Buying a new construction home is an exciting proposition whether you’re just starting out or you’re preparing for retirement. You might be surprised at how much planning goes into acquiring the perfect residence that fits you and your family’s lifestyle. Here are some top tips that you’ll want to consider before settling on your new address.
#1 Consider a Custom Home When Budget Permits
When you find a fantastic residential home architect and builder, choosing a custom home rather than a tract home can be a great option. You’ll get exactly what you want at the end of the project without having to make costly, disruptive modifications later.
#2 Think Outside of the Box With a Prefabricated Home
You’ll find that the variety of prefabricated home plans have increased significantly in recent years. Your modern prefabricated abode is constructed using materials that are pre-cut on computerized machines. This decreases human error and project completion time.
#3 Envision How You’ll Use Living Spaces
Are you a gourmet cook whose spouse likes to bake as well? To keep the peace in both your kitchen and marriage, you’ll want to design a kitchen space with separate cooking and baking preparation areas.
#4 Choose House Plans That Are Scalable
Right now your focus is on creating a nurturing environment for your growing family. However, you plan to turn your home into a part-time Airbnb property that doubles as the hub for epic dinner parties after your kids move out. Make sure to choose house plans that can accommodate your current and future interests.
#5 Know the Upgrades That Matter
Getting all of your builder’s upgrades sounds tempting since they can be financed over a 15-year or 30-year time period. However, it’s just not financially worth it to pay mortgage interest over a 30-year period for inexpensive tile work, lighting packages or designer paint. While you could opt for your builder’s premium kitchen appliances, the chances that your builder and their contracted supplier will offer you the quality items for which you’re looking is slim. Save the upgrade options for things like insulated windows, an extra room or more closet space.
#6 Research the Neighborhood
If you’re moving to a new city, any home purchase must include a thorough investigation of prospective neighborhoods. Neighborhoods impact home values and the peace of mind of residents. Look for communities that are walkable after dark, located in good school districts, statistically low-crime areas and attractive to well-known retailers.
#7 Obtain an Independent Home Inspection Before Taking the Keys
You can find discrepancies early and get them fixed before moving into your new house when you obtain a home inspection from a licensed professional. After you accept the house, you normally only have a year to identify problems and get your home builder to fix them for free under the standard warranty.
Final Thoughts
If possible, take your time laying out your home’s plans so that you can capture your most important requirements. Subsequently, you’ll be able to analyze costs as well as benefits and make trade-offs that are best for you.
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License: Image author owned
License: Image author owned
Chloe Marie is an independent author, younger sister, and a very eccentric aunt living in Austin, Texas. She enjoys discovering different ways to keep her home environmentally friendly and blogs about using energy efficient methods for custom home updates.
