How to build your dream home from the ground up

Do buy low-maintenance building materials

Looking for ways to save money on the building process is always a good step, but you also need to take into consideration the durability and upkeep of your supplies. Between the weather and having children, grandchildren or even pets running around, wear and tear will occur. Look for resources such as synthetic building materials, bricks or stone that will pay for themselves over time. This will mean paying more upfront at the time of installation, but you’ll spend less on maintenance and upkeep in the long run.

Do put everything in writing

Developing a steady stream of communication between you and your contractor is great, but to avoid any misinterpretation or misunderstanding be sure to have everything in writing. All your plans and any changes should be written down in addition to be addressed verbally. Then give each person a copy of the plan to reference throughout the build to help avoid costly mistakes from being made.

Do ask questions

If you’re building your dream house, you want everything to be perfect. Unfortunately, sometimes your vision of how things should be will differ from someone else’s. To keep things in line with your plan, check in on the construction site frequently. When you’re there look around and don’t be afraid to ask questions. These questions can range from asking about how the process is going, what’s next and even clarifying something you don’t understand.

Do be flexible

Building a house takes time and no matter how much you want things to be perfect, they won’t be. There will be things that need to change throughout the process. One example of this is the date of completion. Weather will play a huge factor in site conditions and the overall work schedule. While you’ll want your crew to stick to schedule, working in conditions that are dangerous isn’t safe on anyone’s part.

Do not forget to do your research

The process of building your dream home is the same as preparing for a big meeting or a test; you want to be well prepared by doing research. One of the most important parts of the building process is to research the contractor. Start by getting recommendations from trusted sources such as friends, family members and co-workers. Once you’ve gotten some names, start conduct your own research. Then set up in-person meetings and choose which one is the best fit for you.

Do not go over budget

One of the biggest parts of effectively building a home is creating a budget and sticking to it. Building a home from the ground up can be costly and if you don’t stick to your budget the bill for your dream home could skyrocket in a hurry. If changes that will impact the budget come up, look for alternatives in the same price range to resolve the issue at hand.

Do not change orders

Along with sticking to your budget, you don’t want to make any changes to your blueprints once ground has been broken on your house. Changing things whenever you feel like is frustrating for contractors and it can quickly create additional costs. Make sure everything you want in your house is there before you sign off on the final plan.

Do not overbuild for the neighborhood

Coming into a new neighborhood can sometimes be a time to have a house that is bigger and better than all the other ones. However, when it comes time to sell the house you may have a difficult time getting the price you want. Selling the house you’re building is probably the farthest thing from your mind, but it’s important to create a house you love that will also provide a good return on investment.