Don’t Make These Common Mistakes with Your Custom Built Floor Plan

November 26, 20150
Put plenty of details into your custom built floor plan.

A custom built floor plan requires plenty of details.

One would think a custom built floor plan would provide all the amenities and comforts needed in a dream home. However, many homeowners overlook important aspects that end up being more costly to remedy after all is said and done. Make sure you don’t make these common mistakes when designing and building your custom home.

The Devil Is in the Details

The myriad of details involved in a custom built home begin with the correct positioning of your home on the lot. From there, the details seem endless. If you were thinking of acting as your general contractor, you might want to reconsider. Hiring a southeastern MA home improvement contractor will save you endless hours of frustration involved in orchestrating your entire project. They can guide you through the maze of building stages, schedules and material selections – and that alone will keep you busy!

Your Budget – Expected the Unexpected

You need to have realistic funding expectations based on diligent research of all associated costs. However, no matter how carefully you think you’ve priced out your entire project, plan for the unexpected. An HVAC system you once thought was adequate may need to be upgraded. Additionally, building materials and fixtures may have gone up in price since you started your project. Rarely has a homeowner come in under budget with their custom built floor plan.

Your home improvement contractor can help you plan.

Talk to your home improvement contractor about your plan.

Timing Is Everything

You also need to be realistic about the estimated completion date. A custom built home can reasonably take six months or longer due to unplanned events, such as inclement weather and material delivery delays. In fact, plan on spending additional time in your current location to avoid having to find interim housing and the hassle of an additional move.

Less Is Not Always More

Keep in mind when it comes to the following factors, it may pay off to plan for more than you anticipate needing.

  • Storage.  A home with empty closets is a rarity so factor in additional closet space when planning storage for your custom home. A professional builder can also recommend underutilized areas in your home as other options for storage.
  • Lighting. There’s nothing worse than realizing your dream home lacks enough illumination. Make sure your design includes adequate windows and skylights for optimal natural lighting throughout your home.
  • HVAC. Large custom homes often require multiple units to ensure a comfortable and consistent temperature is maintained throughout the home. Southeastern MA home improvement contractors know how to plan the most energy efficient heating and cooling system for homes in this area.
  • Plan for the Unplanned. Let’s say your initial plan was for a four bedroom home with a game room and you’ve since changed to three bedrooms. Consider adding a bathroom near the game room in case the situation arises where you need to convert it to a guest room. This kind of planning gives you more options for the unexpected future,

Interested in custom built floor plans in Needham and the surrounding towns? Contact us to learn about our unique Design Build System. We bring our expertise in design, engineering, project management and construction to handle all aspects of designing and building your custom home.