Building Your Dream Home
Can’t really find what you want in an existing home? Maybe you would like a unique home that has your own personal stamp on it – a “Custom Built” home. The home-building process can seem a bit overwhelming, especially if you are a first-time buyer or have only purchased existing homes in the past.
There are many levels of “custom” building a home. The basic and easiest way to build would be to purchase a home site in a community where the builder has different floor plans and amenities that are part of a specific package deal. You will have the opportunity to choose your design selections such as paint colors, carpet, exterior colors, etc. Some builders will be willing to make changes to their plans to suit your specific needs or even build a plan you have already selected.
If you would like to purchase your land and pick your own builder, a site in a pre-existing development is usually prepped for the installation of electricity, phone, cable, water and sewage. Before you buy any land, check the zoning and building code restrictions to ensure you can build the home you want. Check for utility easements and setback requirements and also try to choose a building site that doesn't require major grading, tree or rock removal which can quickly add to the total cost of your new home.
Once you have found the perfect home site, finding the right house plan will be your next step if you have not already done so. Generic home plans can be purchased on many web sites and will usually run from $600 and up depending on the package. You can narrow your choices by square footage, floors, number of bedrooms and bathrooms and other features.
You can create plans from scratch or a version of a blueprint you like by hiring an architect or design firm. If you decide to go with an architect, identify your priorities and budget. Do you prefer one story or two? Do you like an open floor plan in the living room, dining room and kitchen? As you gather ideas for your home, be sure to focus on individual design features like kitchen and bath layouts, bedroom sizes and locations, closet and storage space, traffic patterns and room flow, roof pitch, dormer sizes and locations, window types, and any other individual components of the design that might fit your needs or wants.
Besides actually custom building 3 of my personal homes, I have over 20 years’ experience in all aspects of home construction. From selecting and revising floor plans to overseeing subcontractors and making design selections – I have the experience to walk you through the entire building process and help make building your custom dream home an enjoyable experience from start to finish.
