If you’re considering building a new custom home, it can be one of the most exciting — and often nerve-wracking — decisions of your life, so it’s crucial to think things through before taking the leap. To help you along in your decision-making process — and to increase your chances of actually getting your dream home — we’ve compiled a list of the top five things to consider before building a custom home.
1. Your Lifestyle
Your lifestyle has a huge impact on what kind of home is best for you—so if you leave this part out of the equation, you could make poor design mistakes. It’s important to think through not only how you live your life today, but how you plan to live in the future as well. Write down specifics like how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want, how much storage space you need, whether you plan to have overnight guests frequently, if you’re planning to grow your family, and so on.
2. Budget
Obviously, finances are one of the most important factors to think through. You’ll need to crunch the numbers to have an idea of what you’ll be able to afford. And when it comes to building vs. buying, the financing process is a little different. If you’re comparing costs for remodeling a purchased home [insert link to cost blog post from April] versus a new build, we recommend taking a look at Remodeling’s new Cost vs. Value guide to get a sense for average remodeling costs in your region. For example, here are some typical price ranges for common home remodel projects in Orange County, California, as well as national averages, according to the guide:
- Bath Remodel:
$23,242 – $71,710 (National Averages are $20,420 – $ 64,743) - Minor Kitchen
Remodel: $24,842 (National Average is $22,507) - Major Kitchen
Remodel: $71,880 – $142,184 (National Averages are $66,196 – $131,510) - Master Suite
Addition: $149,642 – $307,277 (National Averages are $130,986 – $271,470)
3. Timing
One of the most common questions among those planning to build a new home is, “When should we start?” The best time to build a new home really depends on your specific needs, goals and priorities. That said, in general, if your goal is to get your house built as fast as possible, starting construction in the spring or summer is your best bet. On the other hand, if saving money is more important to you than moving quickly, starting in the construction industry’s off seasons of fall and winter may be the way to go.
4. Location
As this article notes,the location and community you live in will likely have an even greater impact on your life than the house you build. This is where you’re going to raise your family, send your children to school, attend church, establish friendships with neighbors, and make your trips to local stores. A lengthy commute might seem tolerable at first, but will it affect your quality of life over time? Try to think long-term.
5. Selecting a Process and Hiring a Builder
Another key factor to consider is the building process you prefer and finding a company that can deliver what you want, the way you want it, and when you want it. In general, there are two main approaches here: a two-phase process (design, and then build) or a single, concurrent process called design-build. At Chris Riggins Construction, our design-build process is a tried and true progression of three main phases: the planning and design phase (pre-construction), the construction phase, and the post-construction phase. And perhaps most importantly, we’ve gained an outstanding reputation because of the unparalleled service we provide our clients.
Don’t just take our word for it—check out our customer reviews to hear what folks are saying about working with us. Then contact Chris Riggins Construction to begin planning your new home build today!