Building a home is a big undertaking – and it’s one you want to get right. Here are our tips for ensuring that the end result is something you’ll cherish for years to come.
1 Build within your means
We get it. Those Joneses can be difficult to keep up with. But more isn’t always better. When building, costs can add up, and it’s easy to say “yes” to everything only to realize that your budget doesn’t agree. Here’s where prioritization comes in – and where you find out what you truly want and value in your home. Maybe it’s marble vanities. Maybe it’s a double basin. Or maybe it’s landscaping.
Whatever the case, pick the things that truly matter with you. You’ll love your house a lot more if it’s something your budget can handle!
2 Build for your lifestyle
How you plan to live in your new space is critical. Do you love to cook? Do you work from home? Do you have a huge shoe collection? Do you need a space to unwind…or a space to watch the game? When you build a home you’re not designing for someone else’s lifestyle. You’re building something that responds to your life – and makes it easier.
If most of your family activity happens in the kitchen, account for this. Add some extra seating room and circulation space. If someone has loud hobbies, shift their space away from the main living areas. If you do the groceries by yourself, make it easy to get from garage to kitchen. Figure out how you live – and make your house work for you!
3 Build for your location
Not all homes are ideal for all conditions. Enormous feature windows can be a great design feature if you face the bay – but not so much if you live the heat of North Texas. The design choices you make when building your home can have a huge impact on how comfortable your home is to life in, and how much it costs to heat or cool.
In Texas, consider factors like your roof material and color, the quality of your insulation, and the design of your doors and windows. Features like eaves, shadecloths and curtains can make a big difference – as can being mindful about groundcover and vegetation. Design for the climate, and you’ll be that much closer to a home you love!
4 Build for local amenities
Location plays a key role in determine where you’ll end up building. Maybe you want an out-of-the-way country plot. Or a parcel close to high-quality schools. But don’t forget that local amenities and your needs can both change as the years go by. As your kids graduate school you’ll have other priorities. Hobbies and activities may become important, or you may value proximity to airports, medical facilities and lifestyle opportunities. When building your home, factor in the needs and goals of your family now – and around how they’ll change as your family does.
Don’t forget to do some research into the local area and any planned upgrades and developments. Having an idea about how an area will evolve over the years can help you make an informed decision about whether that perfect plot of land is really just right for you.
5 Build for the future you
If you’re designing and building a custom home, chances are you want it to be your “forever” home. That means thinking beyond how you live today – and considering how you’ll live tomorrow. Are you planning to add to your family? Having a live-in nanny? Living as empty nesters when the kids go off to college? Having your parents move in with you as they age?
All of these factors will influence the design of your property. A separate “wing” or living quarters can be good options if a nanny or family members will be living with you. Having a downstairs room that functions as a bedroom can be a good idea if you’re planning on living in your home for the foreseeable future – it means avoiding pesky stairs later on. Before you start building, consider what the future you will tell you about the house of your dreams!
Years of experience designing and building custom homes allows us to help our clients walk through these decisions and end up in a home they love. Let’s talk about the home of your dreams!
