Mistakes to avoid when building a custom home

Building a custom home gives you the opportunity to turn your dream home into reality. Whether you are looking to own a waterfront property where you can vacation in the summer or a family home in a gated community, building your own home is a great step. The bad news is, many would-be homeowners get so caught up in the excitement of building their own home that they make some mistakes that prove costly in the long run. Here are five deadly traps that you should avoid when building your custom home:

Buying a lot before knowing how much it will cost you in site prep and servicing

You’ve identified a great site for your custom home. It has everything you want-privacy, waterfront views and even proximity to amenities. But have you considered how much it will cost you to prepare the site and connect services to it? Think, environmental remediation and municipal zoning. These are going to cost you money, and you’ll find your budget so inflated you will start to rethink your entire decision to build a custom home. Before you buy any lot for your custom home, conduct a feasibility analysis so that you know exactly what you will be expected to spend later on.

Forcing a home design on a site instead of adapting a design to the site

You’ve conducted a feasibility analysis on a site and determined that you can deal with all the financial responsibilities it comes with. However, once the actual construction starts, you realize that what attracted you to the site in the first place has become a stumbling block as far as your design goes. Instead of imposing your design to the site, consider adapting your design to it, such that you incorporate certain aspects of the site to your design. For instance, instead of clearing all the trees on the site, how about making them part of the landscape design?

Starting on the home design before you are clear on your budget

Your budget will give the designer an indication of how big a space you are looking to own, and what can be incorporated. Figure out what your budget threshold is, and then communicate this with your home designer. Keep in mind that your home design forms the cornerstone of everything else, and if done incorrectly, it will have a negative ripple effect on all aspects of your custom home.

Choosing a home designer who is not suited for the style of home you want

Go for a designer who matches the design and style that you are seeking. This way, the designer will be fully capable of turning your visualizations of your dream home into a black-and-white design that your builder can actualize into a home.

Not checking relevant references

By relevant references, it means people whose homes are close to what you want. It is not enough to check with people who have had their houses built by a particular custom home builder. You must ensure you talk to references whose homes are in the style you want. This way, you will know that the builder you choose is capable of delivering on the exact kind of custom home you are looking to own.

Posted by: Bruce Johnson Residential Construction http://bjrcinc.com/