10 Things To Consider When Building A Home

When you’re building your own home, you can sometimes get bogged down with the details.  There are thousands of choices inherent in the process.  Having a home building checklist will help you focus on the things that are most important to you. 

1. Your home building checklist should tell you to consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms you will need.  The home won’t have much resale value unless you have at least three bedrooms and two baths.  You may need more for your size of family. 
2. Next on your home building checklist is to determine what kind of kitchen would be suitable for you.  Most people want a kitchen that can accommodate at least two people working in it at the same time.  You might want an open kitchen floor plan. 
3. Your house may have a backyard for kids, dogs, and just plain relaxation.  You will be happy if you take this into consideration.  You can then check it off your home building checklist. 
4. If you want a finished basement, put that on your home building checklist.  Many people want this for a recreation room.  Others want possible room to expand by adding more bedrooms in the basement later on.
5. You may do work at home.  Even if you don’t, you have household business like bill paying and taxes that goes on in your home.  Add to your home building checklist the inclusion of a home office. 
6. Your home building checklist will include checking to see if you will have to pay more for any extra features you want added.  If you want more cabinet space than a set of pre-made plans call for, will you be able to get them without much extra cost? 
7. If you aren’t happy with your plans, you may want to hire an architect to draw up custom plans just for you.  Even if you’re only exploring your option, put considering this on your home building checklist. 
8. An important consideration to put on your home building checklist is to decide who will do the contracting.  Some people hire their own sub-contractors.  Some hire a general contractor.  Others hire a builder who takes the project from plans to finished home. 
9. What is the procedure you have to go through to make changes along the way?  Sometimes you have to pay for a change-order as soon as it’s done, whether the house if finished or not.  Put this on you home building checklist. 
10. The final bit of information that is most important to put on your home building checklist is warranties.  Find out if the builder will fix any mistakes or problems with the work after the home is finished. 

If you follow this home building checklist, you will have made a start at knowing what you want from a home.  You will also know what you expect from your builder.  Don’t forget to use your home building checklist. 

If you are moving to the Dallas, Ft. Worth area, visit Tucker Hill, the newest Traditional Neighborhood Development in McKinney, Texas. Located on 769 acres just north of U.S. 380, approximately 2,000 homes will be built there over the next ten years.  The development will emphasize lush green open spaces with beautiful trees, pedestrian walkways, a residents club with a full-time Director of Activities, swimming pools, extensive landscaping elements and a convenient shopping and commercial village. The award winning Southern Land Company is developing Tucker Hill.