Check Out This Checklist Before You Start Building Your Home

According to research, 40 percent of Americans prefer constructing a new home rather than acquiring move-in ready homes. Constructing your home from the ground up is an exciting and rewarding experience. It offers you a chance to tailor your home to suit your specific needs and tastes now and in the future.

But the home building process is no walk in the park. Going into the home building process with a firm plan can save you headaches and heartaches along the way. And this where a checklist for home building comes in.

Your Ultimate Checklist for a Pain-Free Home Building Process

If you’re planning to build a home on your own lot, bookmark this checklist:

1. Budget and Finance

Funds are probably the most crucial factors in any building process. No matter how good you are at budgeting, the building process can exceed your budget.

Always begin with a ballpark figure and include the add-on costs as your work through the final budget estimate. Setting a budget not only proves your seriousness to professional builders but can also act as a motivating factor for the work to continue smoothly.

2. Location

What’s your favorite layout and flow of the rooms? What direction will the house face? What type of lighting do you want? Ensure you meticulously plan for your house details and pinpoint the location you need.

Additionally, always look for home builders who have worked in your location. Professional builders will help you gauge various factors like wind, soil types, and any government regulations.

3. Land

When choosing the lot on which you’ll build your house, consider the topography, its orientation, availability of sunlight, and the natural features on the ground. These are crucial clues for how to sculpt a great home from the landscape.

When buying a lot, always seek professional advice. Having the lot surveyed to determine the actual size and unveil any hidden issues will relieve you of any headaches down the line.

4. Pick the Right Custom Home Builder

Building a home is a huge investment. It’s crucial to get the choices right from the start. Therefore, you need a reputable builder who you’re comfortable with and can deliver according to your specifications. Additionally, ensure your professional builder is insured, licensed, and registered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

5. Home Design

Home designs are your road map to your new home. Rather than adopting an existing home design, this is a golden chance to create a design that matches your needs.

A practical design should be simple and capable of accommodating your lifestyle. To develop such, take into account how you plan to use the space. You can also find inspiration from the past work of your home builders.

6. Building Contract

Carefully go through your building contract before signing. Ensure you have an in-depth understanding of the content to avoid any surprises during the project.

Make sure it includes detailed insurance plans and warranty. Additionally, the contract should have a construction timeframe that matches your needs. Cross out any missing points and ensure the contract adjustments are well-documented and agreed upon.

7. Site Preparation

Next, get your piece of land ready for building. Professional builders will help level, flatten, and stabilize the lot before starting the building process.

Mistakes during this stage can prove to be costly, so it’s important to double-check all measurements and ensure everybody is working from the same program. The excavation process may reveal surprising ground conditions, so ensure you’ve set aside a significant contingency budget.

8. Monitoring

An independent contractor should inspect every construction stage. This step will give you some peace of mind, knowing that your construction meets the necessary regulations and codes. Ensure your contractor inspects the foundations, footings, frame, lock up, and pre-handover.

9. Realistic Expectations

Always set achievable targets that are fair to the builder. The construction process is a major undertaking, and unpredictable events may cause delays. Therefore, always stay positive and maintain close ties with the builder.

10. Quality Control

When your house nears completion, take the time and inspect it for any defects. If it’s in top shape, acquire certificates of completion and inspection – and become the latest homeowner in the area.

Build the Home of Your Dreams with Oberer Homes

Building a home is a daunting but very rewarding process. You’ll need to work with a professional, reputable, and experienced custom home builder like Oberer Homes.

If you’re looking to design and build a home in an established community, you can always count on us. Client satisfaction is our number one priority.

Contact us today and tell us about your dream home and budget.