Before you break ground on your new home, it’s essential that you plan the entire process in advance. Understanding the different stages of home building will help you prepare for any eventualities and ensure that your home building experience is less stressful for both you and your builder.
Make a new friend
Building a new home in Texas can be confusing, especially for first-time homeowners. Finding the right Realtor to help with this process is essential. Realtors are experienced in home building contracts; their expertise can ensure a smoother, more streamlined experience and guarantee that no costly omissions or mistakes are made. Your Realtor can assist you with financing paperwork and work with you and your builder to make sure your expectations are met at every step of the process.
Location matters
Finding the right lot for your custom-built home is nearly as important as your floor plan. The neighborhood you choose will influence nearly every part of your life in your new home; equally important, the lot you decide upon should be large enough for the floor plan of your home, and provide good drainage and soil conditions.
Spend money where it counts
Including little extras like built-in bookshelves and thick padding for carpeting don’t add much to the total cost, but can reap great rewards in your enhanced enjoyment of your home. Many builders will include these at a discount when you purchase a pre-defined package of extras. It’s important to negotiate these additional items in advance; deciding on them midway through the building project will almost always result in a higher cost.
Pick the builder, then the plan
Most builders offer a wide range of plans to choose from. It’s far more important to find a respected builder with an outstanding reputation than to find a specific floor plan. The right builder will work with you to make alterations and to ensure you get exactly the home you want, regardless of their boiler-plate home plans.
Stay legal
While most builders do check the building codes and zoning for the area in question, ultimately the final responsibility rests with the prospective owner. Your Realtor can help you contact the housing authorities for your area to ensure that your plans comply with all building and zoning regulations.
Building your own home is a major investment and requires significant planning and forethought. Enlisting the help of a Realtor and researching the various options available to you will help ensure that your new home is an investment you’ll be proud of.
Further information on the Austin real estate market is available at Joe Cline’s website. For real estate information including Austin and surrounding areas be sure to check out our Austin Texas real estate blog.
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