There is nothing more exhilarating than building your own home. But once the excitement of signing the contract wears off, you’re left with decision, after decision, after decision. Endless customization means endless possibilities, and it can be difficult for many home owners to identify what they really want or need in their future home. It’s easy to get lost in a sea of carpet samples and paint choices. Here are a few tips to keep you on track and make sure you are getting what you really want when building a home.
Be Selective on Areas of Compromise
We all hate having to compromise, but the fact remains that the majority of the world operates within a budget. No matter what your income level, you could always spend more if given the chance. So how do you get everything you want in a home, and still stay within your budget? The key is to be selective in terms of the areas you agree to compromise on. Take, for example, the kitchen. Let’s say you’ve been able to afford your perfect custom cabinetry, beautiful flooring, and high-end appliances, but you don't have enough money left to get your designer pendant light fixtures and your gorgeous custom back splash too. So which one do you compromise on? The answer is easy, the light fixtures. Light fixtures are much simpler to replace at a future time when you do have the money. A back splash is something the would be difficult to remove and replace when you were able to afford it. When deciding what to compromise on, determine what could easily be upgraded later, and compromise on that first.
Push Back on Contractors
A lot of Utah home builders are fantastic to work with, but some are only interested in making their deadlines and getting the project completed. Oftentimes they don’t like changes that happen mid-project because it causes them delays, so they tend to push back and tell you an upgrade you want isn’t possible, or they tell you it’s going to be really expensive. Don’t be afraid to push back on your contractor and change something, if you feel strongly about it. The important thing is to get it right. Remember, your contractor is working for you, not the other way around.
Plan Ahead, Even if You Can’t Afford to Complete It Right Away
Dream homes can add up really quickly, and sometimes there’s not enough money in the budget to pay for all of the things we’d like to see in our dream home. Even if you can’t afford to finish the element you’d like to see in your home, plan ahead and add anything structural now. Then, when you have the money to finish it, you already have the difficult work in place. For example, if you want to have a beautiful basement one day, but you can’t afford to finish the basement now, plan for it now. Add in the rough-in plumbing for the basement, so that when it comes time to finish it you don't have to trench through concrete to add in plumbing. Then, when you can afford to finish it, you can create your dream bathroom with zero-threshold shower and etched glass shower doors. If you’d like to one day have a gas fireplace in the basement, add in the gas line now so adding it in the future won't require punching through a concrete basement wall. If there is a design element you’d like to have now but you can’t afford it, plan for it now and work it into the design scheme.
Don’t be overwhelmed with all of the decisions that come with building your own home. Make sure your contractors have your best interests at heart, choose where you compromise, and plan for the future. Focus on the details that really matter, and everything else will fall into place.
