When building a home there are many things to consider! Here are the 5 things we wish we knew before building! We also shared some results from #ourhometour:
1- Be prepared to go over budget! The best guess you can come up with will still not be enough. We found ourselves adding items to the list that we didn’t know existed! I wish there was a giant list of everything you may spend money on a build but it totally depends on what is offered, prices of lumber or labor at the time!
2- Creating a “wants” vs. “needs” list. This will help guide you through number one! It is also easy to get very excited about certain things but try to prioritize anything you can’t change after the build.
3- Choose finishes you love. Trends come and go and family/friends may offer opinions but its your house and you should choose what you love! This was something I agonized over for weeks!
4- Prioritize your budget to include things you can’t change after the build like electrical, plumbing, upgraded cabinets, fireplaces and extra garages.
5- Learn from others by following home building accounts! Instagram friends have helped me think of places to place electrical or gas lines (hello fire pit in the backyard) or where to score discount lighting. There are also so many DIY videos and valuable posts that can help you be prepared before tackling these projects yourself!
1- If your in a neighborhood read your covenants through and through! It may seem obvious… but we purchased a small white gas tank to sit on the side of our home (it was actually cute) only to realize it needed to be buried!
2- Become friends with the crew and visit often! I was able to think through decisions not only with the builder but also with the crew, who provided new ideas!
3-When you create your budget dig deep for all the upgrades.
4- All builders offer paint packages. I knew we didn’t want matte again so we ended up paying more for eggshell, which we didn’t budget for.
5-Plumbing fixtures- apparently plumbers have to plumb the house with a specific hardware. This dictates which brand you must use and limits your selections.
Honorable mentions:
“How much time I would spend between emails, phone calls, meetings, site visits and shopping. For me its the equivalent of a side gig!”
“Don’t expect anything when you expect it! Our move in date got pushed so many times. Patience is a virtue! Especially when building during a pandemic!”
Image above: SOURCE |J. K. KLING ASSOCIATES
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