Building a new home is an exciting prospect for any homeowner, but there’s a lot that goes into the process. If you’re not sure how to get from dreaming about building a new home to actually breaking ground, this is a good place to start. Here’s what to expect when building a new home and the first steps you should take to start your dream home.
What to Expect When Building a New Home
The reality of building a new home is that it takes a lot of work and time. The key to successfully building a new home is taking more time during the planning stages to ensure everything is exactly right — before you even start the build itself.
The first steps of building a new home involve choosing the right location and lot for your home, deciding on a home design, and assembling your building team.
First Steps of Building a New Home
There are many things to do before the actual building begins. Before you can build your dream home, you need to design it and find the ideal homesite. You can either begin with a home design and then find the right lot to fit it, or start with the perfect lot and design the home to fit the location.
The second option works best for a few reasons. One, because prioritizing the home design may limit the type or location of the lot you can choose. Two, designing the home for the lot means it will fit naturally within the landscape. Finally, you’ll have the freedom to build your home in the perfect location and capitalize on the features of the lot that are most valuable to you.
Choosing the Right Lot for Building a New Home
When choosing the ideal place for building a new home, you’ll want to consider three major factors: the location of the lot, the lot size, and the unique amenities or lifestyle it provides.
Choosing a Lot Location
The location of your new home is just as important as how the home will look. Would you prefer to live In a neighborhood or in the countryside? Is it important to you to be close to town, shopping centers, and restaurants? Would you prefer a short commute to work? Do you want to live near the airport or the highway to make travel easier? Consider the answers to these questions when comparing lots to build your home.
Impact of Lot Size
The lot size will determine how large you can build your home, but also how much remaining space wraps around the structure. Extra green space could act as a buffer between you and neighbors, allow for additional living space and outdoor recreation, but also requires more care and maintenance. Consider how the lot size will affect the type of home you can build and the life you want to live.
Amenities & Lifestyle
Finally, the extra amenities of a potential homesite should factor in the decision of whether it’s the ideal place to build your dream home. For example, is it already connected to utilities like electricity and running water? If you need to install these yourself, you’ll have an extra expense and a delay in building.
Also consider the perks of the area, such as connecting trail systems, a gated street for security, or panoramic views which you could enjoy in your new home. Factors like these add to your lifestyle once you move in, so they’re important when you’re choosing a location for building a new home.
Designing and Building a New Home
Once you’ve found the ideal lot for building your new home, the next step is to design it. A best practice for this step is to find a talented custom architect and home builder to work with you throughout the process. They can help you design the home with everything you want in a custom build, such as how many bedrooms and baths, the floor plan style, and other special features. Your builder can take your must-haves and nice-to-haves and work with you to design a home that is uniquely suited to you and your lifestyle.
Understanding the land they’ll be building on will also help your builder make informed decisions about your new home construction. Your builder will be essential to planning technical details like plumbing and electrical, how to set the foundation, and also where your home will sit on the land to make the most of the views, give you the most space, and reserve the most privacy.
Estimate for Building a New Home
With a homesite chosen and a completed design, you should next be able to work with your builder to get an estimate for the cost and timeline of building your new home. The estimate will look different for every custom home, but the biggest questions on your mind at this point are probably “How much will it cost?” and “How long will it take?”
How Much Will Building a New Home Cost?
The total cost of building a new home will vary depending on the size of your home, the materials used in construction, and the customizations added to the build. Custom homes can cost anywhere between $500,000 to multiple millions to build.
Most of the cost depends on the size of your home and the value of the finishes. Additionally, if you need any specialist to install certain materials or features in your home, they will come with their own materials and skilled labor wages.
Managing a Budget When Building a New Home
The best way to manage costs when building a new home is to create a budget with your builder. This allows both sides to understand what you expect out of the process and what are acceptable expenses during construction.
Along the way you can make adjustments to your budget as you decide where you want to put the most attention and money. This is the major advantage of building a new home: you’re not restricted to someone else’s vision, it can be built to your specific needs and desires. Still, when building a new home, you should expect to have some unexpected costs, so be sure to pad your budget just in case.
How Long Will Building a New Home Take?
Building a new home, particularly a custom home, can be a lengthy process. The timeline for building a new home can take anywhere between 8 or 9 months to more than 2 years. This estimate will depend on the size of the project and materials you’re using. For example, if you have special ordered certain materials like flooring or finishes, the process could be extended.
Fortunately, much of the building time can be saved by good planning. Taking time to plan before the build begins will make sure the process runs smoothly. You can order materials ahead of time and the building crew will anticipate the next steps, making them more efficient and saving you time and money.
Finding the perfect lot, designing your home with a skilled architect, and assembling your building team and supplies are key first steps in building a new home. With the preparation in place, you’re ready to start the build!
Building a new home requires some planning and work, but the result is a dream home that’s perfectly suited to your needs for a long time to come. If you’re looking for the dream location for your new home build, consider Stage Pass. Our homesites are situated in the stunning Rogue Valley region, overlooking the cascades and vineyards below. For lot availability and information, contact the Stage Pass team.