knowledge

Do I Need to Have a Home Design in Mind Prior to Finding a Builder?

Designing your custom home is an exciting endeavour – you finally get to plan the home you’ve been dreaming about for you and your family. But it may feel like an insurmountable task when you start looking at the smaller details involved in the process. Luckily, you don’t have to hammer out all the details before finding a builder, but it is helpful to have some ideas in mind before choosing who will construct your custom home. Here are some design considerations that you may want to think about before finding your builder. 

Location

If you don’t have a specific home design in mind, it is useful to narrow in on a piece of land that you love. Many people take this route – they find their ideal location first, then work with a builder to create a home design that will suit their plot of land. Once you have your lot and are approaching the final stages of decision making, you can start to meet with builders to discuss the home design.

Know Your Budget

Creating a budget for a custom home may seem like an abstraction at first glance, but it doesn’t have to be detailed line by line. Simply be aware of the monthly costs you can carry in terms of your mortgage, property taxes, and other operating costs. It is also worthwhile to research hard and soft costs to get an idea of the costs associated with building a home.

Lifestyle

Like many homeowners, you are looking for not only a great location, but also a home that suits your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a car aficionado, you may want a garage with lifts to house multiple vehicles or a space that shows off your collection. Or perhaps you’re the type who wants their home to feel like the ultimate getaway from everyday stress, with a library, wine cellar, and grand theatre room to relax in. If you can picture what your day to day looks like, you’ll find it easier to hone in on a home design at a later date with your builder.

Features

Similar to having your ideal lifestyle fit in mind for a new home, you may also have a list of must-have features. Many homeowners who are looking to build have put up with minor inconveniences in their current homes that they wish they could have mitigated. Perhaps it’s additional drawers in your kitchen or a walk-in closet with a better layout. Now is the time to get a space that works seamlessly with your way of living.

Square Footage and Number of Rooms

Even though you don’t need the details of your home design before finding a builder, it is good to have a rough idea of the square footage you’d like. There are a few factors that play into how much square footage you’ll need, including how your current space works and the purpose of each room. You’ll also want to envision the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and any additional rooms you’d like. Once you have an estimate, you and your builder can discuss the potential layouts that will work for you.