So, you’ve decided to build a custom home… Congratulations! You’re finally going to have the home of your dreams.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There are a few things you’ll want to take care of before you start construction. Planning for these 5 checklist items will ensure your house building experience runs smoothly.
Do your homework on the builder.
The builder you choose for your custom home will likely make or break the entire experience. Take your time doing your research and asking around to find out what kind of reputations the builders you’re considering have.
You can, of course, ask the builder for referrals, but they’re obviously just going to send you to someone they trust to provide a glowing review. Nevertheless, it never hurts to ask because there is the chance that the builder doesn’t have anyone he/she trusts to provide a positive referral. If that’s the case, then you have your answer: time to move along.
Another way to determine if a builder is right for the job is to notice how responsive they are to you early on. If they don’t return your calls for days, or they’re just plain hard to get a hold of, then you may want to find someone who’s a little quicker to communicate.
Determine where you’re going to live short-term.
If you’re selling your old home and planning to move into the new build as soon as it’s ready, don’t count on the closing date and completion dates to line up perfectly. In fact, plan on them not lining up at all (because they probably won’t).
Too many homeowners waiting on new construction put themselves through unnecessary stress by sitting back and hoping the timing works out. Building a house is stressful enough as it is. Why add to it?
An easy, dependable solution is leasing a fully furnished apartment while your new house is being built. You can choose an apartment with one, two, or three bedrooms so that there’s plenty of space for your whole family, including pets!
Corporate Connection partners with dozens of properties across the Upstate and part of North Carolina. Ask us about finding an apartment that’s close to the house you’re having built. We’re all about convenience around here, and there’s nothing we’d love more than to make your life a little bit easier.
Want to know more about what it’s like to live in a furnished apartment? Get the facts.
Focus on your family.
Ask anyone who’s ever had a home built, and they’ll tell you it’s stressful. Some families might even recommend not doing it at all!
Our advice here is simple (in theory): Focus on your family.
Unfortunately, that’s not always easy to do during a building project when expectations are high, budgets are tight, and unexpected challenges occur on a weekly — if not daily — basis. Still, it’s essential. Work hard to stay connected, choose your battles carefully, and remember, at the end of the day, the only thing that makes your house worthwhile is the family that’s going to live with you in it.
Renting a furnished apartment for your family is a great way to show them you’re focused on them and that you care about their comfort during this transitional period.
Assume nothing.
If it’s not in the contract, it’s probably not going to happen.
If you go into a building project with that mentality, it’s much more likely that you’ll end up with a house that actually looks like the home of your dreams. (That’s the goal, right?)
Don’t assume that just because you made a passing comment to the builder about a preference you had on the kitchen cabinets, it’s going to happen. Builders follow their spec sheets and contracts. If your expectations aren’t written there, then you’re in for a real surprise.
Plan to be involved.
It’s easy to have the mentality that because you hired someone to build your home, your only job is to step back and let it happen. While you certainly could do that, it’s not recommended.
Just like you want your builder to be available for you, it helps things run more smoothly when you’re also available to them. Give them a phone number you’ll actually answer so that when they have a question, they don’t have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get to you. The sooner and more often you can answer their questions, the sooner your house will be done and the more it will look like it always did in your dreams.
Are you planning to build?
If you’re toying with the idea of building your dream home, contact us about a furnished apartment for you and your family.
Trust us when we say the building process will be less of a headache when you have the option to kick your feet up at the end of a long day in an apartment that’s fully furnished just for you during this unique period of your life.
