Getting ready to build a custom home? Congratulations! You are about to embark on an incredibly rewarding journey. There is something so special about seeing those ideas, those dreams, and those visions you have for your home come to life.
Like many of our new clients, you may be wondering if there is anything you should be mindful of before getting started. Well, to help you prepare for this amazing endeavor, we have put together a list of the top things you should know before building a custom home!
1. Plan, Plan & Plan Some More
What is shown on the plans is what we will budget for and ultimately build. Take your time during the design process to ensure that the plans accurately reflect your vision for your new home. Something to keep in mind is that changes made during the build are more expensive than planning for them upfront. A bit more time spent planning now will save you time, money, and mistakes (and sanity) later!
2. Communication is Key
Good communication is the key to success when building a custom home. The more specific you can be when describing your expectations for your home, the better. We cannot avoid all mistakes, but we can certainly minimize them with good communication.
Open communication throughout every step of the process is also vital to a successful build. This will ensure that any questions or concerns that may arise can be quickly addressed and that you are in the loop with every aspect of your new home.
3. Your Schedule is a Guideline
We understand that you are excited to move into your new home! That’s why one of our top priorities is to keep you up to date on the progress of your build and ultimately when you can move in. We do our utmost to stick with the schedule and take a proactive approach to our builds to mitigate disruptions to the schedule, but it is important to know that poor weather, product delays, and trade availability can contribute to unforeseen delays.
4. Consider Working with a Designer
What many people don’t realize is that there are SO many details and decisions that go into building a custom home. On the one hand, this means that your home is completely customized to your liking. But on the other hand, these decisions can sometimes get overwhelming. Working with an interior designer through those decisions can save you time (and even money) in the long run. A designer can help guide your selection decisions so that you can be confident in the choices you make and can achieve the look you would like for your home.
5. Space & Storage
Something that can be easily overlooked during the design process is the importance of space and storage. If you are planning to move existing furniture into your new home, will there be enough room for those pieces in the spaces you would like them to go? Where will you store things like Christmas decorations or those dishes you don’t use very often? Although space and storage may not be the most glamorous aspects of the design process, they are crucial details to be mindful of when creating plans for your new home.
6. Prepare to Compromise
One of the best parts of building a custom home is that it is, well… CUSTOM! That means your home can be whatever you want it to be, designed specifically for you and your lifestyle and preferences. But during the design process, it is essential to prioritize which elements of your new home are must-haves and which you would be willing to compromise on. Sometimes the design doesn’t lend itself to certain ideas. Other times there is no room in the budget to do everything on the wish list. But knowing these priorities ahead of time helps us to make recommendations throughout the design process to ensure you will still get the custom home you are looking for in the end.
7. Enjoy the Process!
It can be easy to get caught up in the nitty-gritty details of designing and building a new home, but at the end of the day, it is truly amazing to see your dreams come to fruition and watch your new home come to life. Keep the main goal in sight – building a new home that you can live and grow in with those you love – and enjoy the little things that bring a smile to your face along the way.
Want to learn more about designing a new home? Download our FREE guide to discover the secrets to building your perfect home.
About Us
Braemyn Homes is Calgary’s custom home building and renovation specialist. Whether you are looking to build your forever home or make room for a growing family, our clients can expect the highest standard of excellence delivered with exceptional craftsmanship and superb customer care. Call us at (403) 606-2923 or fill out our contact form to see how we can help you create the home of your dreams.