Before you get started, these are some things to keep in mind.
1. Your Budget and Timeline Before Anything Else
When you’re getting started, your budget and timeline are going to be the most important things to keep in mind. An honest budget will ensure you don’t accidentally overspend, and a simple timeline will ensure you keep on track and don’t waste time procrastinating through this project.
If you’re planning far out enough, being thorough may help you keep an eye out for materials going on sale, which you can get for a steal instead of buying things the moment you need them.
2. Insulation and the HVAC System
When you’re building your home, insulation is going to be one of the most important parts of keeping your property comfortable year-round. Keeping your property well-insulated will help keep temperatures as comfortable as possible.
3. Space to Grow
Although you want your home to be perfect and bespoke to yourself, you should also want to give it room to grow. This could mean more storage than you think you could ever need, or it might mean adding an extra bedroom or two in case you want guests or are considering having children eventually.
Adding space to grow means you never have to worry about your home not being enough, and you can instead have a property that’s exactly what you need.
4. What Your Local HOA or Ordinances Say
If you’re building in a neighborhood that’s already been filled out or you’re building in a collection of empty lots, it’s vital to make sure you talk to whoever’s overseeing the land before you do anything.
If your land has an HOA, you may have to go through them for almost every decision on the exterior of your property. Many want to sign off on anything from windows to siding colors, and this can slow things down to a halt.
Plan ahead as much as possible, and the moment you’re looking at materials, send them off for the HOA to check. It can take a couple of weeks to a month before they approve it, but once they do, you’re in the clear. Building without their say may lead to you getting sued or even evicted from your land.
5. Safety Throughout the Property
Safety is a key feature every property should have! You should be excited to be home and happy to show it off instead of nervous that someone will get hurt or be in danger. Add details throughout, like grips on stairs, a strong deck railing, smoke detectors, and more, so your home can be as safe as possible.
Failing to do this will lead to too many risks that aren’t worth taking.
6. Keeping Moisture and Mold Out
Moisture and mold are extremely damaging to any property. Even if you live in a dry environment, areas like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens can hold onto moisture and make a space uninhabitable.
Tools like a heated shower floor can stop moisture in its tracks while adding a lot of comfort on chilly mornings. You should also ensure you have great insulation that can lock out water as well.
7. Materials That Will Stay Green
It’s a good idea to go for building materials that are green forever instead of possibly breaking down or causing issues in the future. This could mean going for recycled and reclaimed wood, salvaged materials, bamboo, wool, cork, and others that will help you give back to the environment you’re in without it eventually leaching chemicals into your surroundings.
While doing this, it’s also vital that every material you get is long-lasting. Buying green can only go so far if the materials have to get replaced extremely often and end up causing more waste because of that.
If you’re unsure about a product, it’s easy to do some research and dig into whether or not it suits your ideals. Your dream home can be as green as you build it to be.
8. What Looks Are Popular in Your Area
Sometimes it’s a good idea to stop and look at what’s popular in your area. You may have been considering classic plastic siding, but after seeing how gorgeous and sustainable brick is, you might be more interested in going for a brick cladding system. Don’t be afraid to look at other properties for inspiration.
This is especially useful if you’re in the beginning stages and aren’t sure how you want your property to turn out.
Building a Home is an Incredible Choice
Although you can buy a home at any time, there’s nothing as wonderful as getting to build your own. Take the time to create a one-of-a-kind property that offers everything you want out of it.
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Sam Willis is a freelance writer that loves sharing his knowledge and expertise on real estate. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia where he enjoys spending time with his wife and researching real estate trends in his free time. Sam’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a new construction industry resource.
