Enjoying the Home Building Process
Building a custom home is an exciting adventure. Not only are you able to plan out all of the details of the interior, but you’ll be able to work hand-in-hand with the architects and contractors to watch your vision come to life. For the most part, this is an extremely positive and rewarding experience, but that’s not to say it’s completely stress-free. The home building process can be a tumultuous journey that requires patience, dedication, and the right team of professionals. However, it’s well worth the added effort as you’ll likely start to envision your future life within its walls as soon as the property begins to take shape. To help you get the most out of this experience, consider some tips on how to enjoy the new home building process.
1. Find the Right Custom Home Builders
The team of professional contractors that you hire can make or break your new home building process. However, each team is different, so it’s worth spending some time prospecting. You’ll want to find a reputable builder that has experience in luxury homes. You should also make sure that your custom home builders have the appropriate licensing and certifications. Look at their past projects, ask for referrals, and don’t be afraid to be inquisitive. Your custom home builder should also maintain a communication style that’s complementary to yours, as this will make the entire process much more enjoyable for everyone.
2. Understand the Home Building Process
One of the best ways to enjoy the new home building process is to understand what’s going to happen from start to finish. This can help you better prepare for the timeline and gives you a chance to stay one step ahead of the planning. In general, most custom homes are built based on the following steps.
Permit Collection
Before any building can happen, the necessary permits need to be approved by the city. This will include permits for zoning, grading, electrical work, plumbing, and everything else that goes into building a house. Without these permits, construction cannot happen.
Foundation
Once the permits are obtained, the construction site is prepared, and the foundation is poured. This includes creating a temporary foundation that acts as a template for the concrete, footings for ground support, and more. Homes that have basements will also need to have the area dug out. Although this may seem like one of the simpler steps, creating the foundation is the most important part of the home building process. It sets up the future build and can take a long time for contractors to complete. On average, foundations can take about a month or more, depending on the size of the property.
Framing
After the foundation is set and has been inspected by a city worker, the framing can begin. This will include setting up floor systems, walls, and roofs using wooden beams. Plywood or strand board is then attached to slowly bring the interior together. This step can take up to two months depending on the size of your home.
Inner Workings
Once the framing is set, contractors can get to work on the interior details. This step will include things like water lines and plumbing, electrical grids, sewar lines, ductwork, HVAC pipes, and more. Due to the intricacies of these systems, homeowners should expect up to four weeks for this stage to be completed. Several inspections then need to be scheduled (and passed) prior to moving on to the next step of the home building process.
Insulation and Drywall
The next few steps involve adding the appropriate amount of insulation to the attic and the walls. This will help your home maintain stable temperatures throughout the year. You can work with your home building professional to determine the best type of insulation based on your needs, but the better the R-value, the more effective the insulation will be. Investing in higher quality materials upfront can result in lower bills throughout the year. Insulation and drywall installation can take about two weeks or more.
Interior Fixtures
After the drywall is up, your new dream home will begin to take shape. You’ll be able to walk through the construction site and see how each room looks and feels. This is a great time to get excited and look at how far you’ve come in the process. It’s also the time to begin installing the interior fixtures, such as doors, baseboards, moldings, stairs, and other decorative features.
You’ll be working with your home builders to determine what vanities you want to install, the type of cabinetry, and any small details that will be added to the basic interior shape. This stage can take about two months and is also when the final coat of interior paint is applied.
Hard Surface Installation
Next, the countertops and hard surface floorings will be installed. This begins to really bring together certain rooms, especially the kitchen and bathrooms. The prices can vary drastically depending on the type of materials you want to use for your countertops, but working with your home builders will give you a better idea of what’s available in your budget. This stage can take about a week or longer, depending on the details of your interior.
Mechanical Trim
After all of the large items are successfully installed, your professional home builders will start to add the mechanical details such as lighting fixtures, toilets, sinks, outlets, HVAC systems, and more. They’ll install the electrical panel, so the home begins to gain function. You’ll want to have all of your personalized lighting fixtures purchased by this point to avoid any stalls in the building process. When things go smoothly, this step should only take a few weeks.
Work on the Details
The last few steps of the new home building process involve fine tuning all of the details throughout your home. This will be things like mirrors, carpeting, shower doors, exterior landscaping, and more. It’s at this stage that many new homeowners begin to really get excited and start the decorating process. If you have furniture that you know will be moving into your new luxury home, try to add fixtures that complement the style to avoid having to change them out later on.
Once the details have been finalized, you’ll perform a final walk-through to make sure that there’s nothing that needs to be fixed or adjusted prior to ending your partnership with your home builders.
3. Maintain Clear Expectations
Understanding the process of what it takes to build a new luxury home can help you maintain clear expectations. Try to remember that this process takes time and add an extra week or so to every building step to avoid getting frustrated or having to make alternative plans for short-term living.
Even if everything goes to plan with the building, you can’t control the inspections. Your builder will need to work according to their schedule and if they’re busy, you may have to wait an extra week before things get approved for the next stage. However, this is well worth the added time as when building continues without inspection, it could result in serious issues later on. Try to be patient and remind yourself that this is a process. Rather than stress about minor hiccups, find reasons to enjoy the journey.
4. Prioritize Communication and Transparency
Another important tip for enjoying the new home building process is to try to maintain communication and transparency from start to finish. This includes everything from outlining your plans to speaking up if something doesn’t look the way you’d hoped during framing or the early stages of foundation setting. It’s easier to make adjustments before things progress and keeping quiet about it can result in a poor building experience for everyone. It’s your dream home, so don’t be afraid to vocalize concerns.
5. Get Ready to Move In
One of the best parts about the home building process is when it’s move-in ready. Keep yourself excited and busy while the contractors are working by picking out furniture, designing your rooms, and thinking about what type of décor you’ll add. This can make the actual move-in much less stressful and result in a better overall experience.
When you’re ready to enjoy the new home building process that brings your vision to life, the professionals at TradeMark Homes are here to help. Our team works with you from planning through every step of the construction process to make sure that you get the home you want, with exceptional craftsmanship. We’re dedicated to turning the vision you have of your dream home into a reality by connecting with you to fully understand your lifestyle and needs.
We know that the first step in building your new home begins with you. Fill out an inquiry form or call us today at 479-267-9900 to schedule a consultation, discuss your vision, and go over your budget.
