Building Information

Building a new home begins long before the foundation is poured.  Design, functionality, usability and location are just a few of the many hundreds of decisions to make.  Before your home is built you need to find the right lot to build it on. 

Don't overbuild for the neighborhood. Having the biggest and most expensive house in the area may be wonderful for your ego, but it will be a disaster when it comes time to sell.  A custom home in a trailer park will diminish your property value.

Get the best contractor your budget will allow. When building a house, quality is usually more important than quantity. By calling around to local hardwood stores you will find a reputable list of contractors that are actively building homes in your area.

Be prepared for delays. Building a house is a complicated project and utilizes dozens of subcontractors, workers and suppliers. Delays can--and probably will--happen, and that will back up the entire process. A delay, for example, in the framing stage stops everything: electricians and plumbers are unable to do their "rough-in" work until the framing is completed. Don't lock your move-in date in stone--it may be weeks later.

Monitor the progress of the house building as much as possible. During construction a lot can be accomplished--both positively and negatively--in a short amount of time. This is especially true during the framing stage. Catching a mistake early will save a lot of headaches later.

Watch your construction allowances. Generally, in the total cost of building a house you will be given allowances for such items as flooring, lighting, plumbing fixtures, etc. Make certain that you can actually get the materials you want within the allowance amount. For example, if you have a $3500 flooring allowance and the carpeting and hardwood floors you want will cost $6500, you are the one who will have to make up the $3000 difference. These "allowance overruns" can add up quickly!