Considering building a new home for you and your family? There truly isn’t anything like it! However, there are some important things to consider before you jump right into the process. Here are some do’s and don’ts to think about before you start your new home build.
Do:
Keep a Detailed Budget Plan
Keeping your budget is important while you’re building a new home. The process has potential for numerous costs you don’t always expect and often don’t always keep track of. To keep everything organized, keep a detailed budget plan and record. Keeping track of costs will help you stay knowledgeable on which areas you are choosing to splurge and which areas you want to find lower-cost alternatives. Keeping a detailed budget plan will also help you from overspending in areas you didn’t intend to and avoid any costs from sneaking up on you.
Think Long-Term for Your Plans
It’s exciting to build a custom home! But many people often get wrapped up in the visual appeal of it all when they should also be considering how long-lasting the design and materials will be.
When building a new home, remember to think about your long-term plans. You’re putting a lot of time, effort, and money into this new build, so think about how future aspects could affect it. Carefully choose the location of your home, and make sure you know the taxes and fees of the area. Also, consider how the design of your home will fit into your life plans (do you want kids? Will you take in your elder parents? Will this be your forever home?).
Choose a Reputable Builder
Choosing your builder is one of the most crucial steps in the home-building process. If you do your homework and choose a reputable builder, you can trust that they have your best interest at heart and will get the job done right. You can rely on their expertise to help you make the right decision about things such as the best materials to use without having to worry if they’re trying to make a few bucks off you.
Expect a Few Delays
It would be great if the building process of your custom home were to run without any trouble, but that’s not likely. There are a lot of people, decision-making, and work involved in building a new home. People can get sick, the weather can throw a wrench in the plans, and materials might not show up on time. Add allowance to your timeline for a few delays and remember that everything will work out in the end.
Don’t:
Be Too Hands-Off
While you may choose a reputable builder and trust everything he says and does, it’s best not to be too hands-off about the process. Communication is critical, and you shouldn’t assume that everyone fully understands what you want.
It’s also a good idea to understand what exactly is going on in the process, so don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand a concept before it begins to be implemented.
Hold Back on Your Ideas
At the end of the day, this is going to be your custom home. Not anybody else’s home. You have all the options and you can be specific on the details in all the areas of your home! Don’t feel like you’re being too picky during the process. Don’t hesitate to speak up about your wishes or concerns. If you wait until your home is half-done, redoing your choices can be expensive and time-consuming (not to mention frustrating for everybody).
Be Closed Off to New Ideas, Either
Coming in with your plan is great, but don’t be closed off to new ideas. Sometimes, there are uncontrollable factors that will force you to change some details about the design. Other times, you may get a suggestion that will improve your current idea. If you’re set on your plan, you may make the process harder for you and your builder. Prepare to be flexible. You may be surprised with how much you like the changes!
Buy Furniture and Décor Too Early
Again, building a new home is so incredibly exciting. It can be so exciting you want to shop for the furniture and décor before it’s even finished being built.
However, it’s best to hold off on the shopping until you can see your space in its completed form. That’s because you may find that the decorations you think will work when your home is incomplete are quite different from the decorations you’ll choose when it’s ready to move in. Also, if you shop for furniture and décor too soon, you’ll pass the window of return and might be stuck with items you’re not thrilled with anymore. It’s best to leave the shopping for the fun stuff when your home is move-in ready.
Let’s Start Building Your Custom Home
If you’re ready to build a new home, our team is ready to lend you a hand.
At Ridgeline Homes, we don’t just build you a house; we build you the beautiful custom-design home of your dreams. We help you make your vision come to life and will assist you in choosing the perfect lot in Montrose, Colorado, all the way down to the small details, like knobs on your cabinets. We also schedule several walk-throughs throughout the building process and send you notifications when milestones are achieved. Let us show you how simple and enjoyable custom homeownership can be. We’re ready to start this exciting process with you.
