Home Building: Planning and Preparation

You can spend years shopping for a home that matches your vision precisely, or accept some compromises here and there. But if you want a home that checks every box from the beginning, the best way is to build it from scratch.

You may be the type who would like to be involved in every decision when building your new home, or you may prefer leaving it to the experts. Either way, you want to make sure that all your needs—and your family’s–are accommodated in the design of your new home.

It may be a bit overwhelming to plan for the home you are about to build. After all, you probably don’t have a degree in architecture, engineering, or interior design. But there are experts to help you along the way, and almost anything can be changed if it doesn’t work out. The important thing is to get the fundamentals right and expand from there.

Here are the best ways you can prepare and plan for the building of your home:

1. Iron out your budget.

Make sure that before you start your home building project, you have a clear picture of what you can afford. Your budget will have to cover the building materials, pay your contractors, and furnish the whole place. This factor alone will make it easier for you to narrow down your options and focus on the essentials.

2. Get your priorities straight.

• Location. If you haven’t bought a lot yet, consult with your real estate agent on the best areas for your purposes. For example, if you want a family-friendly neighborhood, make sure that the area is quiet, protected, and away from any danger that your children may encounter. Also, make sure that it is near a school in which you are comfortable enrolling your kids.

If you prefer to be in a more commercial area that is near your place of work and other conveniences, on the other hand, make sure to share this with your broker, too. For this choice, be ready to shell out a bit more; prime lots in a central part of the city come at a premium price.

• Size. Do you want space for your children to run around? Do you want a pool and maybe even a court to play ball? Do you want a huge lawn where your family can assemble and enjoy the summer breeze and cook barbecue on the grill? Or would you rather have a small—yet functional—home that is furnished in all the most important ways, but is easier to keep up and maintain? All these are important considerations in selecting the footprint for your build.

No one answer is better than the other. Your preferences and lifestyle should be the criteria upon which you base your decisions.

3. Check the regulations of the neighborhood.

Before you buy a lot—or if you’ve already purchased one, but failed to study the contract for your neighborhood association—make sure that you are able to comply with the requirements of the neighborhood. An example would be the external appearance of the home. Some homeowners’ associations require all houses to follow a particular architectural style.

4. Consider natural light and heat efficiency.

The best way to have a sustainable, energy-saving home is to get as much sunlight as possible. This helps you reduce your electric bills by making use of the natural sources of light and heat when you can. You won’t have to turn on the lights for most of the day, and you won’t have to turn the heat up as high during colder months.

Make sure to select high-quality windows. You can tint these in order to protect yourself from the harsh UV rays that are especially prominent during the hottest days of the summer. You can also install blinds or curtains to protect yourself when the light gets to be too much.

Apart from the practical benefits of having enough sunlight—saving money and energy—natural light is a proven mood booster. Those who get more sunlight tend to be less depressed and more energized, and even sleep better at night.

5. Consult with your home builder.

Even if you’re determined to make all the decisions regarding the design of your home, don’t hesitate to ask the experts for their recommendations. You and your family may have specific ideas for how you want everything to look, but builders (like the people at Build FBG, for example) can include all of the aesthetic elements you have in mind, and reinforce them with the best architectural framework.

You can have your home customized in all the ways you and your family want, without sacrificing quality.

6. Invest in heavy-duty home systems

Your plumbing, piping, HVAC, wiring, roofing and insulation should all be of high quality and able to stand the test of time. If you are planning to reside in the home for decades, or even if you plan to resell it, it will be of most benefit to you to have all these basics running well and reliably for years to come.

7. Know the weather

Knowing the climate of the location where you’re building your home will help you make the wisest decisions about your architecture, home systems, and other vital equipment. This will help you be prepared for undesirable events, and your home will be more resilient, even in harsh and changing climates.

These are some of the fundamental aspects to consider when you start preparing and planning to build your new home. Once these fundamental aspects are covered, the rest of your decisions will be easier to make.