8 Custom Home Building Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
If you want to build a custom home for you and your family, there are certain things to keep in mind if you want to avoid buyer's remorse.
There are various reasons why you might want to build a custom home rather than purchase an existing home. For instance, you can select where to build it, avoid costly repairs, and include the latest technologies.
However, custom home building can turn into a nightmare if you make mistakes. With that said, here's a look at 8 custom home building mistakes and how you can steer clear of making them.
1. Don't Hire the Wrong Company for Custom Home Building
When it comes to building a custom home, you'll definitely want to ensure you vet the company that is supposed to turn your dream into a reality.
In order to find a reputable and dependable builder, you will want to conduct some research, ask people you know for recommendations, check out online reviews, and call up some home builders to get answers to your questions.
It would be wrong to focus solely on costs. Look at the quality of the builder, the experience and expertise, the workmanship, and the customer service. If you do this, you'll more likely than not have a positive experience.
2. Don't Resort to Scope Creep
Another mistake you'll want to avoid is scope creep. So steer clear of adding to or subtracting from the master plan after the work is already underway.
Before you commission the home builder to start your custom home project, you'll want to do all your brainstorming and to develop the schematics that the home builder will need to construct your residence.
If you keep changing the agreed-upon plan, you will cause headaches for the company you hired to do the work. You will also make things harder on yourself since the extra costs could exceed your home building budget.
3. Don't Micro-Manage Your Home Builder
Once you've vetted the home builder you want and have dialogued with the company to ensure they know what you need, you will want to avoid micro-manging. Allow the workers to do the work you're paying them to do.
This doesn't mean you should disconnect yourself from the process. If something isn't being done to your satisfaction, you will want to address the matter. But you shouldn't second-guess everything the company does.
4. Don't Break the Line of Communication
It's important that you keep the line of communication open with your home builder. Don't bottle things up if there's something you need to discuss with the company you've hired to build your home.
The home builder is the expert at building custom homes. But you're the customer paying for the company's services. So ask questions if there's something you don't understand or if there's something that concerns you.
5. Don't Choose the Wrong Location
Even before you get down to the nitty-gritty of custom home design, you need to ensure you've selected the right location for your custom home.
Is the area you're considering a suitable one given your family's needs? Is it accessible? Will you be close enough to schools, shopping centers, places of employment, and other things your family will need?
You won't want to fall in love with a location and then to later realize that it's not an ideal place for your new home.
6. Don't Focus Soley on Aesthetics
When you hire a custom home building service, resist the urge to focus too much on aesthetics and too little on practicality. Of course, you'll want your custom home to look great and to stand out for all the right reasons.
But if you have to choose between aesthetics and practicality, go with the latter. In many instances, you'll be able to find a way to get both aesthetics and practicality rather than have to settle for one or the other.
7. Don't Build Something That's Impractically Sized
You'll want to get the biggest bang for your buck when building a custom home. But avoid the mistake of building something that's either too big or too small.
On the one hand, you might think it a great idea to get more rooms than might be needed in the event that you have guests. But if these rooms will get little to no use, then going this route will be impractical.
On the other hand, you might fancy it a great idea to get a smaller home to cut back on things like utility bills. But you need to think about whether or not such a home will really meet your family's needs.
8. Don't Expect a Process That's Free From Delays
It's also a mistake to start the home building process without preparing yourself for the possibility of delays.
The thing is that it's rare for there not to be some sort of delay whether because of the need to get permits, the availability of materials, and more. So you can save yourself headaches by being prepared for potential delays.
Choose a Custom Home Builder You Can Trust
Do you need to find a professional home builder to help with your custom home building project? You owe it to yourself to see how we can help.
At Jeff Watson Homes, we specialize in residential design-build projects. We're a reputable home builder with a track record of helping people with their home building needs.
Get in touch with any questions you might have. We look forward to hearing from you.
