4 Tips for working with Custom Home Builders

30 Dec 4 Tips for working with Custom Home Builders

Are you thinking about building a custom home and have a lot of questions? Building a custom home can be exciting and overwhelming. Here are some tips to help put your mind at easy when working with custom home builders.

1. Architect or Custom Home Builders?

It is a common mistake to think you are supposed to hire an architect to draw up plans for your custom home before actually going to a custom home builder. Custom home builders will design your home with your personal lifestyle needs and your budget in mind whereas an architect may not. Your custom home builder will spend many hours and many months with you. During this time they will have the chance to get to know you and your needs while keeping the scope of the project in mind in order to give you the home that you want. Don’t spend thousands of dollars on a floor plan that could possibly be designed outside the purview of your budget.

2. How to Choose Your Build Site.

The first step to picking the lot you want to build your custom home on is to determine the type of things that are important to your family’s needs. Decide if you would like to live in an urban or suburban area. Do you have school aged kids and want to be near schools, parks and libraries?

Next, find the neighborhoods that you like and imagine what it would be like to live there. Are you close to shopping, grocery stores and your favorite gym? Do you need quick access to the highway for your commute to work? Keep your living routines in mind when picking a lot for your new home. Ask about HOAs and the rules of the community to see if the values line up with yours. Custom home builders will be happy to walk the site with you so that you can ask questions and get the opinion of a professional.

Did you know that if you are choosing a site that is already developed, the community developer will have a list of approved custom home builders for you to choose from? If you can choose your own builders visit the community’s sales organization to discover which sites will be up for sale.

When you settle on a community you can start thinking about the lay of the land. How big is the lot that you want to build your home on? Would you prefer a cul de sac that has less traffic or an elevated lot that would allow you to build a walk out basement? Would a first floor master suite be a priority for aging parents that visit often?

These answers depend on your needs, your location and the type of lot you choose to build on.

3. What to Think About When Building on Acreage.

There is quite a thrill that comes along with picking a plot of land that gives you plenty of space outside your home as well as inside. When you are building a custom home on undeveloped land there are a few key things you need to think about.

• How many trees do you want in your yard
• The size of your yard
• If the deed has been approved by planning commissions, the health department and the tax map department
• If there are any outstanding liens that would slow down construction
• If the land is in a flood plain
• The cost of developing the land

Taking time to think about these necessary items early will  help you avoid problems and building delays in the long run.

4. Plan Early for a Better Outcome.

There are a lot of decisions that need to be made when building a custom home. Don’t let the details of what you want slip through the cracks. Create a vision board on Pinterest and pin your favorite images of houses, home decor and landscaping to your boards. Take advantage of sites like HGTV.com, Houzz.com and your favorite custom home builders’ own portfolios. You can even use your phone to snap pictures of neighborhoods, houses and places you travel to inspire your boards. Use your vision boards to communicate your likes with your builder and anyone else that will be weighing in on the decisions for your new home.

Hopefully these four tips for working with custom home builders helped answer some of your questions about the process of building a home. If you want more information you can download our free e-book for more in depth information. Looking to build a custom home? Contact Michael and Associates today.