Top Things Custom Home Builders Wish You Knew
Custom home building is often misunderstood by prospective buyers who either end up buying an already built home or go for modifying an existing home. It takes the proper home site to build a custom home, for custom homes are not predesigned to begin with and presents a lot of options for the buyer to choose from. These include finding a space to build, specifying a budget, designing the home, and making changes therein. The design aspect might include many things such as adding an extension or converting a loft, among others. Managing and executing these may turn out to be a nightmare if one doesn’t choose the right kind of people - custom home builders.
The reason custom home building is often misunderstood has got to do with its sequencing process. For example, buyers often think of choosing a perfect space to build a custom home before proceeding to hire an architect and reach out to a handful of custom home builders. Thereafter, they zero in on the builder who presents the lowest bid. However, to make the process quicker and relatively cost-effective for the buyer, the sequencing process should be reversed. In other words, the home buyer should choose a builder followed by selecting a space and building the home. Sometimes, home buyers can be in a fix whether to buy a second-hand home or build a custom home. To help them sort the issue, one can read our specific blog on the subject at Build a Custom Home Vs Buying a Second-hand Home in Houston.
The first step in the whole process is identifying a space to build your custom home. However, it is good to know a thing or two about the luxury housing market. The buyer may witness various types of construction in the market – custom projects or spec home projects. In the former, the property owner hires an architect and builder to convert the property into a home while in the latter, the developer or builder buys space and builds a home to be sold to any prospective buyer. Interestingly, when the construction and real estate market is strong there is a lot of activity surrounding the construction of spec homes.
In fact, builders, upon identifying a good space, often sweeten the deal for the seller with a cash-written offer and favorable closing terms (rent-back period, short or long term settlement etc). It is said that spec home builders make a killing while purchasing the plot compared to selling the finished product. And should the builder have enough goodwill and reputation in the market, he or she can presell the spec home even before it is built. So, it is advisable to hire the best custom home builder preferably through recommendations or referrals from family or friends. Further, to identify the best custom home builders in Houston, read our blog at Best Custom Home Builders Houston .
Find the right plot of land to build your custom home
Notwithstanding the focus on designing and developing your custom home, the first step entails finding the right plot. Yes, location plays a key role in determining whether the custom home would be architecturally compatiable and aesthetically appealing. For example, many-a-times, custom home builders have to adhere to the design guidelines laid down by the deed restrictions and architectural review committee who want the architectural design of the area to appear in a certain way. Additionally, the quality of the soil can have an impact on how structurally sound the building would be due to the presence of plastic soils. No wonder, it is advisable to hire a custom home builder who can guide to buy the right plot of land. You may choose the plot based on the following parameters –
Area of the plot
Utilities present in the plot (drainage etc) and whether they are dated or new
Does the existing structure need to be demolished
Are there issues related to deed restrictions?
What is the soil quality?
Does the land have proper drainage?
Average home value in the area
Style of other homes in the area
These parameters should be given due consideration to mitigate errors the builders or contractors may commit during construction. To know more, read our blog on the "How to Save Money by Hiring Remodeling Contractors "
Is building a custom home time consuming? Yes, but the actual time depends on how much detail the owner wants to get into, how decisive the owner is. The actual design phase can take from 3 - 6 months, while construction can take 12 - 24 months. In fact, the buyer may get into a lot of details to be fully satisfied with the end design. This way, the total time to build the custom home may get stretched.
Proper briefing to the builder : It is better if home owners give the right brief to custom home builders instead of changing and chopping their plans abruptly. This can happen when home owners do not take their partners into confidence as far as the design aspects are concerned. This can be frustrating for the contractor and may end up delaying the project. How about agreeing to every project details in advance? For example, if the developer is not informed about fixing chrome switches or designer lampshades beforehand, he or she may pick the standard ones that are available in the market. To prevent such a situation, it is better to keep the design copy with the home owner covering details such as job description, details of flooring, door frames, windows, brick type, date and time, and demolition details, among others.
Prioritize your needs : As an owner looking to build a dream custom home, one must know the things that matter the most. The owner might be brimming with ideas but not everything can be accommodated given the cost involved. So, it is better to prioritize one’s needs to understand what can be added later. For example, one may leave finishing details like molding covering the entire house and add it later once the home is built. Also, to continue with prioritizing the needs, one may invest more in building a modular kitchen instead of a laundry room.
