Whether your building your first home or the house you’ve always dreamed of, it can be a long and difficult process. Building a custom home isn’t like buying one that’s already built, every color, finish, design, size, shape, style and decision is up to you. If your planning to build a house there are some very important things you should consider before you get started.
Building a new home is similar to cooking dinner. If you want something average then go in the kitchen and quickly whip something up. But if you want to create a masterpiece then following a recipe and having a plan is a much better way of doing it. Success in the building business is all about planning. This may surprise you to hear, but some custom homes take more time to plan than they do to build. Site plans, architectural and engineering blue prints, floor plans, landscaping, color schemes, trim design, elevation drawings and a lot more. The finest homes plan out every detail before a single bit of field work is done.
For the average person planning to build a house, this level of detail probably won’t be needed. But everyone can benefit from some level of planning. There’s more to building a home then just telling an architect 3 bedrooms, 2000 sq. ft. and 2.5 baths. The style, colors, layout, materials and a hundred other details are all decided by you.
If your planning on building a home and want a smooth build that’s finished on time and on budget then there are a few things you should know. Below we’ll go through our steps to building a house checklist along with a bunch of tips and info.
Planning to build a house is all about setting goals and doing what’s needed to achieve those goals. The first step in the planning stage is drawing up an outline of the major things you want from the house. This is the planning stage from an overall perspective. Don’t start thinking about colors and finishes just yet.
At this point your plan outline should be about major things like how many bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, the overall style of the home, how many stories, do you want a basement or garage, open floor plan or not, a dining room, etc. Define the major areas of the house.
This should also include the style of the home. Do you want a Colonial, Victorian, Ranch, Modern Farmhouse, etc. Home’s typically fall into a style category which guides a lot of the other choices that will come later. A planned style will also help guide the architect and other designers when it comes time to create a blueprint.
Another big part of this initial planning phase is the budget. Think about how much you’d ideally like to spend on the build. Remember that your build cost has nothing to do with permits, plans, land and other site work. You need a budget just for construction. In every area there tends to be a going rate where builders will stay close to unless you want something very custom. Find out what the going rate is and be realistic. If a 2000 sq. ft. home in your area costs $400,000 to build on average then don’t expect to build it for $300k.
It’s important to plan and make a list of all the major elements you want in the house. Here’s a small checklist of thing to consider.
If your hiring an architect to design a custom home for you then this list will help guide their work. It’s a reference point for designers to look at when making decisions about the house later on.
Spend as much time as possible in the planning stage. When your at home looking at example homes or drawing up a layout it doesn’t cost a thing. And on paper mistakes are easy to fix. I’ve seen way to many homeowners get in trouble because they started building too soon without a good plan.
When planning to build a new house spend extra time on the design phase. It’ll save you time and money later.
Proper planning of the home is very important if you want the best possible outcome and have a budget.
Aside from planning the house you’ll also need to put some time into the site plan. Planning to build a house isn’t just about the house itself, you’ll also need land which means a site plan. Here are a few things to consider.
All the work you want done on the property outside of the home should be included on the site plan.
While a budget should be a part of your list, it should be fleshed out and itemized right from the start. I tell clients to start considering the budget from the very moment you start thinking about building a house. Develop a realistic idea of how much you can afford to spend and how much the home you want will cost to build. This budget phase is all about balancing what you want to build with how much you can afford to spend.
One of the biggest mistakes I see clients make when building their first home is not working with a predetermined budget. They hire an architect and design the home of their dreams only to find out it costs way more to build then they can afford. Then they have to go back and have the plan re-worked. This costs time and wastes a lot of money. If you go to an architect with an outline for the home and a realistic budget you’ll save time and money.
When fleshing out your build budget, include everything that will go into the project. I like to work outside in just like we build a home. Include major elements first like excavation, foundation, framing, windows & doors, siding, gutters and the roof. Then work inside and price out electrical, HVAC, plumbing, insulation, drywall, flooring, paint, stairs, railings, trim, cabinetry, tile, fixtures, lighting, finishes.
I budget a house piece by piece and come up with a finish material budget room by room. Kitchens and baths are typically the biggest numbers.
It’s not hard to find numbers for your budget. Just refer to your list and start calling subs or builders. It’ll be hard to get an exact number at this point since you don’t have a finished plan so ask them to give you a range.
