When building a home, you may not always know what you need to do or where to begin. Through my years of building quality homes, I’ve compiled a list of helpful tips that every homebuilder should know before and during the construction process.
1. Don’t overbuild for the neighborhood. Having the biggest and most expensive house in the area may be wonderful for your ego, but it will be extremely difficult to sell when the time comes.
2. Get the best contractor your budget will allow. When building a house, quality is usually more important than quantity. Check builder’s references and ask if they belong the the local Home Builders Association.
3. Be prepared for delays. Building a home is a complicated project and utilizes dozens of subcontractors, workers, and suppliers. Delays can and probably will happen, backing up the entire process. Winter weather and rain can often play a role in delays. Don’t set your move-in date in stone. It may end up being weeks later.
4. Monitor the progress of the building process. During construction a lot can be accomplished, both positively and negatively, in a short amount of time. This is especially true during the framing stages. Catching a mistake early can save a lot of headaches later.
5. Watch your construction allowances. Generally, in the total cost of building a house you will be given allowances for items such as flooring, lighting, plumbing fixtures, appliances, etc. Make certain that you can actually get the materials or items you want within the allowance amount. You will be the one to make up the difference if the cost is higher than the allowance. These allowance overruns can add up quickly.
6. Build for resale. No matter how long you intend to stay in the house you build, it will have to be sold at some point (which is often sooner than later). I do not recommend building strictly for your own needs and tastes. For example, a one bedroom, three bathroom house may be perfect for you for nearly impossible to sell.