Building a custom home is an exciting prospect for many people. It can be a way to create the perfect home that fits your needs and lifestyle. However, there are several things you need to know before starting the process. Here are five fast facts about building a custom home.
1. CUSTOM HOMES COST MORE BECAUSE YOU GET TO MAKE YOUR OWN SELECTIONS.
Many builders will say that it costs about 50% more to build a custom home than standard homes, but the real costs are higher. The reason is that you’re not just building in an existing space; you’re building an entirely new home that’s completely unique in design and appearance. And that’s where the real cost starts.
2. BUT IT’S WORTH IT BECAUSE YOU GET TO DESIGN IT FROM SCRATCH.
A custom home can be somewhat expensive, but it pays for itself in the long run. If you want a home with all sorts of unique features, you don’t have to settle for anything else. You can get everything you want and design a home in the style, shape, and size that satisfies your needs.
3. CUSTOM HOME DESIGNS ARE LIMITED ONLY BY YOUR IMAGINATION.
In terms of design, custom homes can be almost anything you want them to be. If you’re tired of the same layouts and bland designs, building a custom home gives you infinite options for your floor plan and design. You can create nearly anything you can dream up, from expansive beachside villas to modern city residences.
4. IT’S MORE ABOUT QUALITY THAN QUANTITY.
Although some people like to see their homes packed with every possible feature imaginable, a custom home is usually designed for functionality, ease of use and stylish comfort. You want more than just all the latest amenities; your plans should reflect your lifestyle and priorities instead of what’s trendy or popular.
5. A CUSTOM HOME IS BETTER SUITED FOR FAMILIES AND THOSE WITH SPECIFIC NEEDS.
If you’re building a custom home, you can customize it to your specific needs. Perhaps you have a family and need more space or special features for the kids. Or maybe you’re an older person who wants an easily accessible home that’s easy to navigate and doesn’t require stairs. Whatever your situation, there are solutions for you in the form of a custom design.
Common Issues When Building A Custom Home
When your budget does not allow for all of your design’s bells and whistles, the solution is to scale back. But how exactly?
In reality, the best way to resolve this issue is to avoid it entirely. Frequently, homeowners design their dream homes without first ensuring that their plans and budget are in sync throughout the architectural design phase. When they finalize their plans and receive a hard estimate for their home that exceeds their desired budget, this can be extremely frustrating.
The trick is to involve a builder early in the architectural design process so that they can provide updated estimates for each iteration of your plans. If your home design and budget become out of sync at any point, the misalignment will be identified and corrected before your architectural plans are finalized. The builder will be able to collaborate with you, your architect and your interior designer to value-engineer your plans by first listening to your priorities and then advise you on where to splurge, where to compromise, and which materials and/or design elements will maximize value. Putting in the extra effort during this critical phase to ensure design/budget alignment will pay off in the long run by avoiding budget busts or the need for additional work.
Permit Delays
There are two things you should be aware of when it comes to permits. The first requirement is that your builder handles all permits, licenses, HOA approvals, and inspections. This is a necessary part of their job. Confirm this with your builder and inquire early on about the city permit and HOA approval processes and timelines.
The second point to mention is that permits almost always take longer to obtain than you expect. This is often due to the bureaucracy involved in issuing them, but by communicating with your builder about permits and upcoming inspections, you’ll know what to expect—and who to contact if there’s a delay or a problem with any inspection. Choose a builder who has experience successfully navigating permits, licenses, and HOA approvals to avoid unnecessary costs and delays.
Are You Planning on Building a Custom Home?
If you’re considering getting started on building a custom home for you and your family, New Key Construction, based in Walnut Creek California, is here to serve you. Our passion is to be the home for talented craftsmen who deliver beautiful homes to clients throughout the SF East Bay Area! Choosing the right general contractor for your custom home can be difficult, but we make things easy by focusing on Your Experience, Client Communication, Cutting Edge Technology and Pushing Our Design and Build Limits! If we could have one goal, it would be that when someone you know is looking for a custom home builder you highly recommend our company because of the experience we deliver for you! Check out our website, our portfolio and our reviews to learn more – or give us a call today.