If you just want to work with a builder e-mail them your list. They’ll be able to give you a square foot price to build based on a level of finish. The more info you can give them the better. Most builders in an area have a predetermined square foot price that they alter based on the finishes and final design of the home.
If you want to price each piece of the home or plan on being the GC yourself then start calling subcontractors. For example, call a few masons and ask for an estimate to build a foundation for a 2000 sq. ft. 2 story home with a 9 foot basement they’ll be able to give you a rough idea of the cost. Do the same for framers, electricians, plumbers, etc. All the subs I’ve ever worked with could give me a rough number with just a description of the work and then a final one they have plans.
Keep in mind the subcontractors are pricing out the work and sometimes the rough material. Finishes will be up to you to supply. For example a plumber will typically include all the piping but not the fixtures. Same with the electrician. You’ll be responsible for all your chandeliers, fans, pendant lighting, etc. Framers generally just price labor but they supply the nails. You supply the wood. Masons usually supply everything and give an all in quote.
Make sure to ask each sub what they include and what they don’t in their rough number.
Don’t forget to negotiate. One of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners who GC their own jobs make is not negotiating. Subcontractor bids and materials are negotiable. I rarely take anyone’s first bid when I’m building a home or doing any type of construction work. I also don’t buy materials at list price.
Did you know the just about every store selling finishes like lighting, cabinetry, countertops or plumbing all have negotiable pricing. Even big box stores like Home Depot will give you a better price if you order in bulk at the Pro Desk. This is where a good plan comes in handy.
If your planning to build a home then try to price out orders in bulk. You can save a lot of money on materials this way. And negotiate all the labor bids. Subcontractors will almost always give a homeowner a higher price than a builder because you probably won’t be giving them repeat business.
The cost of the land, local permit fees and taxes, design and engineering costs, landscaping, utilities, furniture and decorating, a fence, etc. There are going to be extra costs that have nothing to do with building the home or your builder. Make sure you include enough in your budget to cover them. I typically keep 2 budgets, one for building the home and one for the extras.
And don’t forget a contingency budget. Things rarely go exactly according to plan. There may be problems or changes that happen during the course of construction so you’ll need a little extra to cover things. In general most people try to have 5-10% extra just in case.
A spreadsheet program is a good way to draw up and keep a budget. Get one that auto corrects the total in case you have to go in and make changes along the way.
Chances are you’ll need a construction loan which becomes a mortgage when the home is done.Not every bank offers loans to build a new home and the rates and terms are a little different so do your research in the planning phase.
Find out how large a loan you can qualify for based on your income and other financial factors. There’s no sense creating a budget and then a set of blueprints if you can’t get the loan you need to pay for it all.
Most banks and other financial institutions will prequalify you for a construction loan but not all. Some banks have even frozen their construction loans due to Covid which may change depending on how things improve. You should call your local and a few national banks to find out because every State and County is a little different.
Prequalifying will give you a ballpark idea of the amount of money you can spend on everything which includes the land, construction and all the extras. Most banks will even do a market analysis for you to make sure what you plan to build makes sense for the area.
The bank will look at what different elements of your new home will cost to build. This includes the land, the architect or engineer, the builder who will manage the project, construction materials, appliances, finishes and interior features.Most banks will have an itemized outline for what things should cost which can help you flesh out your budget. Working with a bank can be a big help for first time home builders.
Here are a few budget tips to keep in mind when planning to build a house.
Budgeting is an important part of planning to build a house. No matter how beautiful the house you design is, you still have to be able to pay for it.
A major step when planning to build a house is turning your vision into a reality. At some point you’ll need a set of blueprints that reflects your designs and wish list.
A blueprint includes the layout of the home, elevation views of the house from every side, and details on how to build it. It’s also got an electrical and plumbing layout. But there are tons of things that aren’t found in a blueprint. Stuff like the tile your using, trim, specific finishes, etc. Anything specific is left out. All the general stuff is included.
Make sure if your shopping online for plans that you buy a set that’s legal for the State your in. A New Jersey set of plans may need to be changed for California.
There are a few options when it comes to blueprints.
