With custom home building, you really can create the home of your dreams. When you build a custom home, not only can you choose the perfect lot in your preferred location, but you can also allow your dreams of your ideal home to come to fruition.
However, as well all know, life doesn't always go so smoothly, and this can certainly be applied to the process of building a custom home. To help the home building experience go off without a hitch, here are 5 tips for keeping your dream house from becoming your worst nightmare:
We recently shared with you some valuable tips for choosing the right contractor, and this is definitely some advice that you'll want to read before making this important decision.
You'll want a reputable contractor that is not only experienced, but has successfully completed projects that are similar to the style of home that you want to build. Be sure to take a look at the building contractor's portfolio, and even ask if you can tour some properties that he or she has already built to get a better idea of the quality of craftsmanship offered.
Clear communication is so critical throughout the custom home building process, so you'll want to gain an understanding of how the building contractor likes to communicate. Ideally, you'll even be able to speak to former clients to really hear what it's like to work with the builder.
2. Establish a clear budget.
Once the building process begins, it can be very tempting for homeowners to want to make a number of changes along the way. While custom home builders are typically happy to accommodate these changes, they can really drive up your final bill. This can ultimately turn the home building experience into one big nightmare when it comes time to stroke the check. If you have a clear budget from the beginning, your builder can help to hold you accountable to what you have already determined you can afford.
3. Establish a timeline for the project completion.
If your goal is to be in your new home in time to host Christmas dinner, you'll want to make this desire known to your builder up front. Once again, any changes that you make along the way will likely impact your wallet and timeline, and your builder should remind you of this. Ideally, you'll want to select a builder that establishes a realistic timeline that you both are comfortable with at the beginning of the home building process.
4. Consider the functionality of your floor plan and the purpose that you want it to serve.
One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is neglecting to consider the functionality of the floor plan that they choose. For example, forgetting to include a casual entryway such as a mudroom may be a mistake for families with children as this could defer clutter to the rest of the home.
5. Design for the longterm.
When most people build a custom home, they plan to stay in it for a long time. This is why considerations such as "aging in place" design should be made to account for someone that eventually may not be able to make it up the stairs or need wider hallways to accommodate a wheelchair.
With over 500 projects successfully completed in Central Florida, we know what it takes to make the home building process go smoothly. Contact Empire Custom Builders to learn more.