Building a custom home from the ground up is a dream for many people, but it takes a lot more planning than you might think. If you are ready to contact a custom home builder and start working on the plans, here are some things to think about first.
Separate Your Wants and Needs
When you are in the process of building a custom home, you probably have a lot of different ideas, from practical to lavish. After all, you have full control of just about everything in your house, including the exterior design, size, number of rooms and fixtures inside the home. However, it is important to make a distinction between what you really need and what is a want but not mandatory. This helps your builder to work with you in designing a home you are happy with that still remains within budget. You probably will have to make some sacrifices, so start early making a list of what absolutely needs to be included and then extras that are just in the want category.
Don't Try to Take Up the Entire Lot
Overbuilding is a really common mistake people make when looking at an empty lot and trying to design their home. Even if you have a large lot and don't currently have much need for a big yard, you don't want to design a house that is bigger than necessary. This not only prevents you from planning from a bigger yard if you later decide you want one, but it can also stick out like a sore thumb next to other houses on the street. Overbuilding is also an issue when your house is a much different design than others in the area. You don't need to make it exactly the same, but definitely try to blend in a little.
Make Everything Legal
If you were just making improvements to your currently home, hiring a reputable remodelling contractor might be enough without involving lawyers. However, with a custom home you are building from scratch, you really need to go one step further and secure your investment. After the builder you choose has drawn up the contracts, have a lawyer look them over before you sign them. This can be beneficial for you and the builder so that you are guaranteeing payment and the builder keeps up with their end of the agreement as well.
Once you get these important things out of the way, you can start the fun part of deciding how you want your home to look.
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