You’ve finally decided to take the plunge and build the home of your dreams. Congratulations! Building a new construction home is a worthwhile undertaking, one that will bring you happiness for years to come.
Though ultimately a wonderful experience, building your own home is a huge endeavor that may at times feel like a full time job. If you’re in the planning stages of building, here are some helpful tips about building a new construction home.
Track Your Numbers
As with any real estate endeavor, it’s important to know what your budget is. Before you begin building or planning, consult your finances to figure out what exactly you can afford. Many house plans offer a cost to build tool that gives you an accurate estimate of construction costs.
Keep in mind you’ll be paying for cost of construction, taxes, funds for the down payment, and other fees.
After determining your finances, select a house plan and meet with your lender. Financing the construction of a home differs slightly from a traditional mortgage, so be sure and discuss all your plans with your banker.
Research Local Builders
When it comes to vetting the construction team who will be building your new home, there’s no such thing as too much research. Read reviews on websites like Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau to figure out which builder is right for you.
If you ever need any recommendations, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Consider Green Options
Do thorough research to see if you can maximize energy-efficiency in your new home. Work with an architect and builder who has experience in designing green homes.
Be sure the majority of your windows face the South, so you have as much natural sunlight as possible heating your home.
Spend a lot of time carefully choosing your HVAC and insulation systems, as these tend to comprise a large part of any homeowner’s expenses.
Hire a Designer
This is especially helpful if you’re building a custom home. While you may know exactly what you want in your home, there is a lot of home construction lingo and jargon that you might not understand. A designer is a great resource because they are able to translate your needs and wants in home design into the technical jargon that builders will understand.
A designer will also be able to help make decisions you don’t understand while building your home.
Remember the Punch List
Once construction ends, you’ll need to walk through your new home and compile a punch list. Every time you walk through the construction site while building, you should create a list of things that might need improvement.
This refers to the list of construction that still needs to be done, or what needs to be fixed within the new home. Typically, there are two kinds of flaws in new construction homes. Reasonable flaws are minor errors that don’t affect the overall quality of the home. Unreasonable flaws are bigger issues and must be fixed so that the home is livable.
It’s best to invite your realtor on these walks to discuss your punch list. Since they have no emotional connection to the home, they are more likely to point out errors you might miss.
Let Us Help
We have experience and expertise when it comes to helping clients build the home of their dreams. If you ever have any questions about the process of building your home, or just need someone to chat with about your real estate plans, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We’re always happy to help.