You’ve thought about it for years, dreaming of the perfect place to call home. Now that it’s within reach, have you considered what is involved in the process of turning those dreams into reality? Whether you’re working from the perfect plans or just have some ideas sketched out, we’ve provided this guide to help residents of Rochester with the new home construction planning process.
Planning Your Dream Home New Build Process
Dream a Little Dream (Home)
It’s pretty easy to consider what you need in a home, but your dream home should be about what you want. Leave some space for handling budget shortfalls, such as going with granite tile instead of solid granite on your countertops, but don’t be afraid to dream big. Then consider what would be nice to have, but isn’t absolutely necessary, ranking your priorities so that you can determine what you can downgrade if budget becomes an issue.
Start the Planning Process
With your list in hand, it’s time to begin with your new home construction planning. Rochester residents may have found the perfect plans online for their dream home, or may want to work with an architect. Start looking at architects that have a style that you like if you’re having custom plans done. You’ll also want to start looking at property and creating a budget. What kind of timeframe do you want to have your home completed in? An old construction saying is “Quality, speed, or inexpensive: pick two.” If you need it fast, but still want high quality, you may pay a higher price tag.
Get Into Design
With plans or an architect on the job, it’s time to get into the deeper design details. Create Pinterest boards or design boards with colors, materials, fabrics, samples, and similar items to get a feel for the interior of your dream home. You may want to consider looking into some design principles, such as darker colors making spaces seem smaller, so that your final appearance matches up with your expectations. Your architect may be able to provide a 3D virtual walkthrough as one option.
Create Your Dream Team
With the plan in place, it’s time to assemble your team. At a minimum, you’ll need a realtor, attorney, financial institution (in most cases), general contractor, and possibly a few other professionals. When you prequalify for financing, keep in mind that you’ll want to plan for a 20% overage in case of changes in material prices, design direction, or similar issues that can pop up. Work with professionals who have a good reputation for excellence to avoid unpleasant surprises when the project is underway.
Break Ground
With property located and purchased, plans in hand, a general contractor hired, and financing secured, it’s time to break ground! It can be very tempting to plan on camping out until your home is complete, but unlike reality TV shows that finish a home in a single episode, your dream home will take time. Settle in for the long haul, make sure you’re able to be contacted if an issue arises, and enjoy the process as much as possible. Don’t stress the small things, you’ll have an amazing home in the end.
Check In Regularly
Though you don’t want to hover, preventing work from getting done, it is important to check in regularly with your team to make sure everything is going well. For the most part, your main contact will be your general contractor, who will oversee all of the work being done, and may perform the bulk of it. As the space takes shape, you may second-guess some of the choices you’ve made. Voice those concerns as they arise, as they’ll often be more expensive to fix the longer you wait.
Cross Off Your Punch List
As the work proceeds, you’ll want to note things that need to be fixed, completed, or otherwise handled by contractors before your dream home is complete. This is referred to as a punch list in contracting terms, and is an important part of the process. Take the time to look really closely at every part of your dream home, and do a walkthrough with a representative from the general contractor to create this list. Once that’s done, get ready to move in and enjoy your new home!
Though it’s important to understand the new build process for your dream home, it’s just as important to work with a great home builder who understands your desires and who you can trust with this very important project. If you’re shopping for the perfect builder for your dream home or need tips on new home construction planning in Rochester, why not contact Maressa Remodeling today? We’re the home building contractor Rochester homeowners have trusted for almost three decades to deliver amazing results, and we’re happy to help you with your dream home. Contact us today to get started!