Set money for contingency : There are builders who may over promise but deliver less due to their unfamiliarity with costs, inexperience or habit. Custom home builders are better at limiting costs for they have the experience of working with open-ended selections. However, it is advisable to set some amount of money for contingency expenses as the owner might be saddled with costs the builder might not have foreseen. Also, it would ensure the builder to deliver the end product as per specifications, which the owner had envisioned. Since the cost of building a custom home may vary depending on various parameters, it is advisable to know about the same to optimize expenses. So, read our detailed blog to know the Cost of a Luxury Custom Home Building in Houston.
Who buys what? Make a list of things that the owner would want the custom builder to procure. This may include the sanitaryware, tiles, lampshades, door fittings, or switchboards, among others. However, it is advisable to procure the maximum things by the owner to ensure they match his or her style, specifications, aesthetics, or choice. And if the owner does not have the time to go for these purchases, he or she may brief the home builder about the requirements and their brand/specifications. However, there may be cases where the owner does not know about the kind of ‘stuff’ to be procured for building a custom home. To help matters, the owner may read our blog on the "Most Desirable Elements of Houston Architectural Design "
Draw a contract: The owner should expect the developer/contractor to be transparent and share everything related to the construction process. So, draw a contract that gives details of the type of work to be carried out at every stage of the construction process. In case the developer hesitates to share the details and dilly-dallies about the whole thing, then it can be fairly assumed that the person is not the right one for the job. So, the contract, among other things, should state the starting date and the total time to complete the project. This would speak of professionalism and transparency.
Be clear about the spending goals : The home owner should fix the budget and prioritize his or her spending goals. In case he or she wants to improve the basic design specifications of the developer, a lot of thought should go into the areas of spending. For example, instead of spending a major portion of the budget into making the kitchen ‘oh so cool’, it is better to keep a certain amount aside to build something useful. Hence, it worthwhile to consult the custom home builders to understand the kind of things one should invest ‘now’ and ‘in future’.
Payment agreement : Ensure the builder has quoted the right price after exploring all potential issues and possibilities. This calls for conducting thorough research into the project to pre-empt any cost escalation should something goes wrong. It is advisable to set aside a contingency amount of up to 10 percent of the total budget. However, it is better to agree to a price quotation before the commencement of the project. This can serve as the foundation for both the builder and the owner to work together. Also, the payment schedule should be agreed upon beforehand. For example, the custom home builder may ask for an initial payment to begin the work covering the foundation or demolition (as the case may be.)
Thereafter, the payment process may be initiated during various stages of the construction process - fixing of floor slabs, roofing, brickwork, windows and doors, plumbing and electrical connections, and plastering, among others. And once the job is completed, the final payment should be made. The payment procedure is more or less similar for custom home builders and luxury home builders. In case the home owner wants to know how luxury home builders go about completing their projects, read our blog at How Do Luxury Home Builders Bring Your Dream House to Life?
Energy efficient home : A custom home, in addition to being aesthetically appealing and functional, should be energy efficient as well. The owner should insist on building a LEED-certified home to derive several benefits. These include better air quality (fewer pollutants), energy and water efficiency (lesser electricity and water bills), and ROI (higher resale value). The owner ought to be aware of the CDM (Construction, Design and Management) health and safety guidelines.
Be available for consultations : It should not be the case wherein the owner shies away from focusing on the job once the construction process gets underway. Since the builder may come up with suggestions/queries on the project during construction, the owner must be ‘available’ for consultations. Thus, the home owner should visit the project site in the daytime to supervise the progress of work.
Flexibility due to unforeseen circumstances : There may be situations when certain types of construction work may not be possible. For example, in cold or wet conditions, any mortar based work like laying of concrete is not undertaken. Also, during rains, high winds, or snowy conditions, it may be dangerous to work on electrical equipment. During such time the custom home builders may work on an indoor job. However, such situations may delay the project, which the home owner should be flexible enough to understand and accommodate. Since building a custom home may involve many things, the home owner should know about the construction process in detail. To know more about the process, read our blog at Custom Home Builders Construction Process.
Conclusion : Custom home builders are specialists who build a home according to the specifications provided by the home owners. The process can be time-consuming given the detailing involved and requires a lot of planning and execution. The home owner should be aware of the many aspects of construction and liaise with the builder to ensure timely completion of the project as per the agreed specifications.