After making the decision to build a custom home, you’ll probably be eager to get started and begin thinking about the best way to do so. While we could go through a list of a thousand questions that may cross your mind, below you will find the most frequently asked questions we come across when meeting with prospective clients.
Where do I start?
There are a number of things to consider when thinking about building a custom home, but the first step is to find a reputable builder and schedule a meeting to talk with them. A good home builder will always meet with a potential client to discuss ideas and give suggestions on their vision for the project. The home builder will draw up the plans and serve as a liaison between the hired sub-contractors and architects. By partnering with a quality builder, you won't have to worry about anything except choosing the layout, fixtures, and designs you want in your future home!
How Much Will a Custom Home Cost?
Unfortunately, there isn’t an exact number that can be pre-determined for how much building a custom home will cost. Because every home, family, budget, and design is different, the final cost will be dependent on the future homeowner. In general, the decision to move forward with building a custom home is no small investment.
Be sure to clearly communicate with your builder and let them know what your budget is so that they can stay within those guidelines. It’s also important to be flexible and patient during the custom home building process. For example, if the cabinets that you have your heart set on are over your budget, you will have to compromise on a less-expensive option, expand your budget as a whole, or increase the cabinet budget while decreasing the countertop budget. A good builder will partner with you to help you decide on what compromises or trade offs you can make to fit your budget and still achieve the look and functionality you want.
How Long Does it Take to Build a Custom Home?
Research indicates that an average custom home takes about 6 months to complete. This is a great guideline, but it is just that — a guideline. Depending on the size of your house and many other factors, that timeframe may vary. There are many different factors involved that can shorten or lengthen that timeline — sub-contractors, designing, ordering materials, and other factors can cause unforeseen delays. Sometimes the delay is on the homeowner's end, as there are so many choices for each and every part of your new home, that plans can change.
Because of the case-by-case nature of these questions, it is always a good idea to talk with a builder (or a few) to get a better understanding of what the cost and timeframe will be.
The best advice when embarking on the journey of building a custom home is to hire a builder you trust and connect with so that you get the best possible experience of building a custom home, not a stressful one! You builder should not only be an expert, but also your partner throughout the process.
If you’d like to talk to Evoke about how we can help you bring your custom home vision to life, contact us today.