The idea of building a custom home brings a lot of excitement. It’s a dream come true for many who have longed for the opportunity to design their own home. As more and more people explore this option, there is a need to have adequate information to guide them with their decision. By avoiding some of the mistakes made when building a custom home, you can be on your way to your dream home.
Here are some tips that can help you stay clear of some of the pitfalls associated with building custom homes.
Have a good understanding of the amount of planning involved
There is a lot of planning that will need to take place from the time you begin to consider building a custom home to the time you break ground. A good estimate is at least 6 months. This includes the time needed to secure your budget, draft designs and getting construction permits.
A big part of planning your custom home project includes budgeting. The cost of building a custom home depends on numerous factors that require the advice of an expert.
To help with the financial planning, many homeowners choose to consult with an accountant or financial advisor who can give them input on how much they can afford to spend and what the costs will likely add up to.
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Choose Your Design Carefully
Keep in mind that whatever design you choose should be one that fits your lifestyle and family’s needs. So spend a good amount of time deciding what your custom home design should be. This includes the amount of space and the custom home floorplan you need. Something that many homeowners make a mistake in is not adequately planning for the long-term goals of your home. It’s common to focus on your immediate needs when designing your own home, but you need to also consider your future plans.
How long do you plan to live in your custom home? And what are your needs surrounding that?
Also, leave some room for changes that may happen. For example, if you have a young family, realize that one day your children will be out of the home and determine how that impacts the design and floorplan of your home. It may mean making some short-term sacrifices.
Your custom home design should not only be ideal, but it should also be practical. Some important questions you should ask yourself are:
- How many bedrooms do you need?
- Which part of the home do you spend the most time in?
- How often do you cook?
- Do you work from home?
Answering these questions can help you narrow down some of your choices when you’re planning your custom home floorplan.
When Buying Land for Your Custom Home
If you are purchasing land to build your custom home, you want to make sure you do not settle for less than ideal. Think about your overall goal and what you want. Where you choose to build your home is a large contributing factor to how well you will enjoy your custom home. Take the time to make sure it is the right size and shape to fit your needs.
Also, think about the things establishments that are in close proximity to your future home. Are there good schools nearby? Grocery stores? All the essentials?
Another thing to remember is that there are other costs that come with owning land. That includes sewer, water and gas line connections, property taxes and other costs that add up. So you need to make sure you’re aware of these costs upfront and factor them into your custom home planning.
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Expect Work Hiccups
While it may be frustrating, know that you may run into some issues that take longer to resolve than you previously thought. Sometimes homeowners get discouraged when they encounter delays in building a custom home. Keep in mind that delays are part of the process and should be expected in any kind of construction. One major worry custom home builders often have is that the construction plans will stretch into the winter months. This is particularly true for builders in Toronto. Even though the weather may be a setback, be patient during the process and know that each step is getting you closer to your dream home.
Choose the Right Custom Home Builder
This is probably one of the most important decisions of all. You want to make sure that you choose a reputable company who is familiar with the land and knows local suppliers and subcontractors that are professional and reliable.
Don’t be shy about asking your custom home builder about previous projects he or she has worked on to make sure you have complete confidence in their quality of work and their level of expertise. If they seem hesitant or defensive when you ask, they’re not the right person for the job.