Becoming a homeowner is one of the most satisfying dreams to accomplish. A home gives you a space to retreat to after a long day and spend time with your family and friends. When you rent, the money you pay each month no longer benefits you. However, if you purchase or build a home in Prince Edward County, you can build equity in the home with each payment which will serve as an investment in the future.
While the market is full of opportunities for buying pre-built homes, another option is to design a new house. This is a particularly attractive option for those with large budgets that want to customize the home to their exact tastes.
Building a custom home is a lot more complicated than buying a house that already exists. You will be far more involved in the process and have to make decisions over a long period until the home is completed and you can move in. Let’s take a look at the process involved in designing a custom home in Prince Edward County.
Step 1: Discover What You Want
Before you start looking for land or builders to work with, you should create a vision for your home. Are you more interested in a modern look or a craftsman style? What are your bedroom/bathroom needs? How much square footage will be just right for the size of your family? What interior layout will make you feel the most comfortable? During this stage, saving pictures or designs that you like to show to a potential builder, architect, or interior designer can be helpful.
Step 2: Plan a Budget
Building a custom home from scratch is more expensive than buying a house that already exists. Therefore, when considering your budget, look for homes that have comparable features to what you want to build and assume that you will be paying more for the new build. Setting a budget early will help you make decisions about what to include in the home. It can also make communication with builders and architects simpler during the planning and construction process.
Step 3: Research Builders and Architects
Finding the right custom home builder and architect to plan and construct your dream home is perhaps the most important step in this process. You want to choose an experienced builder that has a positive reputation with past clients. To aid in your research, ask for references from the firms that you communicate with and ask their clie Finding the right custom home builders how happy they were with their builds. Google reviews can also help you vet your options with a quick online search. Make sure that the team you plan to work with is skilled in their work and has excellent communication principles, as collaboration is key for building custom homes.
Step 4: Find a Lot
Now it is time to select a location for your custom build. The builder/architect you are working with can help you choose a spot that works for utilities and has a great view, but the final decision is up to you. Rely on the advice of the professionals so you do not encounter any surprises during the construction phase, and always visit the site in person before purchasing to get an idea of what the location feels like.
Step 5: Design the Home
Other than construction, this part of the process may take the longest. Many decisions will have to be made as you figure out what rooms, features, amenities, and materials will be used to build the home. Be prepared for a lot of communication and back-and-forth as you and the builder determine what is possible within the limits of your budget.
Step 6: Construction
Now, the building can begin. Ideally, you have selected a contractor that will keep communication lines open throughout the build, updating you on any changes or with questions. If a custom build takes 12 months, you will likely be needed for decision-making for most of those 12 months. Many factors affect how long it takes to build a custom home, so be aware of the timeline when planning your life around construction.
Step 7: Make the House a Home
The construction is complete and the home is ready for move-in, but your job is not done yet. You need to turn this building into a home. Hopefully, you already have an idea for interior design elements to make the space more comfortable for you and your family. For example, placing and maintaining house plants can bring more life into the space.
Step 8: Enjoy
After all that work, all the decisions, all the dreaming, and the long construction process, your new custom home in Prince Edward County is ready to be enjoyed. You have an oasis where every element in the home was placed because of your input, so it is truly the realization of your dreams. Now you get to enjoy being a homeowner, so invite your friends and family over to celebrate with a housewarming party.
