Building a custom home is an incredibly exciting prospect, but it can also seem daunting and overwhelming. With a custom home, you’re starting from scratch, having to make decisions about where the home will be built, the layout of the house, and all of the small details like which doorknobs you want. While your design team and contractor will be there to guide you through the process and help make decisions, there are many things to consider before you start to know that the finished home is exactly what you want and need.
4 Things to Consider When Starting a Custom Home Build
Here are some things to consider as you’re planning your custom home build in Seattle:
The Design
There are countless home designs that you can find online, but if you’re working with a home builder, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to make adjustments so that you can have a home that fits your exact needs. With that, there are countless customizations that can be made. It can be difficult to visualize the flow of the home when you’re looking at structural designs, so rely on your design team for insight into what they know works well.
In terms of design you’re looking at the overall layout of the home – where the kitchen is in relation to the living room, where the master bedroom is in relation to the secondary bedrooms, where the hallway is, where the bathrooms are, etc.
You’ll also be considering the interior design of the home: what flooring materials will be used, such as wood or tile, the size and style of the windows and doors, the cabinets, the bathroom tile, if you want to finish the basement, the hardware in the kitchen, etc.
Pro Tip: When planning a home build, design for the future. If you plan on having kids, are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms? If this is a forever home, will you be OK climbing stairs to get to your bedroom or laundry room twenty years from now?
The Schedule – Don’t Hire the Moving Truck Just Yet
When you start working with a custom home builder, one of the first things you’ll talk about is the timeline. Many contractors will provide a rough estimate, possibly six months to a year. However, the schedule will greatly depend on sub-contractors schedules, the supply and demand for building materials, the weather can play a significant factor, and various other factors that will be out of your control. If there are changes you want to make to the design along the way, known as change orders, this could also impact the schedule. Due to an ever changing timeline, hold off on setting a date with movers until you have a more definitive date.
Energy Efficiency
Building a home from scratch is the perfect time to think about using energy-efficient materials and products. Here are a few things you can do to increase your home’s efficiency right from the start:
Design the home with south-facing windows to maximize passive heat.
Install energy-efficient appliances, such as kitchen appliances as well as the HVAC system and even toilets.
Install LED lights.
Install a longer-lasting roof material, such as aluminum.
Add more insulation to walls to reduce energy consumption.
Research Custom Home Contractors
There are dozens of home builders in Seattle, so it may be wise to spend some time getting to know which companies offer what, their costs and fees, communication style, and more. Building a home is a long process and it’s important that you’re working with a team that you trust and feel comfortable with.
Contact Emerald City Construction in Seattle
Emerald City Construction is a family-run business and our contractors are passionate about providing our clients with the best possible service and, of course, a beautiful finished home. We can take your vision for the home and make it into a reality using high-quality materials, the highest level of craftsmanship, and design services that will fit your style and budget. We have more than 17 years of design and construction experience, and we’re confident that you will love your new home. Learn more about our custom home builds, our process, and contact us today for a free consultation.