The excitement of getting your new home is enough to make you forget everything that’s been going on so far. Whatever your age might be, you’ll feel younger and giddier just looking at your new home, with the foundations and the beam supports up and ready.
But before you allow any construction on your home to begin, you must draft a carefully prepared plan to know which parts of your home you should focus on first. Hiring a lawn and landscaping service is a good idea; however, you should consider that people will be walking in and out of your home. Your lawn might suffer from heavy foot traffic if you think about working on it first.
While it’s tempting to focus on all parts at once to finish the job quickly, there’s the problem in that you might eventually become too stressed with a lot of things on your mind. Here are a few reminders on what you can instead focus on first.
Focus on the Budget First
Before you even think of working on anything in your home, consider your budget for the house. Create a realistic picture of your spending budget and calculate how much you can really afford to spend. You should also compare it against the price of building a new home.
No one wants to run out of money in the middle of the construction, which is why a thorough calculation is needed. You might even turn out needing to take out a mortgage and a construction loan. Banks and other institutions help give you a clear calculation of what maximum amount of money you need.
Usually, these calculations are done before the initial phase of the construction. It’s not strange to have someone calculate what you’ll need even two years or more before you begin to work with a builder or contractor.
Shop Around for a Lot
In case you haven’t picked out a vacant lot to build your dream home on just yet, shop around for a lot based on your plans. You can contact a realtor to have an accurate estimate of how much a vacant lot will cost you.
Generally, about 20 to 25% of the cost of creating your new home goes towards this land. You should also visit the site. You can also choose to do a virtual visit during this time of the pandemic. This is an important part of the process, especially if you buy land near the ocean or the suburbs.
Check the plot for any problems like soil condition, the state of the drainage system, how large your actual property will be, and for building codes.
Design Your House
When you finally have an idea of how big that space you’re working with is, you can start planning your house. There’s no set plan, and this also depends on what vision you have for your home. It’s up to you to choose whether you’re building a bungalow type or a two-story house.
You can take inspiration from already existing designs or go for a custom-designed home. In the case of the latter, you’ll have to work with a licensed architect. They’ll be asking you questions relative to the house’s position and whether you want the home not to be too hot or cold during the summer or winter months.
Close the Contract with a Home Builder
You can now choose to close the contract on your home with a professional or a team of contractors. It’s not an easy task, and you’ll usually have to rely on people who know more than you do when it takes to create a home.
The right builder can help you with your custom home, while the wrong team may only make matters worse. Your choice of a contractor should have some extensive experience under their belt, not to mention other successful projects.
Inspect your Home
Once everything’s been completed, and your home is finally standing in that space, you should take a look at it. If you see some problems—a loose fixture here or a chipped paint—you should inform the contractor. Electrical problems are also of particular concern. You should make sure there are no problems when you’re ready to move in.
Building your dream home is never easy. You should always make sure that you’ve created it to spec because you don’t want to go back on your decision or regret the choices you’ve made during the construction phase. You’ll love living in a home that you’re proud of!