You can look online or go to an architect and buy a stock set of blueprints. This is the cheapest options because all the design work is already done. It’s basically just a print and stamp job for the architect. Sometimes they’ll do a review of the site to make sure the prints work for your lot but not always.
It’ll be hard to find a stock set that meets all your requirements but not impossible. If you find a set that has the perfect design then go ahead and use it. You’ll save a lot.
Custom
A custom set of plans can be very expensive because it involves design work. What I tell clients is to design as much of the house as possible by themselves. Tell the architect exactly what you want and show him with your own example pictures and a layout drawing. The more info you give the architect the better. With custom work your paying for the architects time so take as little up of it as you can.
Many clients find a stock set of plans that are 80%perfect and then change the 20% they don’t like. This is a sort of hybrid blueprint. It’s a great way to go. If you can find a set of plans to that just needs a few tweaks it could save you a bundle.
Where do you want to build your new home?
Maybe you want a house with a great view, to live on a beach or somewhere near great schools. Whatever your priorities are you should list them all during the planning stage. This will help you determine a budget for land and narrow down an area.
To build a new home you’ll eventually need a place to build it. In some areas the land is so large that zoning issues aren’t a problem, but here in NJ they’re a big issue. If you have tight zoning regulations then it’s better to keep them in mind when designing the home. Here in NJ we have setbacks for the sides, front and rear along with a height restriction and a maximum amount of land we can build on. There are lots of rules so you need a zoning compliant house for the lot. However if you live in a State with large lots and less zoning rules it’s not as big an issue.
A great option here in NJ is buying an old house and knocking it down to build a new one. We don’t have much vacant land so there isn’t much choice. If you have a similar issue then make sure to include the cost for demo and removal of the old house in your budget.
Large lots can often be wooded which means tree removal. Make sure to budget enough to clear the land and get it ready for construction.
Another issue with land is grading. This can be a problem no matter what the lot size is. No matter what size land you buy it could require some amount of grading or other site work. Make sure you look into this before buying the land or committing to build. Site work can be very expensive and can quickly destroy the budget.
Try to build in an area that’s increasing in value if you can. Land is a major part of a homes final value. And it’s one of the few things you can’t do anything about. Your home’s value will be determined to a large extent by where you build it. So try to build in the best area you can.
Some land will have special requirements that you need to account for in your budget. An important part of planning to build a house is knowing all the factors that effect the build.
For example, here in NJ if you build by the beach you typically need wood pilings. The foundation is very different than if you built a home in land. There are also all sorts of hurricane codes that need to be followed and upgraded glazing. You have to be prepared for these additional costs.
Another issue is the soil makeup. Get a soil sample examined by an engineer. Here in NJ it costs around $350 bucks to get a soil sample bore done. We have some areas with bad soil which means a more expensive foundation. The last thing you want is to find out later you’ll need pilings or grade beams which adds thousands to the build price.
Flood prevention is also an issue if you live near or in a flood zone. You may need an elevated house, pilings or blow out walls.
There’s no way to build a house entirely on your own. You’ll eventually need blueprints which means an architect. You’ll need land which typically involves a realtor. If you need a loan that means a banker. Sourcing materials can be much easier if you work with a rep at a local building supply. And for the actual building part you’ll need lots of subcontractors.
While you might want to go it alone, assembling a team of professionals can be a big help. Especially if it’s your first time planning to build a house. There are dozens of factors we won’t be able to go over here and local concerns that local pros will know about.
I like to build the team early. Even if I don’t actually hire a sub until I need them I like to know who I’ll be using. If I have questions then I always have a Pro I can call to get the answer.
An important questions to answer when planning to build a house is how involved you want to be with it’s design and construction.
While most homeowners hire an architect to design the home and a builder to build it, you can do most of the work yourself. I’ve worked with many homeowners who designed every inch of their home and only used an architect to draw the plans. No matter how much designing you do you’ll still need an architect to draw up and stamp the blueprints. And I’ve worked with lots of homeowners who acted as their own GC.
In this case you will be hiring and supervising all the subcontractors yourself. You’ll also be responsible for the finished product and you’ll have to carry the insurance for the job. Securing the site will also be your responsibility.
If you design the home then any mistakes are your own. Designing and building a custom home isn’t easy to do, but if your up to it, you could save a lot of money.
