Planning your dream home can be fun and exciting. Working on the details like what style your forever home will be to the countertops in the kitchen can be relaxing and rewarding. We’re here to tell you it’s possible to plan this new endeavor even during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Buying a new home can be stressful and having one built takes a lot of the stress and uncertainties of the traditional home-buying away. Although you’ll still have inspections to make sure that everything is up to code, you won’t have to worry about buying a home with serious issues like cracks in the foundation.
You probably have some idea of what you’d like your house to look like. How many bedrooms, bathrooms, and whether you’d like an open floor plan or not. There’s a lot more that goes into building your home than choosing materials and designs.
You will have to research your home building, budget, and choose the perfect builder to get the job done. Planning is the most important step to building your dream home. It will alleviate your stress, build excitement around the building process, and ensure there are little to no hiccups during the way.
During this time of social distancing and the COVID-19 outbreak, there’s no better time to start planning your dream home. Whether you are just killing time at home or you’ve already started, it is possible to start the process today.
Home Plan Researching
You don’t have to have a master’s in design to choose the layout of your home. The blueprints for a building or structure tell the contractor what to do to make your dreams come to life. Planning your dream home means picking a layout that is perfect for you and your family.
The design that you choose has a few variables. From aesthetics to budget, a well thought out home plan needs to be chosen before your home builder can get to work. Some home builders may have these plans available, but now is a good time to start looking online for the plan that closely matches your goals.
Things you should consider when looking for home plans:
- Your family – How many bedrooms and what type of common living areas would you like? Do you need a separate space in your home for an office?
- Your property – If you haven’t chosen one yet that’s ok. Do you want a home with lot of land, or do you prefer a neighborhood?
- Your lifestyle – Do you want a home with a large garage that accommodates ATV’s and a car collection? If you’re a great cook, what sort of kitchen will best suit your needs and inspiration?
- The basic structure – Do you want one level or two? Perhaps you’d love a three-story home. This is another thing to consider when choosing your home plans.
All of these things are pertinent to your home building process, and they can be done right now.
Inspire Yourself
Finding your inspiration can be a lot of fun when planning your dream home. You’ve probably already thought about the style and the type of scenery around your home. Now, it’s time to look a little further.
You can look into other homes or plans for inspiration. If you’d love to have a cabin-like home in the woods or a modern home looking over a hillside; finding your inspiration allows you to communicate exactly what you want to your home builder.
Start Drawing
You’ve come up with the inspiration and ideas. Now it’s time to start drawing. Putting all of the pieces together can be difficult for someone who doesn’t have experience. Whether you are sketching your plans on a piece of notebook paper and having them professionally drawn or going to an architect for help, this important step will give your home builder the necessary information to build your home.
Budgeting
One of the most common questions is “how much does it cost to build a house?” The answer is: “that depends on you.” The materials you’d like, the contractors you choose, the size of your dream home are all factors that play into your budget.
Building a home gives you more flexibility to get what you want within your price range. Here are a few tips for your dream home budget:
- Plan as early as possible – Understanding that there will probably be additional expenses like inspections and permits means that you will have a realistic budget when the groundbreaking begins.
- Start choosing the property – The area, the amenities, these all play a role into how much you’re going to spend.
- The floor plan – This will give you an idea of the cost to build.
- Details – Smaller details like crown molding and hardwood floors is another factor for your budget.
Your home designer and builder should be able to give you a clear picture of what you can afford with your budget.
Ask for Proposals
You’ll want to come up with a Request for Proposal (RFP) when your design plans are nearly complete. In this stage of the process, you will get a better idea of what your home is going to cost.
Asking for proposals means providing the plans and drawings you’ve come up with. In your proposal, it’s best to include these plans so that builders will know you’re serious. Asking a home builder to give you a price or quote based on a napkin drawing will not get you the intended outcome.
Find Your Builder
Finding the right home builder is the most important step. Many builders specialize in certain designs or construction. You’ll want to verify that the builder you’ve chosen is licensed, insured, and experienced.
Doing your research is the difference between a well-built home and having issues down the road. You can ask your home builder to show you homes they’ve completed in the past. Asking friends and family members for recommendations is another great idea.
Conclusion
The home building process can be lengthy. Planning will keep it moving forward smoothly. Choosing your plans, finding your inspiration, and asking for proposals are things you can do right now, even with the Coronavirus outbreak.
