Maybe you’ve looked and looked at the selection of listed homes for sale in the area you wish to live, and you’ve finally come to the conclusion that you want to build your own home instead of buying a “preowned house.”
You want your home to be as unique as you are – to truly fit your personality and preferences. And, fully support your chosen lifestyle.
But before you “break earth” and commit yourself financially and legally to a home building project, make sure you think through the details ahead of time. Among the many factors you need to take into account, these 5 are key:
1. Choose Your Builder Wisely
If you want a truly modern home, then look for a proven modern home builder who will take the extra time and effort to customize every aspect of the house to be built to your specifications. You also want someone who has long experience in providing up to date designs to previous clients. He can give you inspiring examples of what others have done.
Modern designs tend to incorporate clean lines, open floor plans, an abundance of natural light via skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, winding staircases, verandas and patios with breathtaking views of the surroundings, and a blending of indoor and outdoor spaces. Spaciousness, simplicity, and connections between the house and the natural environment loom large on the modern design scene.
2. Location, Location, Location
Aside from finding a trustworthy builder and deciding on a happy design, you need to consider the huge impact location has on your home and your lifestyle. A seaside cottage, a ranch nestled amid the wooded, rolling hills, and an elegant mansion in an upscale, downtown neighborhood all have their peculiar charms. But their ambiance is largely preset based on location – and geography is something you just can’t change.
Proximity to local schools, to shops, restaurants, entertainment, and other amenities, and what kind of neighbors you’re going to have also has all to be carefully weighed when deciding on your future home’s permanent location.
3. The Impact on the Environment
Some building contractors will know how to reduce your new home’s carbon footprint to a minimum. They can build it with more eco-friendly materials, prevent air leaks to maximize energy efficiency, and even put on the finishing touches like low-flow shower heads and tankless water heaters.
By getting your home LEED Certified, installing solar panels, and taking advantage of every tax credit and rebate for low environmental impact, you can save money long term and help the Earth.
4. Staying on Budget
You can’t afford to ignore the issue of cost. Even when you have plenty of funds to draw on and a healthy line of financing, you still have some financial parameters that require wise management and budgeting.
You can’t risk starting your home and running out of funds before you can finish it. So you need to get good cost estimates, prioritize must-have features over should-haves, and put your dollars where they’re going to do the most for you.
5. Planning for the Future
Building a house requires some forethought about all the ways it’s going to be used over the next 25 to 50 years or more and not just in the immediate future. You may be a couple with no kids today. However, if you have kids down the road, you want to already have a bedroom available for them.
If your parents move in with you later in life, if your college kid needs a place to stay during the summers, or if you will need extra storage space – prepare now and avoid building an addition later.
When planning to build your own home, as romantic and exciting as it all may be, you also have to stop and do some clear-headed assessing of your resources and make key decisions on these 5, and other, factors that will affect your future.
