Are you ready to build the house of your dreams? If so, you may be tempted to jump straight to the really fun parts like picking out colors and looking at fun light fixtures. But before you get too far ahead of yourself, you need to make certain that you’ve considered a number of factors before you start building. If you don’t, you may find yourself dealing with some costly issues later on. You want to be sure you’re fully prepared to begin the home-building process before you start paying for anything. Here are some of the things you’ll need to keep in mind.
What Do You Need in a Home?
The first thing to consider is what spaces and functionality you need in a home. Do you often have family or friends stay overnight? If so, you’re going to need at least one guest bedroom, maybe two. Do you have a collection you want to display? Do you sew or do some other type of hobby that may require its own space? Everything you do on a daily basis needs to be factored into your needs. If you host a lot of dinner parties, you may want a large kitchen so people can gather there, but if you don’t do a lot of cooking, you may want to keep that area fairly small and use the space elsewhere. It all depends on your unique lifestyle needs.
What Does the Future Hold?
Always consider the future when planning out your dream home. If you don’t, you may find that you have to move in five years because the house no longer works for you. If you and your spouse will be starting a family soon, be sure you have space for children. If you have an elderly relative who may move in with you, consider the width of the hallways and install toilets that meet their possible medical requirements.
Where Do You Stand Financially?
Building a house is different from buying one because you can customize everything. However, this can also easily lead to you going over-budget if you get carried away. Make certain you know exactly what you can afford. If you get a loan, it may be easier to know when you have to stop spending, but it’s not always easy. You may have selected tiles for your bathroom floor, but then found the ones you love that are just a little more expensive. Then you find slightly more expensive hardware for the kitchen. Next, you’re blown away by a few new light fixtures that are double the price of those you had originally picked out. Before you know it, you’re way over your budget.
While it’s very tempting to follow the logic of “you only build a home once, make it perfect,” you do have to make certain you’re not putting yourself in financial jeopardy by spending too much. You also have to keep in mind that there could be unexpected costs down the line, so always keep a little money put back for emergencies.
Do You Understand the Building Codes?
You may have the perfect home design in mind, but does it meet all of your local regulations, zoning requirements, and building codes? If it doesn’t, you won’t be allowed to build it. If you later discover that you needed certain permits or other requirements after you’ve built the home, you may end up paying a lot more. Be sure you and your construction manager know what requirements you have to comply with before construction begins.
Have You Found the Right Contractor?
Entrusting someone with the construction of what may be the house you live in for the rest of your life shouldn’t be done on a whim. You want to make certain you’ve considered several different construction companies and have selected the one that works with your budget and schedule. Look at their customer reviews and what they bring to the table. You also want to be sure the manager is someone you’re comfortable with since you’ll be working with them for a number of months. This is a major investment, and you want to be sure you’ve got the right people working on your home.
What Do You Need Part 2?
Now that you’ve got most of the big-picture concerns handled, it’s time to return to thinking about your needs. However, instead of looking at spaces and rooms, you want to consider some of the smaller details. For example, do you want to make your home a smart house? Do you want to have outlets with USB ports installed throughout? How much storage do you need? Do you need any special safety features for young children? Think about all of these extras before you sit down with the builder so you can provide them with an idea of everything you want. Don’t think about your budget at this point—put everything you want on the list. You may be surprised at how affordable
some things are.
These are just a few of the things you need to think about when determining if you’re ready to build your dream home. If you are, it’s time to make that dream a reality!
