What to Consider When Building a House

What to Consider When Building a House

When it comes to housing, more people are looking to build, due to a crazy market. But building requires more than simply picking a floorplan and hiring a contractor.

From layouts and materials to lighting and furnishing, there are hundreds of different factors that could make a major impact on your budget and timeline.

Here are several factors to consider if you’re building a house.

1.  Custom Built or A Ready-Made Design

Ready-Made Design

When building, there are typically a list of home layouts and designs that are permitted by the neighborhood. However, that doesn’t mean that has to be the case for you.

Deciding if you want to have a custom build or a ready-made design can help you determine if you want to live in an area with an HOA. These associations usually have strict guidelines on what you can do with the aesthetics of your house.

It will also make a huge difference as to whether or not you need to hire an outside architect for the home building process as well.

2.  Decide Your Non-Negotiables

Before you decide on a layout for your house or determine the budget, you need to sit down and make a list of what your non-negotiables are.

For instance, if you want to be closer to the mountains, then buying a lot in a suburb near the city center isn’t going to work for you.

3.  Determine Your Budget

Planning out your build also really depends on your budget. Not only will you need to account for the land and the build, but you’ll also need to include things such as property tax and homeowners insurance.

The construction of a house doesn’t include any additional features such as a pool or an enclosed fence around the pool.

Consider your non-negotiables prior and see if there is anything that might have to take a back seat for the initial build so you can stay within your budget.

Also, take into consideration additional savings for any repairs you may have to take down the road, such as repairing water damage to your hardwood floors.

4.  Learn About Laws and Regulations

top view hand shake of engineer and  building contractor on table

Regardless of where you’re planning to build, you’re going to have to navigate certain laws and regulations. Each area has its own set of rules and codes they abide by for building structures for the safety of the occupants.

Knowing what these certain criteria area will make a big impact on the design of the build. Most often, the architect can handle these particular issues for you.

But having an idea of what these are ahead of time will help you to avoid any penalties or costly fines down the road.

5.  Plan Out Your Space

The layout of your house is important for both functionality and aesthetics. The living and dining rooms, for example, are the most used areas of the house. Because of this, you may want to have lots of natural light in those rooms.

You’ll need to work with your architect to ensure the rooms are facing south and southwest to create the most amount of light possible throughout the day. 

6.  Decide on Materials

As you work with your contractors, you’ll have to start making decisions on what materials you’ll use.

Everything from insulation and roofing materials to reclaimed antique lumber, siding, and beams will need to be chosen before construction begins.

7.  Determine Your Lighting

electrician installing light box

Lighting can completely change the ambiance of a room. Anything electrical will require you to work with your contractor to decipher what your needs are.

You may want to consider other lighting enhancements, such as automation or LED fixtures. You’ll also need to consider lighting for the outside of the home to ensure safety for you and your family.

8.  Start Thinking About Furnishings

You also need to take into account furnishing your new home. If you’re moving from a smaller apartment, for example, you more than likely don’t have everything you need to complete the house.

This should be added to your initial budget as well. While these items are not a determining factor for completing the construction, it does shift it from a house to a home.

Conclusion

Building a house is an exciting endeavor for anyone. It allows you to create exactly what you want for your dream home.

But it’s important to take into consideration things like your materials, lighting, contractors, and other elements that can impact the timeframe and budget of your build.

Article Submitted By Community Writer

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