Other homeowners don’t want to do a thing. They hire an architect to design the house based on their outline and a builder to build it. It’s a much simpler process but it’s also a lot more expensive.
Be sure to get written, signed contracts for each member of the team involved in building your home. At the very least, this means a contract with the builder and the architect. Hiring a builder makes it a little easier because he’ll take care of hiring each subcontractor and buying the materials.
If your the GC then make sure you get a real contract for each sub and check their insurance. Do everything legal, pay with a check and don’t hand out cash.
I don’t want to go into specific contract terms and conditions here. If you need help with this you should talk with a local lawyer. But I will say it’s super important to do your research and hire good people. These are the guys that will actually build your home so you have to trust and rely on them to do good work.
You’ve spent tons of time planning to build your new home, went over all the checklists and done your negotiating. Permits are finally done, you’ve got the money secured and now it’s time to get started on the physical work. Is the hard part behind your or up ahead?
Oddly enough, it depends on how experienced you are and how flexible. Being able to adapt to issues is an important part of building the home. No matter how much time you spend planning to build your new home there will still be problems that are out of your control. How you and your team react to these issues is very important.
I recommend staying calm and working with your team to address any problems as they arise. This is where having the right team in place can be a huge benefit.
Here are a few common issues that tend to pop up of just about every job.
For each room of the house I get material samples and make a collage. If you’ve ever watched any house flip shows on TV then you’ve seen it done.
I first find a picture or reference that I like and use it as inspiration. Right now I’m designing a Modern Farmhouse so there’s tons out there to look at. I’m ordering 2-3 samples for the flooring, trim, countertops, cabinetry, tile, paints, lighting, etc. I put them all together and see what works and what doesn’t. And I do this for every room.
This plays into the budgeting part of the planning phase. Since I get all my samples at the very beginning all my decisions are made before I even start working. This allows me to source materials and negotiate good prices months before I need the materials. I’m also able to get it on site before the guys need it so there are no delays. getting samples is an important part of planning to build a home.
Another big benefit of getting lots of samples when planning to build a house is it keeps things moving smoothly and on schedule. if your designing and making decisions as you go then you may be forced into choosing something that isn’t perfect. Get samples in advance, take your time and choose carefully. Then order materials as you need them. When homeowners choose materials at the last minute things can easily go wrong.
Another very important thing to consider when planning to build a new home are taxes. Here in New jersey we pay some of the highest property taxes in the country. And it varies from county to county so you really need to find this out before building.
In New Jersey the average property tax rate is 2.4% while the national average is around 1%. I know many people with an average size home paying over $30 grand a year in taxes. North Jersey and anywhere near the beach is very bad in terms of taxes.
Keep in mind that your tax rate is based on the value of the finished home and not what you payed to build it. The construction cost has nothing to do with your tax rate or what you paid for the land. The tax office will access your property for what it’s worth when your all done and that’s what you pay taxes on.
There are a few things you should consider that are not that expensive on there own but do add up and should be included when you plan to build a new home. Here are a few that apply to NJ. These may or may not apply to where you live so do some local research.
Think of all the little things when planning to build a new house because they add up fast.
Whether your building your first home or the house you’ve always dreamed of, it can be a long and difficult process. Building a custom home isn’t like buying one that’s already built, every color, finish, design, size, shape, style and decision is up to you. If your planning to build a house there are some very important things you should consider before you get started.
Building a new home is similar to cooking dinner. If you want something average then go in the kitchen and quickly whip something up. But if you want to create a masterpiece then following a recipe and having a plan is a much better way of doing it. Success in the building business is all about planning. This may surprise you to hear, but some custom homes take more time to plan than they do to build. Site plans, architectural and engineering blue prints, floor plans, landscaping, color schemes, trim design, elevation drawings and a lot more. The finest homes plan out every detail before a single bit of field work is done.
For the average person planning to build a house, this level of detail probably won’t be needed. But everyone can benefit from some level of planning. There’s more to building a home then just telling an architect 3 bedrooms, 2000 sq. ft. and 2.5 baths. The style, colors, layout, materials and a hundred other details are all decided by you.
If your planning on building a home and want a smooth build that’s finished on time and on budget then hopefully the info we discussed here will help.
If you have any questions or comments e-mail us any time. We’d love to hear from you.
