Expectations To Beware Of When Constructing A Custom Home
The decision to have a custom home built is only the beginning of what should be an engaging time for you as the eventual home owner. It's important that you examine your expectations to be sure that they are in line with what will actually be happening as the house is built; you need to be sure that you're ready for the process so you're not surprised by what's going on. Here are three expectations that you might want to re-evaluate.
Expectation #1: That the House Will Be Completed on Time and at Estimated Cost
When a contractor from a custom home construction company like Sherman Hayden Custom Homes gives you a scheduled date of completion, your life might revolve around that date. You might hope to sell your current home by that date or arrange to live with family for a few weeks until that date occurs. However, weather, delayed shipments, or other problems can stop the house from being completed for weeks after that scheduled date. Not only that, but you might find yourself paying more for materials and equipment that you expected. If you only count on the estimate during planning, you may end up in some financial trouble. It's vital that you make plans that will accommodate your family if the house takes longer to build or costs much more than you expect.
Expectation #2: The Contractor Will Handle Everything
Perhaps the biggest expectation to beware of is the one where you expect your general contractor to handle everything while you go about your life and regular activities. The contractor is certainly in the position to oversee the entire project, as they have the experience and resources necessary to deal with subcontractors and build the house, but you are a vital part of the process.
In fact, there are a number of things you should be doing along the way to ensure that your house is being built in a timely manner and done the right way. For instance, you can:
- Check that all permit applications have been submitted and approved by the local authorities
- Ask for specific timelines regarding different parts of the home
- Investigate HVAC solutions for the house
- Physically check on the progress of construction
- Make changes regarding materials you want used in the house
If you're able to be hands-on during the building of your house instead of sitting back and waiting for progress reports from the contractor, you're going to feel much better about the completed home and more comfortable living in it.
When you check your expectations about what it means to build a custom home, you can ensure that the actual process goes along more smoothly. Use the information here to be an engaged part of your construction team and have the home you really want.