Starting a new construction home can be a stressful process. Between designing the home, construction, budgeting and much more, there is a lot to think about and plan for. So, we want to make this process a little easier on you. Continue reading for things to keep in mind as you prepare for your new home to begin construction.
Site Considerations
You must understand the things the builders will have to take into consideration for constructing your home in its chosen location. This is needed so the builders know how to address any problems early on in the project. They need to be made aware of any rules or concerns for building on this site as well as the zoning districts. A professional survey must be done on the site, including a legal description, boundaries and significant features, fights of way, and a footprint of any buildings on the site. If the site has a hill, trees, or a steep slope, this will also need to be included. Provide them with pictures of the site and the surrounding area as well as any significant features they will need to keep in mind. You will need to get into contact with the municipality to see if there are any riles or concerns for this area as well as to inquire about other key information. This includes if the house will use municipal and sewer or a well and septic system. A satellite plan can help with understanding the surrounding area and its existing features. It can be obtained from either Google Maps or Google Earth.
Functional Requirements
Before starting your new home construction, you need to determine the functional needs of your home based on your household’s lifestyle. Based on how many people will be living in your home, you can determine how big your house needs to be as well as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms that you should have. You can also add specific features and rooms based on your family’s needs and interests. If your family is very active, this could include a home gym fit for a family that loves cardio or weightlifting. If you work from home or homeschool your kids, a home office might suit your needs. You may even benefit from disability accessible features, a playroom, big windows, or even a wine cellar.
Design Style
Figuring out your design style will help you decide what things you want for your home. Think about what you want your space to look and feel like. Whether you want a casual or formal home that is either minimal or decorative, the design of your home should match the needs and interests of your family. You can have a traditional or open floor plan depending on how you occupy space in your home. Also, you can decide between having a private or open interior layout leading to the exterior. Read more about different styles in our article 10 Home Architectural Styles.
Getting Ideas
Gathering inspiration for your home is a fun and essential step in your new home construction process. Using Houzz and, or Pinterest, you can get ideas for what you want your home to look like. This includes designs for the interior and exterior of your home. Make sure to include inspiration for your kitchen, bathrooms, living room, dining room, bedrooms, patio, and any other special rooms or spaces your home will have.
Houzz
On Houzz, you can use the idea book tool to gather pictures from projects found on Houzz, which you can separate into different categories. Add collaborators such as members of your household and your designer to get help with this process and to keep everyone in the loop on what to expect for your home design. All you have to do is create an account on Houzz and create a new idea book. Once that is done, you can give the idea book a name and description as well as add collaborators. You can use the search bar to find images that suit your wants for your home, and you can save them to the idea book. When you are done, you will have a clear vision that can be brought to life.
Pinterest is a well-known app and website for “pinning” posts and photos for inspiration. When using Pinterest for your new home, you can create a board that is titled with a name for the project. You can organize this board into sections that can be titled after different rooms in your new home to keep your ideas organized. Pin images to your board that fit the look you want for your home. When you have a lot of images saved, you can look at the commonalities between the photos and decide what things you want in your home. Follow us on Pinterest to get started and to get inspiration for your home.
Budgeting
You will need to create a budget before starting your new construction home. To start, you can research the average cost of homes recently constructed in your area. This will give you an idea of how much it will cost you to build your home. Be sure to compare homes that are similar in size to your home so you can get the best cost estimation. You will also need to estimate the size of the project based on the size of your home and the special features you want. These things will impact the amount of work that needs to be done and the cost of the project. For more on budgeting, read our article on Cutting Costs on a Home Remodel.
If you are looking to build a new construction home, contact J.B. Stones to get started.
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