The 7 Key Steps To Building A New Custom Home

Getting Started

Building a new home is an exciting process. In a few months, you’re going to have the home of your dreams – in which you had a huge part in designing and planning. But as with anything in life, there can be some ups and downs getting to the end. So, we’ve created the following checklist of sorts… The 7 Key Steps To Building A New Custom Home. Follow these tips to help experience a smooth home building process along the way.

Step 1: Define Your Goals and Guidelines

There are some simple things to think through before beginning your new-build adventure. But if you don’t clearly establish and define these goals and guidelines, you can get lost pretty quickly. Ask yourself the following:

  • WHERE do you want your new home to be?
  • WHAT do you want in your new home?
  • WHAT do you need in your new home?
  • HOW MUCH will your new home budget be?

Step 2: Determine Your Overall Budget

Your overall budget will obviously include all of the costs associated with the physical home itself, but don’t forget about the costs for the land as well as potential costs to run new utility lines. And of course, there can always be unexpected costs. Additionally, there will be costs for taxes, for landscaping (if not already included with your home), and of course, you may need to even purchase new furniture and home furnishings.  Once you talk with your builder, they can fill you in on any other costs you might not be anticipating.

Step 3: Find The Best Custom Home Builder For You

Obviously, choosing the right custom home builder is as big a key as any of these steps. You’re going to be working hand-in-hand with the builder and any associated design team members and sales representatives. You want to make sure you’re comfortable with them and that you trust them to help guide you through this process.

Here in Central OhioColumbus, and specifically in Delaware County OhioStonecliff Homes has over a decade of experience in helping home buyers design and build their exact custom dream homes according to their wishlist and budget, all while advising and guiding the buyers through the process comfortably, honestly, and in the proper timeframe.

Step 4: Where Do You Want To Live

Are you interested in living in the suburbs? Or on a rural setting? What particular views would you prefer? Is there a specific school system you’d like to be part of? What amenities are close by to the area you’re considering? Is there going to be a problem accessing certain roads or expressways? And one thing I always tell my clients when buying a new home, what could happen around here in the next few years (i.e. road expansions, commercial buildings within view, etc)?

If you already have land on which you want to build, great. But if you don’t yet, your Custom Home Builder can help point you in the right direction. Maybe they’ll even involve a Realtor  to help you find the right piece of land. Remember, they’re here to help you.

Step 5: Try To Stick With The Plan

As you begin the process with your builder of designing your home and building, changing the overall plan can cost you serious time and money… as well as cause you a lot of headaches and unwanted stress. Do your best to have a game plan set as you begin the process, and then try to stick with it.

Changing smaller design items like counter top styles or cabinet knob styles during the process shouldn’t be a problem. But deciding you’ve changed your mind and now want a 4-bedroom home instead of a 3-bedroom home would be like starting all over again.

Step 6: Expect The Unexpected

It’s easier said than done, I know… But throughout the huge undertaking of building your custom home, there are bound to be some unexpected changes or delays. Maybe it just so happens the time in which you’re trying to build your home is the rainiest season on record in your area? Maybe there was a delay in getting permits on time? Or maybe the cabinet manufacture sent the builder cherry base cabinets though you ordered oak, and now the builder has to ship them back and wait for the oak ones to be delivered. It’s all a process, and if you can be prepared for things like this to pop up, it’ll be a lot less difficult to tackle when they do.

Step 7: Visit The Site During The Process

Don’t feel like you need to be a stranger as building is happening. Schedule periodic visits with your builder to check on progress. Not only is it a great time to see how things are coming along, take photos or videos and share them to your favorite social media sites, telling everyone how exciting you are that things are coming along. It’s always fun to look back on those “in-process” photos after everything is done.

Stonecliff Homes loves to see buyers stop by to check in on how things are coming along and progressing. Plus, it provides an opportunity to correct any changes that are needed in a timely manner rather than before it’s too late or too expensive to change later on.

Thinking Of Building?

If you’re able to follow these 7 key steps, you’ll be a lot more prepared than most buyers entering the new-build process. And you’ll be a lot happier. Trust us. And thank us later.

Are you thinking of building a custom home in the Central Ohio, Columbus, or Delaware County areas? We’d love to chat with you to see if we might be the right builder to help you with your dream build. Contact us, and let’s build something together!

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