5 Things You Need To Know Before Building a Custom Home

5 Things You Need To Know Before Building a Custom Home

March 24, 2022

Building a custom home is all about considering the smallest details. Do you go for a matte or glossy finish for your master bathroom tiles? Yes, that choice is yours to make. With various options and many ideas, decision-making can become more complex. 

From construction to design, you have the opportunity to contribute to the entire process. Many unexpected things can pop up in between, from finding a buildable lot to finally moving in.

Finding a custom home builder is your first step. Not everyone may prove ready to handle this huge commitment. But those who seek help from professional builders bolster their chance of success. 

Knowing the intricacies surrounding this kind of project also makes a big difference. Let’s look at the top 5 factors to consider before you build a custom home:

Finding a Viable Lot for Your Design

The first step is to look for available lots in the area where you plan to build. Then, you can browse real estate listings or drive around to scout for potential sites. If you choose to work with a custom builder, you can check if they have various options for you to choose from.

Once you have a piece of land you’re interested in, you must evaluate the design advantages and constraints even before envisioning your dream home. You should also research any design restrictions in the locale. For instance, historic districts may have some requirements in place for anyone desiring to build a house in the neighborhood.

Further, you have to take into account the following:

 

  • Land zoning laws and issues, if any
  • Consider possible foundations: a slab or including a crawl space or basement for example, these can all contribute to the overall cost
  • Lot size
  • Soil quality
  • Existing utilities or the lack thereof
  • Average home value in the neighborhood
  • Other home styles in the neighborhood

 

Understanding the Time It Takes To Build

In general, a fully customized house can take at least 10 months to complete. But the timeframe may vary depending on the details of the house. External factors that can be out of your control, such as the weather, also affect the total build time.

If you’re looking for a custom home builder who can finish the project promptly, here’s a thought to keep in mind: you play an integral role in ensuring the project moves forward at your desired pace. This is because a builder takes charge of construction. So knowing this, you will quicken the process if you have an architect draw up a house plan before approaching them. 

It Helps To Have A Flexible Budget

Of course, building a custom home from scratch will be more expensive than buying a new one. But how expensive does it get? It all depends on the kind of home you want to design. Some of the variables that affect the final price are the size of your home, the materials used, the interior and exterior finishings and even the state in which you live.

But to determine a baseline, you should budget around $250 per square foot. Meanwhile, a luxury or fully customized home can easily fetch an additional $500 or more per square foot. Of course, the cost of the lot is excluded in these calculations.

Determining Your Involvement in the Building Process

There’s plenty of work involved during the whole process of building your custom home, from planning to construction and designing. Homeowners share about having to make changes to the plan when build time arrives, and that’s something you should expect to turn your vision into reality.

You should then allow a reasonable amount of time and energy to ensure complete collaboration and communication with your builder. If your schedule does not permit it, you can always allow someone you trust to supervise the process instead. 

Searching for an All-in-One Builder

Given the stress and hassle that can come with building a custom home, you might want to take advantage of a builder with a streamlined customization process. This partner can help simplify design choices to keep decision fatigue at bay. If, for instance, you have 500 colors to select from, your custom home builder should be able to narrow decisions like these down to five motifs.

At the same time, it’s wise to find a builder with in-house architects and designers. Since one service provider handles everything, you potentially save a lot of time and energy. Communication is simpler as it happens across one channel, and you can also dramatically cut down your upfront costs. Just make sure this company has a proven track record – you don’t want a team that takes shortcuts. 

Are You Ready for the Big Adventure?

Building your dream home is a significant undertaking with its fair share of excitement and challenges. Don’t underestimate the importance of accurate planning and preparation. After considering these factors, you should be guided throughout this process and have the confidence to pursue your custom home.

Further, when it comes to building a custom home, your best bet is working with a builder that understands what homeowners undergo to achieve the house they’ve envisioned. At Chelsea, caring about the people who live in our homes is at the core of what we do. We take the time to answer your questions and explain any changes to the plan. Our solutions are based on building science. And we strive to develop solid, energy-efficient custom homes fit for modern living.

Drop us a message if you want to learn more about customizing your home with CBG.