Building a home that represents your lifestyle can be so exciting. Alair Homes Scarborough provides seven steps to start building your dream custom home.
Choose Professional Contractors
Do research and find experienced and skilled contractors, such as Alair Homes Scarborough. Construction of a customized home requires a team that has a good track record. They will offer you advice on the best materials to use. In fact, contractors who have been in the business for many years might even get your materials at a discounted price. Genuine contractors will ask you to sign a contract before they start building.
Set a Budget
Making a budget begins with planning for what you can afford. Specific details such as the price of land, engineering fee, taxes, design, decorating, furniture, and construction cost will guide you when formulating a budget. Remember, there are side trips that can occur in the process of building. Contact your builder to help you make a rough estimate of the whole construction process. In case the price exceeds the budget, make several adjustments in order of priority.
Create a Plan
The majority of homeowners hire an interior designer or an architect to create a detailed outline of the custom home. Design licensing is different in each state. Architects take on a wide range of work from floor plan to getting permits while interior designers focus more on materials and color selections. Compare several design professionals to know the quality of services offered. The design should align to the amount of money you are planning to invest.
Select Your Finishes and Fixtures
Shopping around for materials can be overwhelming. You have to choose the right doorknobs, light fixtures, countertops, doors, windows, paint, and many other things. It is advisable to select fixtures and finishes before construction. Your contractor will help you to come up with rough estimates. Also, you can ask your designer to accompany you and help you select the best items depending on your budget.
Get Permits
Permits can take a day, months or even years, depending on the project. The fees range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the location and size of the house. Do research and get to know how long it will take to process the permit. It will help you to identify when the construction is likely to start. Furthermore, you should safeguard your home by getting warranties and insurance.
Prepare Your Plot
You should prepare the site for building your custom home properly. Clear the vegetation and level the plot, if necessary, by setting out trenches. You can store plants in a nursery and replant them once the construction is over. Many homeowners prefer to use brick or block for building. Also, timber is suitable for quick and predictable structures. Moreover, you should take time to research and know what best suits your project.
Accept What You Can’t Change
After getting permits and securing money, the only thing left is starting construction. However, if other unpredictable things happen, your team should be able to provide solutions on how to deal with these hiccups. Stay calm and let the professionals handle problems. In case you have any concerns, make sure to ask your contractor. Stick to decisions that you make when coming up with the style of the house and fixtures.
The planning process can be lengthy, but fruitful in the long run. When the construction is complete, you can move into your dream home with your loved ones.