Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Building a New Home

Building a new home from scratch is the opportunity of a lifetime for most people, yet that doesn’t mean builders don’t see the same mistakes made time and time again. Below, an experienced custom home builder in Pennsylvania shares the most costly mistakes to avoid when building a new home.

Rushing the lot selection process

Although you’re probably very excited to get the home building process started, you need to choose a lot first. The lot you choose is the spot where your new home will stand, where you and your family will ideally live for many years to come. This is why you shouldn’t rush your lot selection process.

Take the time to consider the factors that may influence your lot choice, such as resale value, commute distances, school districts, recreational areas and the community as a whole. Look at the lot size and shape and the views it will offer once your home is built. Assess the noise from nearby roads and get a feel for the neighborhood. Most importantly, don’t settle for a lot that’s sort of similar to what you want, but not quite right. When you find the perfect lot, you will know it.

Choosing a builder without researching them

Hire a custom home builder in Pennsylvania with a stellar reputation in the business. Begin your hunt by researching local builders online and reading reviews and feedback from past clients. Make sure any potential builders have legitimate business websites complete with information about their services and ways to contact them. When you do talk to a builder, ask how long they have been in the business, and if they are licensed and insured. Also get references of previous clients and request examples of past builds.

Planning a floor plan based on your current needs

When creating a floor plan for your custom home, you should go into it with your future in mind. In other words, don’t just plan for your family’s current needs, but what you expect you will need from your home in the next five to 15 years. Consider whether you’re expecting your family to grow, whether that means new babies, new pets or elderly parents moving in. Alternatively, your teenagers may be planning to leave for college soon—how much space will they really need in your new home?

Having a general idea of your future needs comes in handy when designing your custom home’s floor plan. This helps you tally up the number of spaces to include in your home build, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, closets and bonus rooms for a home office or hobbies, as well as influences the size of your kitchen, living room and dining room.

Making changes during construction

For most people, building a custom home is a huge financial investment. But what many people don’t realize is that it costs more to make changes to the design during the home construction phase that it does during the initial design phase. Changes late in the game can cause delays, an increase in your monthly mortgage payments and stress all around. To avoid wanting changes later, get your home design down on paper, then tour other homes with similar layouts for a more realistic feel of what your home can be like.

If you would like to speak to an experienced custom home builder in Pennsylvania, call WSL Incorporated today!