Building a custom home is a big deal. It takes time, patience, and money. We’ve been building new homes and completing large-scale residential renovations for over 15 years. Here are the top planning considerations that we recommend you consider.
1. Light
Natural light is a lot easier to integrate while you’re building a house than after. Keep in mind which rooms face which directions. In some cases, you may want large windows for the view, but in other cases, you may want the light more than the view. It’s nice to have a backyard or barbecue area that faces south or west, so you have some sun in the late afternoon or evening. Others may prefer morning sunshine in the kitchen or eating nook.
2. Resale
Consider resale. Even if you plan to spend the rest of your life in your house, things happen and plans don’t always go the way we want. A custom home is one thing, but consider how others might live in your house. If you make a lot of offbeat or unusual choices in design, that can significantly limit a pool of buyers.
3. Budget
Make sure you budget carefully and discuss budget with your builder in a detailed fashion. Things almost always cost a little more than we think they will, and that’s not necessarily the fault of the builder. For example, maybe while the house is being framed you decide, “hmmmm, I’d really like to make that bathroom bigger.” Changes like that, late in the game, cost money. So, definitely have an extra 10 to 20 percent set aside for unexpected expenses.
4. Pick the right builder
There are no shortage of television shows on HGTV that have the theme of fixing up what builders build poorly. Research your builders, and pick one with a proven track record and lots of happy customers (like us). Go and look at other homes your potential builder has built.
Picking the right builder is not only important for the quality of the finished product, but it’s also important for your home building experience. It takes time to build a house, and you’re going to be in close contact with your builder. You need to have confidence in the builder and feel comfortable talking to the builder. Once you start a custom home project, you’ll talk to your builder a lot. You might as well like the builder from the start.
If you are considering building a new home in the Vancouver area or renovating your existing one, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Best Builders has been renovating older homes and building new ones for over 15 years. They are a multiple-award-winning builder that brings fine craftsmanship to projects, turning dreams into reality. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about your home project, please call us at (604) 943-2378 or email us at info@bestbuilders.ca.