. As you head into this new venture, be aware of the following nine things.
1. Plan Your Budget
Start with planning your budget while building a new home. Estimate how much do you need and how much you can afford to spend on the new home. It’s possible that you might need a house loan or mortgage.
So, it’s wise to find out how much loan you can qualify for depending on the income. Additionally, you also need to list the other costs. For example, the cost of the land, designer, materials, furniture, and so on, needs to be fitted in your budget.
2. Walk Through the Models
Which place is right for you? A home is a significant investment, and it’s essential to select something that you like and want to have for a while. You don’t want to be disappointed with it. So take time to shop around, looking at various models and builders.
As you go through, snap pictures of anything that strikes your interest. Do you like how a living room is set up? Maybe you enjoy the cabinets in one model over another? Gather your ideas through images so you can reference them later.
3. Pick a Builder That Suits Your Needs and Interests
Once you’ve assessed multiple builders and their plans, pick the one that provides you the most on your list for a price that you find reasonable. Budget is important, so use a mortgage calculator to determine what you can afford.
You can always add things to a house later, so be sure to select something that offers future possibilities and current content. Discuss the price point with the agent, and ask about any other fees that may go into the mortgage, such as a CDD or HOA payment.
4. Learn the Timeline and Potential Obstacles
Unlike buying a previously constructed home, your new model takes time. To minimize frustrations and confusion, learn the timeline early. Once you sign the contract, you should have multiple planning meetings to discuss the architecture and wiring.
The land must be cleared, the slab poured and the framing completed. Then plumbing, electrical, and insulation must go in before the walls are finished. Ask about how long each phase takes.
Also, anticipate the delays. The home building process, after all, relies on multiple crews who have to complete their tasks before the next stage begins. If materials are unavailable or the weather pushes back work, you may wait longer for completion.
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5. Consult with a Real Estate Lawyer
It would be wise if you can consult with a real estate lawyer while signing the contract. Keep in mind that building a home is a huge investment and you should know that all the bases are clear.
There can be some laws of the property that may raise legal objections later. A professional lawyer can handle such issues and deal with them efficiently. Therefore, hiring a lawyer with small up-front costs can save you thousands of dollars if something wrong happens during construction.
6. Prepare for the Design Room
Many builders offer you one chance to visit the design room. You are in there for a couple of hours, making many decisions. Be prepared with a game plan for how to use the time best. Before you go inside, walk through the model they offer–even if they aren’t in your floor plan.
Look again at what you like in flooring, tile, cabinetry, and counters. Print the images that you want from the first round and this one. These pictures could help you narrow down your options during the final decision time.
Building a home is not about turning someone else’s space into yours. Instead, you make it yours from the start. Know the overall process, expect some hiccups and be prepared to make decisions.
7. Design the New Home with Resale in Mind
When building and designing a new home, as a homeowner, you must think about its resale value. According to the realtors, house owners averagely stay at their houses for about 13 years maximum.
So, there are some design factors you need to keep in mind. Like, floors are needed to be attractive so that future buyers take an interest in buying your home. Additionally, interior decoration, exterior style, outdoor spacing, etc., are included in the resale plan.
8. Finish the Construction Before Moving in
It’s an important tip to remember while moving into a new home. Most people want to move in when they hear the construction is about to end.
But before moving in, check whether the basement, garage, and backyard are finished or not. Otherwise, the builders may need to come back again to finish their work, which can be tiresome for you.
9. Plan for Storage Area
Another key point is planning for a storage area at your home. Unfortunately, most homeowners only concentrate on master plans, but it’s also important to create storage space.
Though planning for storage is not very exciting, it helps in organizing your living and workspace and gives a clean look to the home. Further, another storage facility is if everything is organized, you’ll have more free time to do other works.
10. Meet the New Neighbors
Your new neighbors can be helpful if you’re planning to move into a new place. So, try to reach out and make a friendly gesture to get to know each other.
Additionally, connecting with the neighborhood will give you access to important information, like the best local plumber, mechanic, etc. Ultimately, you won’t feel lonely.
