Dare to Dream — and Build

Working With a Custom Home Builder to Get Your Dream House

by Marc Cole

When you are ready to build your dream home, finding a custom home builder to work with can make the project go much smoother. If you already have the plans for your home and the property secure, finding the right builder that can handle the construction of the house from start to finish is essential.

Site Preparation

If you are building on undeveloped land, the custom home builder will need to prepare the site for the construction of your home. The site may require clearing and leveling, and the foundation, septic or sewer lines, and electrical lines all need to be in place before the construction can start. 

Most custom home builders will hire a subcontractor for the site preparation work, but some builders have a crew that can handle the site prep as well. Once the foundation or basement is complete, the builder will begin construction of the home on the site. It is essential that if you have any changes you want to make to the floor plan, you make them before the construction begins.

Making Changes

Once the construction starts, changes that require removing a wall or changing where a door will be can mean tearing something out and starting again. This can result in delays and expenses that you did not plan on and will affect the final project significantly. 

Take some time to look over the blueprints before the construction begins, and if there is anything you are not happy with, talk to the architect doing the design work for you. The architect may suggest a change to make some part of the space work better or to make it more appealing to you. 

When you are building a new home from scratch, you need to be sure you are happy with the house and that you will be comfortable there for many years to come. 

Standard Floor Plans

Some customer home builders offer three or four standard floor plans that they can build for you. If you do not have a design in mind, you may want to consider this option. The builder will be able to alter the interior design and make the home unique to you, even if you start with a standard floor plan. 

The advantage of using a plan from the builder is that the home often goes up faster and is ready to move into sooner than an ultimately custom home. You may need to make some compromises in the design, but if you like that layout and design, you can also save a significant amount of money using a standard floor plan for your home. 

For more information, companies like Kreider & Diller Builders Inc can help.

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