So you think you've thought things through entirely and are now ready to get started with building your custom dream home. You've even made a detailed list of requirements for everything that your new home should possess. But have you thought about what you don't want in your home? Making a point to share your list with your building contractor of what you don't want to see in your new home is just as important as discussing the must-have features.
If you're not clear with your building contractor about your expectations for your dream home throughout the entire design and construction process, you may end up making one of these 5 mistakes that could dramatically impact the outcome of your custom home project:
Mistake #1: Not giving enough attention to your HVAC system.
How comfortable you feel inside your home can contribute or take away from your enjoyment. Surprisingly, many people do not give much thought to their HVAC system when building or remodeling their home and therefore end up with a system that has not been sized properly to the home. This results in a system that is not able to efficiently heat and cool the home and will likely cost you more money in the long run.
Mistake #2: Poor planning of space.
It doesn't matter if you're building a 2,000 square foot home or a 20,000 square foot estate--a functional layout is crucial. Having ample storage space in your home is very desirable, but some homeowners make the mistake of adding too many closets, which actually ends up taking away from the home's living space. Do you really need to reserve a large chunk of space in your master bedroom for a walk-in closet or could this space potentially be built into your master bath area? If you live in a mild climate, having a closet in your foyer to store heavy winter coats is probably not necessary.
Mistake #3: Poor lighting.
It's very rare that you come across someone that wants a dark home. However, if you don't properly plan for an ample amount of light fixtures throughout your home and plenty of windows, you very well may end up with a dark home. If there are a lot of trees contained in the landscaping surrounding your home that prevent natural light from flowing through windows, consider adding skylights.
Mistake #4: Placement of laundry room.
This really comes down to personal preference. Ideally, a laundry room should be situated conveniently near the bedrooms, and this may mean an upstairs laundry room for more traditional floor plans. While it's great to be able to easily walk your dirty clothes from your bedroom over to the laundry room, some people do not like an upstairs laundry room because the machines can be loud. Another popular place for the laundry room is in the downstairs mudroom. However, depending on where your bedroom is, this may mean a longer haul to the laundry room with your dirty hamper.
Mistake #5: Placement of kitchen.
Most people would prefer a kitchen that is placed either near the garage or back entrance to make it easier to carry in groceries. Today's homeowners also want open floor plans, meaning that the kitchen opens up to the dining and living rooms. Your building contractor should advise you to think about how foot traffic will flow through your home. The kitchen tends to be a gathering place in most homes, so make it easy to access.
To learn more about which mistakes to avoid when building your custom home, please contact us at Empire Custom Builders.
