The whole process of picking a new home – whether you’re buying or building – can be a stressful one. Inevitable delays, changes of plans, and lack of communication can all create a lot of frustration for everyone involved. Today we’re going to look at a few steps you can take to make your custom home build a simple process from start to finish with your dream home being the end result!

Choose the Right Builder

This is easily the hardest part of any custom home build. Choosing the right builder can mean the difference between an over-budget catastrophe and ending up with your dream home. Here are three things to consider when choosing your home builder:

• Bid out the project to numerous builders and review each bid thoroughly.
• Get local recommendations from individuals that are happy with their finished product – and the process for getting there.
• Have a lawyer review the contract between you and your builder to make sure that your interests are fairly represented.

Once you’ve reviewed all the bids for your project, don’t just pick a builder based on the lowest bid. Compare each bid to make sure that one builder’s bid isn’t significantly lower because they missed something you requested or are taking a shortcut. After you’re confident with the bids, you can work out an agreement and put the plan together for your build. 

Make a Plan

One of the most important parts of keeping a custom home build running smoothly is having a plan. And we’re not just talking about the architectural plan for the house – we’re talking about a comprehensive plan that covers all the details. You and your builder should have a conversation about a whole list of things that will occur during the building process, such as:

• Approval process for change orders
• Payment schedule
• Selection process for trims, finishes, etc.
• Important deadlines
• How to handle delays

Any number of issues could pop up during your building process, so don’t be afraid to dig into the nitty gritty stuff when working on your plan. The more things you think about in advance, the less stressed you’ll be if something goes awry.

Communicate

One of the biggest frustrations that homeowners cite when discussing home construction or major renovations is a lack of communication. Having regular check-ins with your custom home builder can give you peace of mind that your project is moving along smoothly and without any hiccups. Similarly, being available and promptly returning phone calls or messages from your builder can help eliminate delays and frustration on their end if they have to make changes to the schedule, order additional materials, etc.

The best thing you can do when getting started in the process of a custom home build is to take a deep breath, sit down, and think things through. It’s always easier to over-plan than it is to play catch-up once something goes wrong. Working through the details now can save you a ton of headache in the future – so take a breather and figure things out at a pace that makes you comfortable. You won’t regret it.