Today we are going to outline the top 5 things to consider when building a house.
L. Patten & Sons specializes in custom-built homes in Collingwood and the Blue Mountain area. We'd love to put our 60 plus years of experience in building custom homes to work for you to build you the home of your dreams!
We'll discuss topics like getting the right builders, choosing the perfect location, and getting the design right. So let's get started.
Discover the top things to consider when building a house
Top 5 Things to Consider When Building a House
1. Consider Your Home Building Company
Choosing the right home building company is an extremely important first step in your home building journey. Before choosing your builder, you should do the following things:
Do Your Research:
Make a list of all the potential home building companies in your area and take a look at each one to determine which one is the best choice.
Read customer reviews:
Check out each potential builder's online reviews to see how previous customers feel about them. You could also ask the builder for references from recent customers that you could personally contact.
View the builder’s portfolio:
Take a look at images of homes that the builder has done to determine if their style and quality matches what you would like your home to look like. If possible visit a show home so that you can get a better look at the quality of the finishes and workmanship.
Ask to see the builder’s portfolio
Ask questions:
Make a list of questions to ask your builder. It is helpful to meet face to face with them ahead of time to determine whether or not you think that you could work with them. Building a home is a long process, so you want to choose a builder that you get along with and who will listen to your ideas.
Check for certifications:
It’s important to work with a builder that has the proper certifications and offers warranties according to local regulations and bylaws.
Before you select a builder, ensure that they can provide proof that they are legally allowed to build new homes, and that they offer an extensive warranty that will protect you, the buyer, from serious problems down the road.
A professional builder will happily provide you with proof of their certifications and warranties when you ask!
When building a house make sure the builder you choose has the proper certifications
2. Consider Your Property & Location
Another one of the top things to consider when building a house is your property and location. Where you decide to build is often as important as the design that you choose. Here are some tips for choosing your property and location:
Size:
Choose a lot that is going to be large enough to accommodate for the size of home that you want and that will also have enough space for any outside features, such as a pool, garden, or play area for children.
Environment:
Check out the area around the lot and consider things such as: will the smell of a nearby farm bother you? Or, will the noise from a railway nearby be an issue?
Amenities:
Do you need the lot to be close to schools? Do you prefer being in the country or city? Would you like to have convenient shopping or other desired amenities close by?
Choose a location that suits your needs
3. Consider Your Budget
When you are building a house, you need to take into consideration how much money you will have to spend on it and how that money should be allocated. If you need financing, then you can talk to your financial institution about getting a construction mortgage.
When setting your budget, you should make a list of the things you must have and those that you would like if there is enough money for them and prioritize your list accordingly. You will probably find that unexpected costs will come up along the way, so it's a good idea to leave a bit of space in your budget for these surprises.
Once you have set you budget, you need to stick to it. It's easy to make changes along the way, but if those changes make you go over your budget then you may find yourself in trouble.
If you are building a house, make a budget and stick to it
4. Consider Your Design
One of the biggest things to consider when building a house is your design. Planning out the design can be a huge task, but careful planning can make the process go so much smoother. The following are some of the big things that you need to ask yourself when you are planning:
What size of home do you want?
Do you plan to expand your family or will your children be moving out soon?
Will your elderly parents need to move in soon?
How many bedrooms do you need?
Will you be having overnight guests often?
Do you need large entertaining areas?
Are stairs a problem or do you want more than one story?
Do you prefer a traditional, modern, or contemporary design?
Decide on the style of home you prefer
5. Consider the Small Details
Often in a project as large as building a house, the small details get lost or forgotten about. Here are some of the smaller things to consider when building a house:
Kitchen:
Make sure you have plenty of outlets to plug in small appliances both on the counter and in your pantry.
Install a motion sensor light in your pantry.
Consider lots of drawer storage for lower cupboards.
Install cabinetry on both sides of your island for extra storage
Have two pumps at your sink: one for dish soap and the other for hand soap.
Bedrooms:
Make sure that are lots of outlets throughout the rooms.
Locate your bedrooms in quiet areas of your home.
Install a light switch near your bed so you can turn off the lights from there.
A master switch in your bedroom that will turn off all outside lights is also very useful.
Outside:
Make sure there are taps and outlets on each side of your home.
If you have a pet, a hot water tap is good for outdoor baths.
Install a gas line for your gas BBQ.
Put outlets under your eaves for your Christmas lights.
Laundry:
Install an exhaust fan to take away litter box odour.
Install outlets near your beds
Building a House? Get the Best Builder: L. Patten & Sons
If you are thinking of building a house of your dreams, contact L. Patten & Sons. L. Patten & Sons brings over 60 years of custom home building experience to every project we undertake. We take pride in building custom homes that are as beautiful to look at as they are comfortable to live in.
We make it our goal to help all our clients realize their dreams. Quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and complete customer satisfaction are what set L. Patten and Sons apart in the Collingwood and Blue Mountain custom home building community. Take a look for yourself at our gallery of some of the custom homes we have built.
Our home owners can rest assured that their new home will be a source of pride and satisfaction for many years to come! Contact us today to get started on your dream home.
““Jerry & the team at L Patten & Sons did an outstanding job building our home. Building a custom home is complex with many challenges, the team went above & beyond. Our family loves the home that they built us. Honesty & Integrity comes to mind when I think of L Patten & Sons.””