What to Think About When Building a Home

The process of building a house is one of the most exciting, frustrating, and rewarding experiences that anyone can ever go through.

You get to see your dreams come to life right in front of your eyes, but as with any major construction project, building a new house can also have its share of setbacks, difficulties, and problems.

With proper planning and attention to detail, these problems can be kept to a minimum, and you can instead focus on the excitement of spending many happy years living in your dream home. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide full of tips to help you understand what to expect throughout the entire process.

The Process of Building a House

Home construction from start to finish is a long, drawn-out endeavor that can be broadly divided into three different stages: pre-construction, during construction, and post-construction. It pays to be organized, so here’s a rough outline of the home building process.

Before You Start Construction

These are the choices you’ll need to make before the day that you break ground on your new home.

Decide to Build

One of the most important parts of a new home is deciding whether or not to buy new, remodel your current home, or build a home to match your needs.

This is a big decision. Things like your budget, the value of your home, the real estate market, and your specific needs and desires are all factors that come into play.

If you decide building is for you, many people opt to hire a real estate agent to help find the perfect piece of land. The lot that you purchase will factor into the size and layout of the floor plan.

Choose a Home Plan

Next, once you’ve chosen to build a new home, you’ll need to choose a plan. When looking for a home construction plan, it’s a good idea to think about the kinds of features that drew you toward building your own home in the first place.

Modify the Plan

Usually, you’re not going to be able to find a home that completely fits every single need that you have.

Because of this, you might find a plan that has most of the features you’re looking for and then modify it slightly (add or subtract a fireplace, add a walk-in closet, add a modest amount of square footage, etc.). It’s also important to learn how to read home plans so you fully understand the layout and what changes you’ll need made.

Depending on the plan, the changes you have in mind, and the company you get it from, alternations likely come at a cost in addition to the plan price. Alternatively, you can discuss these “remodels” directly with your contractor. He or she may be able to do them on-site if they’re not structural in nature.

Hire a Contractor

This is possibly the most important step of new home construction because the person you choose is going to be your go-to for all questions throughout construction. They are also in charge of helping you approve your final design choices and making sure you have a beautiful and safe home.

There are plenty of online databases for hiring independent contractors, as well as local companies that specialize in building houses. Whatever you choose, make sure that you’ve read plenty of reviews on their previous work, and even contact the home builder in person, prior to signing any contracts with them.

Adhere to Local Laws

This is a step of new home construction that you can partner with your contractor on. You want to make sure that you are following local laws every step of the way during construction. Because of this, you should even do your own research on acquiring building permits, gaining access to city water, building codes, etc.

Sometimes working with local governments is a tedious process, so be sure to build time for “the unexpected” into your construction timeline.

Choose Construction Materials

Choosing the construction materials for your home is another big choice to make, and it’s one that shouldn’t be made without the help of your contractor.

While home-building materials can be adjusted depending on personal taste and budget, there are certain structural elements that are best left to the opinion of a professional.

Make sure that you speak to your contractor about the following types of things:

Set a Timeline for Construction

It’s important to have a schedule for construction when building a new home. Yes, problems will arise, but you can account for those in your schedule. You don’t want to spend months waiting around when you could be living in and enjoying your new home.

Work out a rough timeline (including certain progress benchmarks) with your contractors and be sure to stop in regularly during construction to check in on things. Be sure to include time for site preparation at the beginning and final touches at the end.

During Construction

Here are the kinds of things you should expect once construction on your new home has started:

After New Home Construction

Once your new home is finished being built, here are the kinds of things that you can expect to do.

Enjoy the Process

Most of all, remember to enjoy the process of building a new home. This is a once in a lifetime event. It’s not every day that someone gets to have complete creative control over the place where they spend the majority of their lives – the place where family memories are made.

While it might seem a bit stressful at times, remember to take a step back to soak it all in.

To help build your knowledge as you prepare to embark on this journey, be sure to read our ebook The Ulitmate Beginner's Guide to Building Your Home. This free, step-by-step guide provides you with the essential information you need to know when building your own home.

Building a new home is a journey. You’ll need to make big decisions, face setbacks, and oversee a major but ultimately amazing process. This is because, at the end of it all, you will get to enjoy a custom-built, beautiful home.