So, you have decided you want to pursue your dreams of building your dream home. Where do you start when there are so many things to get done and so much to consider? It can seem overwhelming because, we’ll admit, it is complicated.
While building a home can be complicated, it is exciting and well worth any hurdles you may encounter during the process. To make the process easier, we have created a step-by-step guide that starts at the very beginning to ensure you don’t skip a beat.
Step one: Determine a budget
Determining a budget is an essential step in building your dream home. Your budget will help you determine how much to spend on each part of the home building process, and it will help you consider which design features can be included. You will want to have a budget and stick with it because, without one, things can get out of hand quickly. There are lots of features in a home that can be impressive, but that is how you get yourself in financial trouble. Stick to a realistic budget and the home building process will be much easier to navigate.
Things to consider when determining a budget:
· The cost of the property
· Local fees and taxes
· Design and engineering fees
· Home construction
· Landscaping costs
· Interior decorating and furnishing
· Labor costs
· Room for unexpected costs
Step two: Build a timeframe
If new homeowners had a choice, they would like their dream home to be built as soon as possible. But unfortunately, like anything else, good things take time. You should have a general date to have the home finished by. Here are some things to consider helping you determine a date:
Are you expecting a new baby?
· Will your children have to transfer schools and will the move-in date affect their schedule?
· Do you have somewhere to live in the meantime? If so, until when?
Step three: Choose the property for your dream home
The property you choose to build your dream home on is just as important as the home itself. The location of your new home will determine what you can do with your new home, structurally and its design.
Here are some things to consider when looking at different properties:
· The size of the lot
· The distance between you and other neighbors
· The slope of the land
· The direction of the sun
· Natural surroundings
· Trees
· The style of surrounding houses
· Access to resources
· Privacy
· School district (if you have children)
Once you close the deal on the land and start building, there is not much you can do to change your property. So, finding the right property for your dream home is vital. If you are unsure about picking the best lot for building, an architect or a general contractor will be able to assist.
Step four: Find a trustworthy contractor
Some people choose to hire a contractor before jumping into design details, but the contractor will be the one who brings your dream home to life so in most cases, it is better to have them there when it comes time to talk about layouts and designs. For the most part, you will not be there to watch your home come to life which is why it is so important to hire a general contractor you can trust. The general contractor is the one that is responsible for ensuring all work goes as planned.
Here are some things you should do before hiring a general contractor:
· Talk to previous clients
· Look at photos of previous work
· Interview contractors (it will be important that you get along)
· Find a contractor that can stay within your budget
Step 5: Choose a layout and design for your home
Now it’s the fun part! Deciding what your home will look like. If you have been thinking about building your dream home, you probably have an idea of what your dream home will look like and some features you would like to include. During this stage, you will need to work with an architect and/or a general contractor to help your vision come to life. There are many, many things to consider but here are some of the most important:
· The size (How many stories? How many square feet? How many rooms do you need? Bathrooms?)
· The layout (what layout will best fit your lifestyle? Are there any additional rooms you might need such as a media room or home gym? Will you have a basement and a garage?)
· How many entrances to the home do you need? How will the indoor/outdoor space interact?
· Do you want an open layout or separate spaces?
· What rooms are the most important to you? Would you love to splurge on a big kitchen or a master bathroom?
There are so many things to consider when it comes to the design of your home, so we recommend collecting pictures that inspire you to help envision your dream home.
Step 6: Let the building begin
Once you have determined what the home will look like and have selected its design features, your general contractor will begin to gather building materials and the work will begin! A huge part of this process is ensuring everything is done correctly, according to legal requirements. This means your general contractor should have all the necessary building permits and insurance for any worker that is on site. If not, the homeowner could end up in a sticky situation.
Keep in mind that building a home does take time and most of the time, things do not go as planned. Shipments can be late, workers can become sick, etc., so although you have a completion date in mind, it’s important to allow for some wiggle room for unexpected encounters during the building process.
Step 7: Move in!
Most likely, you will check up on the work of your home as it is completed, and your general contractor should keep you updated along the way. Once all of the building is done, you are ready to move into your dream home!
Congratulations on building your dream home and enjoy every moment of the exciting building process!
Legacy Renovations: Bringing your dream home to life
Do you live in the Lake Lanier, Gwinnett county area and want to bring your dream home to life? Legacy Renovations wants to be there for you every step of the way.
Reach out to our team and let’s get building!
