Many people dream about designing and building their own home. If you’re one of these people and you’re ready to jump right into it, take a few considerations before beginning so you can be as prepared as possible for the detailed but rewarding process:
#1 – Have Solid Ideas in Mind
If you’ve thought about building a home and are finally taking steps to make it a reality, you’ve surely already had plenty of ideas on what you want in a new home. But it’s up to you to make the final decisions on exactly what you want the builders to create, so it’s important to be thorough with the details and communicate to your builder every idea you have.
#2 – Know Your Floor Plan
Your new home’s floor plan is the baseline for your entire project. You can draw up your own plan, find one from your builder’s catalog, or search for your ideal setup on the internet, but you should be confident in the floor plan you choose before moving forward with construction.
#3 – Find a Balance
Your budget matters greatly in any home project, and when people build their own homes, they tend to go overboard with the things that they desire. If your budget doesn’t allow you to have marble countertops in both the master bathroom and the kitchen, you can a) choose one or the other, or b) make budget cuts in other areas like appliances so that you can afford marble in both spaces.
#4 – Budget for Additional Costs
Aside from the price you will pay for materials, there are a few other additional costs that may or may not be involved in your new construction project:
- Land alteration costs like removing trees, grading land, removing rocks
- Labor rates, as they can fluctuate throughout the year
#5 – Find the Right Builder
Once you have chosen the type of home you want, it’s best to find a builder that specializes in that specific home type. The company you choose should be licensed and insured, and should have a portfolio of completed projects for you to look through. Be sure the builder has a good reputation within the community and with its prior customers, and you’ll gain the confidence you need to trust them with your project.
Johnson Lumber is your best resource for quality materials and home design in Maryland. We work with top-rated brands and have helped many people make their dream home a reality. Contact our professionals today to find our more about what we can do for you while building a new home.
