New home construction takes much effort on your side, from making sure it fits your investment to get all the features you ever wanted. It is also about getting a trendy, yet comfortable space, while adding your personal touch. Besides, you get an opportunity to install unique features that you rarely get to see if you buy a preowned home. No doubt competent builders take care of every project, but as a homeowner, you may also consider giving your inputs.
So, before you start your dream home in McAllen, here are the:
Top 10 Things you Should Know About Building a New Home
1. Make a Budget Plan
Most homeowners might have applied for a loan before they started the construction. This budgeting phase is crucial in your home construction process. You will have to take a realistic look at your expected costs, how much you can afford, and how to gather the funds. Plan for cost overruns and hidden costs.
These are one-time purchases during the build and recurring expenses towards the home maintenance. It is a great idea to hire the services of a financial advisor who specializes in similar processes. Shop around for materials and see if you can find better deals on premium materials.
2. Choose the Right Lot
If you already own a piece of land and build on it, then it is fine. Otherwise, you have to select the right building lot for your home, in your planned budget. Typically, the land alone may cost up to 25% of your construction budget. Even if you have a neighborhood in mind, compare the land costs in the surrounding area. And the locality where you purchase the land also impacts its price. For instance, it may be lower in a suburban area and higher if you are looking for an ocean view.
3. Engage an Expert Team
Your construction team includes an architect, designer, builder, surveyor, excavator, subcontractors, and more. To start with, you may want to hire a home designer or architect. Also, ask your family and friends that had their homes built for advice. Most importantly, ask yourself: “How much time and effort am I going to give to this project?”
Because, if you want to be involved in every step of the way and see to it that your ideas take shape, it may be better to engage a custom home builder. Moreover, hiring a construction company may make sense as they will be dealing with the subcontractors, skilled crew, and coordinate the project.
4. Plan the Layout
For builders, home construction can be routine. But for you, it is a matter of sentiment and full of ideas that you have dreamt of. So, rather than picking a stock plan off of a catalog, try incorporating your favorite style. Take inspiration from as many sources as you can, and with the help of a designer or an architect, you can make changes to the stock designs and build a home per your tastes.
In contrast, a custom home builder will ask you about your preferences and recommend ideas to suit your lifestyle. You should also keep your future needs in mind. If you are a young couple who is going to start a family, you will need more rooms.
5. Customize Every Aspect
Incorporate the custom options you have always wanted, such as, under-cabinet lights in the kitchen, higher ceilings, or a deep pour basement. The main advantage of making these modifications is that you open up the area and your home looks more spacious. You can make the living space more dramatic and vibrant with a custom shelf unit as the focal point. They are functional, add a ton of storage space, and can be made to perfectly fit any corner or archway.
6. Install Smart Technology
Smart devices and systems may be installed as add-ons after the build, but why wait until then? You can add smart home systems like a self-programmable thermostat, smoke detectors, advanced home security systems, and more, as you start building. Mirrors that can turn into TV screens, motion sensor lighting, energy-efficient devices, smart faucets, and AI-powered refrigerators that memorize your grocery lists can make your life so much easier.
7. Make Way for More
If there is a possibility that you can have more space in any room or area, go for it. Extend your garage so it fits 2-3 cars easily and has enough storage space for the safekeeping of valuable items, tools, bikes, and other stuff.
Instead of doing your laundry in the basement, why not have a laundry room upstairs, where you can have ample sunlight to brighten the space? And while you are doing these for your convenience, it is time to consider adding a mudroom to keep your dirty shoes. A mudroom can be a small area with a bench and cupboards.
Separate bathrooms may be a stretch, but a closet for each of the couple is an excellent idea to be well organized. Talk to your designer or builder to check if they can shave off an unused area in the master suite to add more square footage for two closets.
8. Electricals and Built-in Equipment
Adding extra outlets around the home might come in handy during the holidays when you have to plug in Christmas lights or outdoor speakers. Installing them now would save a lot of money in hiring an electrician after the build is finished. Another idea that you may use is a heated driveway to avoid all the strenuous snow shoveling come winter.
Built-in equipment like sprinkler systems with programmable settings let you maintain your yard without moving from your spot. Similarly, heated floors and a central vacuum system can keep you cozy, comfortable, and safe in all seasons.
9. Look into Green Options
Make sure to power your home – either with electricity or with lighting, naturally. Ensure that the design flows in tandem with sunshine and wind coming into the home. Situate the laundry, bathrooms, and garages, are on the south side of the home, where you receive more sunlight. They must have small windows to reduce heat loss. Choose energy-efficient products for your cooling and heating system and other appliances around the house.
10. Don’t Forget the Resale Value
No matter how much effort you put into choosing and inspecting each part of the home, unforeseen events may lead to you sell it in the future. Given this situation, you should plan now for any potential resale years down the line. If you add too many upgrades, it may become too pricey for your neighborhood. Besides, make sure no addition is over-the-top and ends up being unappealing to others.
Conclusion
When it comes to building your home, take advantage of every chance you get, and indulge your fantasies a bit. You have the control to decide how you live for a substantial amount of time. So, it is crucial to have an open discussion with your builder.