A Quick Guide to Planning Your Custom-Built Dream Home
From working with a skilled real estate agent to making crucial decisions regarding design, materials, and budget, the process of building a home is extensive. But at the end of it all, the reward for your hard work is the home of your dreams! For many homeowners, this payoff is well worth it. Unik Interior Designs explains that a well-constructed home is a joy to behold and to own, and can even minimize the time, money and energy you spend on maintenance.
Choose a Location and Buy Land
Of course, you can’t build a home without land. As you shop for a site, The Balance recommends considering important features like property size, potential views, utility hookups, the slope of the land, suitability for building, safety from natural hazards, privacy, and proximity to neighbors. You may also have to take into account the style of houses in the community to make sure your new home will fit into the surrounding neighborhood.
You should have some help with this phase of the process. An experienced and trustworthy real estate agent can partner in the search for the right property. You want someone you feel understands you, so develop a list of questions to interview potential candidates. Also, be sure to hire a surveyor so you can find out about any easements or deed restrictions on the land before buying. You may learn that your new building is limited in terms of height or square footage.
Budget Your Project
A solid budget is crucial for ensuring that your home gets completed according to your wishes. As you create your home building budget, NewHomeSource.com suggests considering all of the expenses involved—not just the cost of the construction project alone. For example, you’ll have to account for permitting fees, property taxes, and the cost to buy and clear the land. As you add up your home construction expenses, include the cost of home design, landscaping, decorating, and furnishing. When budgeting, consider the costs of floor plans and utility hook-ups—especially when determining your home size.
Plan Your Perfect Home
Designing your home can be overwhelming, but a well-chosen builder can make the planning a much simpler process. Look around on the web to view or create floor plans, and tour completed homes to get an idea of elements you like. Start outlining your preferences in terms of size, style, features, room functions, and any specific requirements important to your lifestyle. Depending on your personal hobbies or interests, you may want to include an office, sewing room, painting studio, workshop, or attached greenhouse in your design plan.
Especially for those who work from home, having a good office set-up is a must. You’re going to want — and need — a place that’s absolutely dedicated to your business so that you can go and focus on work, even if you’re technically still at home. Establish an area that is separate from your household’s comings and goings, and outfit it with everything you need to stay productive and efficient. That might include things like custom cabinetry, a separate entrance, and even special parking for clients. Make sure you keep track of all the pertinent receipts related to creating your workspace, since many items may be tax deductible.
You may even have a goal of creating the perfect backyard space for your kids, and with the chance of planning ahead, you’ll have time to find the ultimate swing set or playset your children can enjoy for years to come. At this stage, it’s okay to dream big and get all of your wishes down—even if you think they’re unrealistic!
If you have pets and/or kids, you’ll likely want a fence installed on the perimeter of your property. Think about things like privacy, height, and what style you prefer. You can search online for local fence contractors using one of the several service directories. The cost of building a fence varies considerably based on the size of your property and the materials you’ll use (e.g., a vinyl fence costs almost twice as much per foot as a wooden fence); make sure you get quotes from at least a few different contractors.
No matter how much research and planning you do, you’re bound to run into a few setbacks as construction gets underway. This is normal—and should be expected! Be ready to have both good and bad experiences as you approach the home building process. Knowing what to expect is critical to overcoming challenges as you make the home of your dreams a reality.
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Unik Interior Designs designs spaces which are a genuine reflection of the client’s unique personality and tastes while preserving a functionality which suits their lifestyle. Connect with us to find out more! 805-864-2585
