Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Building Your Dream Home
Many people spend years pouring their money into renting a house or apartment that doesn’t fit their needs. When the opportunity to buy a home finally arrives, chances are they have an idea of what style and features they desire. But after spending countless hours or even months searching for the perfect home to purchase, they may not find the house that fits their needs and lifestyle. So, what can you do to ensure your dream country house plan or log home plan becomes a reality? Build it! Many home plan publications and websites are available on the market today that allows you to search for home plans by style, size and features – from luxury home plans to bungalow house plans. But sometimes building a home can become costly and overwhelming if you do not take simple steps to prepare for the building process. Following these few suggestions will help to avoid costly mistakes down the road.
• Not planning a budget – A dream home that you have overextended your budget on will be more like a nightmare. How much can you afford? How do you plan to finance your dream home? Secure financing first. This will make designing and planning your project easier because you will know exactly how much money you have to spend. By planning a budget and securing financing, you have developed solid ground on which to negotiate with builders. They know you mean business.
• Over-building in your community or area – Take a look around the area or neighborhood where you plan to build your home. It is important to build a house that reflects the style and size of the surrounding homes. Although you want your home to have its own character, log home plans next to colonial house plans may appear out of place. A home that is so unique and not comparable to the surrounding homes may not allow you to recoup your original investment in the long run. If your needs require a larger home, you should build no more than 500-1000 sq. ft larger than the average home in your area. On the other hand, do not build smaller, as it may affect your resale value later.
• Not planning ahead – Start by choosing a plan that will grow with you. What are your needs right now? Will these needs change within 10 years? What about 20 years? Chances are, they will, so plan your dream home accordingly. List what is important to have in your home right now and what you will need in the future. You may choose a home plan that is designed specifically to meet your needs. Or, if you have a floor plan that you like but worry it won’t meet all of your needs, talk with a builder or an architect. Their expertise may provide you with minor modifications that will ease your mind and potentially take you into the future with greater ease. Planning ahead also includes making decisions early. Know what you want before the builder asks. Make choices early regarding everything from the floor to the ceiling. Time and money are wasted during the building stage when the builder has to wait on you to make a decision or when changes have to be made to an existing structure at a later stage of building.
• Choosing the wrong builder – Your choice of builder is the most important decision in the process of building your dream home. Talk with several builders and be thorough with your questions, concerns, and ideas. Visit current building sites and see projects they are working on. Ask for references and then visit these sites as well. Talk with the homeowners. Keep in mind this is someone you will be working with to build your dream home over several months.
• Being passive – Be involved with the building of your home. Start by reading the builders contract. Ask for clarification of anything you do not understand. Be sure building codes are being followed. Watch for things that aren’t necessarily the way you want them. Be ready to resolve problems by compromising. Keep record of expenses. And most importantly, communicate, communicate, and communicate!
So now you are ready to make your dream home a reality. Planning ahead will help you to avoid every possible mistake that may arise during the building process. By following these simple suggestions, you will be ready to leave renting behind and begin investing in your new dream home.
Leave a Comment