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Home Construction Made Easy: A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way!

Home Construction Made Easy: A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way!

Trying to decide whether to buy or build your next home can be a difficult decision. Factors like the current real estate market in the area where you are searching for a home and the current costs of building materials can play major roles in your decision-making process.

Of course, both buying and building a home come with their own set of questions and concerns. If you decide that new home construction is the right choice for you, you may have already started to consider a few common questions:

Where can I find an ideal lot at a rate that fits into my budget?

What builder or contractor should I use and who can I trust?

Will my new home be done in time or will I have to carry two mortgages?

While these are just a few of the concerns that new home builders can face, there is help out there for making the home-building process less stressful. So, if you’re looking for hassle-free home construction, here are a few things that you can do to be prepared:

Once you’ve started to shop around for the right builder, use all of the tools at your fingertips. Of course, you’ll want to check online reviews, but you can also ask for referrals in your area. Word of mouth referrals rank high when it comes to finding a good local contractor or builder. You’ll also want to tour any available model homes and if you can find a current homeowner willing to show off their recently completed home, take a tour there, too! While you’re searching for the right builder, ask about lot prices and projected build times as they will vary from builder to builder.

When you’ve selected your builder and you’re ready to start the new home construction process, make sure that you get all of the details up front. Whether you are using a large builder or smaller contractor to build your home, ask them to go over all of the fine print with you, so that you’re comfortable as you move forward.

Those finer details can include everything from the finalized floor plan to a line-by-line breakdown of selected options and their costs. Armed with all of this information, you’ll be able to select the floor plan that most maximizes the features that are important to you. Plus, if you didn’t realize that you were getting vaulted ceilings in your master bedroom and you didn’t want them, you can get them out of the plans from the get-go.

When you are discussing options with your builder or contractor, do yourself a favor and ask for the “little” things up front that you know you will want or need later. Ample storage space is always a must; and, instead of banking on putting in your own closet-organizing system, see if your builder can do that during the construction process. Find out if you have a say in where your outlets or conduits are placed indoors. Outdoors, see if you will have access to outlets and faucets. You may also want to check into possible landscaping. These things may not carry a major fee while you’re building, but when you want to add them later, their prices may add up quickly!

Another topic to discuss with your chosen builder is energy efficiency. Not only is it good for the environment, but it is also good for your pocketbook! Remember, after you build your home, you will have to pay the monthly bills associated with maintaining it. So, if you make energy efficiency a priority during the construction process, you may see lower bills down the line.

When it is time to order supplies like flooring, paint, bricks or siding, try to order 10-15% more than you think your builder will need. Overestimating up front can save you time, hassle and money later when you try to match that “just perfect” shade of glossy paint for DIY home projects or touch ups.

Finally, while you’re waiting for your home to be completed, don’t be afraid to scope out what others are doing, so that you’ll have some decorating ideas when you’re ready to move in. Check out what your neighbors are doing, browse through magazines or shop the latest styles in stores. The more you can envision yourself in your new house, the easier it will be to call “home” once you move in.