Building a new home alongside your chosen builder can be a very exciting process. Many people truly enjoy dreaming about floor plans, decorating ideas, and designs that they have seen in magazines or in open houses. If you find yourself operating this way, you may thoroughly enjoy working alongside a builder to design the home about which you have been dreaming.
What To Be Aware Of When Building a New Home
A smart builder or architect will sit with you and gather what your wants and needs are, and then assess how he/she can build what you want. As you are working together, you will want to perhaps start with the practical and essential first; take care of your needs before your wants (Isn’t that what we teach our children?). Taking care of your essentials first will assure that you have the funding to build a home that is right for you and meets your needs.
Also, essentials matter when it is time to sell your home much more than do “add-ons.” For example, heating and cooling systems are valued more highly than hot tubs and saunas in a typical for-sale home. Consider your current lifestyle. Do you need a fence for privacy? Do you need a fence for the sake of your pets or children?
And, in today’s world you must consider wiring for high-speed Internet access to be essential, really. So, ask your builder/architect to help you think through the essentials first, before you start showing him pictures of indoor basketball courts and tanning bedrooms.
Do Your Research When Picking A Developer
As you are working with your developer, ask him about prices as you proceed in the planning stage. Research how his prices compare to others; if you find significant discrepancies, don’t be afraid to ask your developer about them. If his/her price quotes come in quite a bit lower than others’ do, ask questions about the materials that will be used. You don’t want to pay a low price and receive low quality.
And, if the prices are too high in some areas in comparison to others, ask why. Doing your own research and being somewhat aware of how your developer compares to others in terms of cost will keep them from taking advantage of you.
See If You Can Get Cheap Upgrades
As you are working with your builder, bone up on your negotiating skills. If you pay good money for an amenity (like high quality carpet or cabinetry), ask your builder if they can meet you “half-way” by throwing in an oven or dishwasher for free.
You would be surprised at the prices that builders can get things for since this is their full-time business. While you may think that it would really be troublesome for your builder to throw in something like that for free, he might actually have a fabulous oven or dishwasher that he can get for a fraction of the retail price. Ask
Whatever you do, do it all in writing with your builder. You can have fun building a new home, and you can have even more fun if there is no drama throughout the process. The best way to avoid trouble in building is to agree on things up front; and then even if changes need to be made, put them in writing also—with signatures.
Also, be smart and do not pay your builder until everything is done. Builders are somewhat notorious for almost finishing a home and then starting on another. If there are details to be done, it will be difficult to get that builder to come back and finish small details, unless of course you have not paid him in full.
Building a new home can be a great experience. Set yourself up for success and an enjoyable time by being savvy and open with your builder.
This article was provied by a Realtor in Arlington VA named Aaron Seekford. You can check out Aaron’s website where you can search all MLS Listings in Arlington VA and search homes in all of Arlington’s neighborhoods.