Building a custom house is a complex process, but this checklist can help you get started on the right track. Part one covers finding the right land for your dream home. Part two helps you select the right builder who will bring your vision to life. And part three provides an overview of the construction process. With these steps in building a custom home, you'll be one step closer to making your dream home a reality.
Building your own custom home is a big undertaking, but it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. The key to making it happen is careful planning and preparation.
Start by creating a budget for your project. This will help you determine how much it will cost to build a custom home, the money you'll need to raise, and how long the entire process may take. Next, find the perfect piece of property for your custom home. This is a crucial step, so take your time and be sure to consider all of your options.
Once you have the land, it's time to start thinking about the design of your custom home. You will work with an architect or designer to create a plan that meets all of your needs and wants. Custom building a home is a lot of work, but it's also an incredible opportunity to get exactly what you want out of your living space. By following these steps, you can make your dream home a reality and know how to go about building a custom home.
Step One: Beginning the Building a Custom Home Process
What is your budget for your new home?
Prices for new homes can range from $80 – $200+ per square foot, so it is important to know how much you can spend. Without knowing your budget, it would be difficult to decide how large of a home you can build, what design features to include, or where to build it.
There are several things that you will need to factor into your budget, including:
- How much will the land cost?
- What are the local fees and taxes?
- How much will Design and engineering fees cost me?
- What will go into the Home Construction?
- How much am I willing to put towards landscaping?
- What will I spend on Interior decorating and furnishing?
You will most likely need to take out a loan, so it is important to:
- Check your credit report and correct any errors, as your credit score will affect the loan you can receive.
- Speak with multiple lenders to get the best interest rates.
- Consider mortgage options like fixed rate or variable, 12 or 30 years, FHA or traditional.
- Prepare to make a down payment.
Talk to your family and a financial advisor about what you can realistically pay at this time. Knowing your budget is essential in order to build your dream home.
Determine the Timeframe for your New Home Build
When determining when you need to start and finish your home improvement project, there are several factors you should take into account. For example, if you are expecting a new baby, you may want to move into your new home before the baby arrives. Or, if you have young children, you may want to schedule the project around the school year so that you can move into your new home before the new school year begins. In addition, the climate in your area can also affect the timeline of your project. If you live in an area with a lot of rainfall or snow, you may want to start the project earlier to avoid any delays. Keep these considerations in mind when setting a start date for your home improvement project.
Picking a piece of Land
The location of your home will greatly impact what you can do with it, both in terms of the structure and the way it looks. So it's nearly as important as how you build it.
When considering purchasing a property, take the following into account:
- The Lot Size
- Topography
- Where the sun will be rising and setting
- Your natural surroundings
- Trees on the property
- Privacy
- Views
Step 2: Designing a Custom Home
As you begin to design your custom home, one of the first things you'll need to do is figure out how much space you have to work with. There are a number of factors that will influence the size of your home. For starters, find out if there are any limitations on the height and/or square footage of your home. These may be based on zoning restrictions, neighborhood ordinances, or perhaps the size and layout of your lot.
Another thing to consider is how many stories you want. Are you looking for a single-story home? Two? Three or more? A split level? Do you want a basement? At this stage, it's also important to think about whether stairs will be a problem for you or any family members. Finally, think about the size in terms of rooms. What kind of rooms do you want? This will play a huge factor in determining the size (and layout) of your home.
To get started, consider the following:
- How many bedrooms and bathrooms will you want?
- What type of spaces are you needing or want?
- Do you have any special interests or hobbies that you want to take into account when designing your custom home?
If you love to ride bikes, then you'll want to make sure there is space to store them. If you're a musician, you might want to include a soundproof studio space. And if you're an artist, a custom studio space could be the perfect addition to your home. Whatever your interests may be, you can design your home to accommodate them.
Determining your New Home's Layout
When you know which rooms you need and how much space you have to work with, start thinking about how you want to arrange everything. You have lots of layout options, and the way the rooms are arranged can affect traffic flow, privacy, and how people interact in the home.
There are many optional features that you can choose to include in different rooms of your custom home during the design process. These choices can affect the layout of your home. To get started, go through the following list to decide what you want or do not want in each room.
Kitchen:
- What kind of counter space do you need?
- What will your living areas be like?
- Do you need a bar area?
- Island or peninsula for your kitchen?
- What kind of pantry or food storage will you have?
- How many sinks?
- Gas or electric stove/oven?
Bedrooms:
- How many closets?
- Will you have a walk-in closet?
- Numerous closets? Walk-in closets?
- Will every bedroom have there own bathroom?
Bathroom:
- What kind of Shower or Tub will you have?
- Will you have one or two sinks?
Do you need a vanity area? - Will you add a Linen closet?
Laundry room:
- Should you combine it with a mudroom?
- Where will you put a laundry room?
- What kind of storage will you need in your laundry room?
Outdoor Spaces:
- Do you plan for a patio or porch?
- Will it be screened?
- Do you want a balcony?
- Is a courtyard feasible?
Incorporating Your Style
Think broadly about style when you start planning to build a custom house or renovate a home. Consider the climate and location when choosing a style. Look at different styles and decide which elements you like best.
Step 3: Choose Your Team
Some custom home builders offer design services or can help you find an architect. To find these professionals, ask everyone you know for recommendations, including local realtors, lenders, building associations, and even friends who have recently bought homes.
A. Perry Homes is a design-build construction company specializing in building custom homes of the highest quality and value. We offer excellent, in-house architects, timely design solutions to all issues, and carefully plan out the construction process to ensure that our clients receive the best possible price throughout the process. Our Co-Construct software provides up-to-date budgets, schedules, and job site photos, so you can always see the value that we are providing.
