Trying to build a high-quality home can be truly hard. As a result, you need to work with house builders Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Coralville, Marion, and North Liberty, Iowa trusts to help you out. That’s why we at Stonegate Custom Homes have come up with a list of what we wish all of our clients knew. By fully understanding the extent of this list, you can make sure that you get the best results from the building process and are fully satisfied with what to anticipate from these professionals.
Planning is Important to Master
When you’re working with house builders , the first thing that they wish you knew is that planning is probably the most crucial step. Yes: planning is, in many ways, more critical to do correctly than building the home. That’s because a great plan is something that helps to steer the builders in the right direction and ensures that you and these contractors are not only on the same page but capable of handling the demands of this situation entirely.
For example, you must take the time to properly plan your home using architects and other design specialists. These professionals will take the time to understand the design of your home adequately and will execute a model simply and seamlessly. Then, they can walk you through other steps, such as knowing what items are necessary for the build to ensure that you are satisfied.
Just as importantly, a plan can help you create a budget that makes this process more comfortable to handle. A budget will not only let you know what to expect financially but also helps your building professionals better handle the demands of this process. Therefore, it is critical to talk to them as soon as possible, seeking out experts who know how to plan homes properly and who will take the time to manage this situation for you.
Custom and Spec Homes are Very Different
Another thing that house builders wish more people understood is the difference between spec and custom homes. Spec homes are those built to a specific pre-conceived plan. Think of a local suburb and the similarities you often notice between the houses. That’s because spec homes are usually made according to particular guidelines and cannot be changed up in many different ways.
The benefits of this approach include the fact that you get a home with a design that you know works and a much lower building cost. However, you’re going to have a home that isn’t exactly original and which may not inspire you. In this situation, you may want a custom home. These are houses that the builder and you design together to come up with a unique vision that suits your needs and those of the builders.
Make sure that you understand the limitations of your budget, though, if you want a custom home. These almost always cost more because you need to pay for somebody to design the house. And people often go overboard and ask for a home that may be too much for them to afford. That said, you can quite easily avoid this problem if you take the time to accurately assess the situation and do what is necessary to keep your home safe and protected from various types of damage.
The Importance of Neighborhood Value
When you start building a home based on a plan created by house builders or other specialists, you need to make sure that you fully understand how neighborhood values affect your home. Simply put, the benefits of other properties around you can increase or decrease the cost of your home. This factor is something that many builders try to stress, but which often is hard to impress on a person truly.
For example, if you build a $2 million home in a neighborhood where the average home price is $500,000, you are not doing yourself any favors. First of all, your home value may decrease because it is in a lower-value neighborhood. And if you want to sell it later, you’re going to find that those who could afford your asking price are not going to want to move into the area.
Therefore, you need to talk with your builders and real estate experts about this factor. They can help you better understand how the value of real estate affects your home and how you can avoid building a house that costs too much or too little for an area. Just as importantly, they can give you the necessary insight into other situations that may be challenging to predict, saving you some real cash.
Not All Lots Have Building Potential
Lastly, house builders wished that their clients understood that not every lot has real building potential. Unfortunately, many lots are not good places to build for a variety of reasons. For example, some lots are heavily contaminated from various chemicals left behind by past owners. These lots cannot be built on without expensive environmental repairs and chemical removal and require a lot of work to get back into shape. Many don’t even bother.
Other lots are too bumpy or hilly and don’t provide an excellent place to build a home. Though you can always hire an excavator, you’re adding a lot of money to a budget that you may not be able to afford. Other issues to consider include weak soil that may not support a home or a foundation, problems with neighbors, or no utility hookups. These problems can all make a lot very hard for builders to work.
So make sure you sit down with your builders and real estate experts to identify a lot that meets your needs. You might be surprised at how much it can help you to take this step. Many builders will work with you and others to ensure that you get the most out of your home. Just as importantly, they will take the time to assess other elements of your lot to ensure that you get the most out of building on it.
Take the Right Steps Today
As you can see, working with house builders in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Coralville, Marion, and North Liberty, Iowa doesn’t have to be a significant challenge. All you need to do is understand these points, find a professional who you trust, and take steps to ensure that you build a home properly. But if you are still confused and need help in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Stonegate Custom Homes. Our experts will take the time to fully understand this facet and give you the help that you need.