The process of building a custom home is exciting. As the future owner, you get to pick out all of the fun details from where it’s located to what lighting fixtures you want. However, in all of the excitement, it’s easy to get caught up in the creative aspects. This could cause you to overlook some practical considerations that could be crucial to a successful build. Given the financial investment of building a full custom home, avoiding as many mistakes as possible is essential. This will ensure the final product is as close to what you imagined and prevent you from going beyond your budget.
In this article, we are going to take a look at six common mistakes to avoid when building a custom home. Discover invaluable insights on avoiding common home-building mistakes with the expertise of Arnold Construction Co. your Kelowna-based home builders.
Follow along below to learn more.
Arnold Construction Home Builders in Kelowna Recommends Avoiding These Mistakes When Building a Home
The biggest and most prevalent mistake that we see, is when homeowners don’t set a realistic home building budget. This is such a critical step that will inform so many decisions throughout the building process. A great budget will serve as a guide to ensure that you don’t overextend your finances. While it’s common to spend more than you initially budgeted for, you want to get your budget as accurate as possible. Including a contingency budget is also a smart idea. This can help you plan for any unforeseen costs that will arise during the build.
Another common mistake people can make when building a home is choosing the wrong builder. Picking the right builder is half the battle when it comes to a successful custom home build. A great builder will be communicative, attentive to details, and have a reputation for success. When you’re researching to find the right builder, make sure that you find someone with experience building homes similar to your style and taste. Choosing a company that specializes in the style of home you aim to have will maximize your potential for success. To learn more about choosing a builder, check out our post, “Why Hire Custom Home Builders”.
When it comes to real estate, a paramount feature is the property’s location. Picking the wrong lot for your future home is something that you want to avoid. Not only will this affect your home’s resale value down the line, but it will also impact how you live your daily life. What should you look for when you choose a building lot?Choosing a plot of land near common city amenities is generally best for future resale. For example, a lot near a good school, transit, and community businesses. Moreover, the neighbourhood you choose to build in carries equal weight in your potential ROI.
Other Common Blunders to Prevent when Building a New Home
When you start designing your home, be sure to include lots of places for storage. Even when you think you have enough storage, the fact of the matter is that you likely don’t. Homeowners often neglect how critical an element of storage is in a home build. It’s often not until you finally move in that you realize how important this feature is. To ensure that you have enough storage space you can do the following:
- Design your entryway with cubbies, large storage closets, and built-in shelving.
- Add built-in cabinetry and shelving wherever possible (focus on areas like the garage, basement, and closets)
- Include a pantry and linen closet in your build
Beyond storage, be sure to avoid the mistake of building without the future in mind. Most people who build a home anticipate living there for 10 years or more. As such, you want to ensure that your home fits your lifestyle just as well 10 years down the road as it does when you move in. While it’s impossible to say how your life will change throughout, do your best to account for common changes. For example, having children, supporting your parents, or changes in health and mobility. Regardless of how your life shifts, you want to be sure that you aren’t going to outgrow your home right away.
Finally, there is energy efficiency. Most people place energy efficiency high on their list of priorities. However, mistakes often arise when they are forced to choose between energy-efficient upgrades and aesthetic changes. Many energy-efficient upgrades can indeed be expensive. Despite this, there are other cost-effective options to ensure energy efficiency in your home without breaking the bank. For example, using energy-star appliances, choosing smart lighting options, and improving insulation.
Contact us Today!
Avoiding mistakes during your custom home build is a big part of ensuring a successful end product. As a long-time home builder in Kelowna, Arnold Construction knows the importance of thorough planning. If you’d like to work with our home building company and get started on your project, contact us today. We’d be happy to help you build the perfect home for your needs. Be sure to check out our social media page for current and past projects we’ve worked on. We look forward to working with you, next!
