Before You Build

You are ready to build your dream house! But there are several considerations you should face before you build.

 
 
 


The first step is to find a lot on which to build your home.  Consider these factors:

  • Be sure the lot is large enough for the house you have in mind.
  • Consider the property taxes for the area.
  • Find out if municipal sewer and water lines are available.  If not, you will have to install a septic system and well.
  • Check the level of the water table.  Is the lot in a flood plain area?
  • Make certain that the land's grade, or slope, is not too steep for your purposes
 

 

To acquire a plan, you have a few choices.  You can hire an architect to draw up blueprints to your specifications, you can purchase stock plans from various sources or you can use plans provided by your builder.




Estimate how much it is going to cost you to buy your lot and build the house.  The price of land is easy to find out, but construction costs are more difficult to figure.  After you acquire your home plan, take it to your builder who should be able to give you an estimate.

With these figures, you can now shop for your mortgage.  You must have a mortgage you can afford; don't overburden yourself financially.

A Builder for Your Dream Home
Once you have thought about the type of house you want, where should you look for a builder?

A builder must be able to look at a plan and access its demands so that a construction budget can be established and adhered to.  A builder must be familiar with local codes so that the home will pass with the building inspector and be given a certificate of occupancy.

Ask friends and relatives for recommendations.  The best way to learn about builders is to visit homes they have built and talk to their owners.  Ask builders on your list for the addresses of their recently built houses and subdivisions.  Drive by and see if the homes are visually appealing.  Ask people if they are happy with their homes and if the builder did what was promised and in a timely manner.


An important criterion for selecting a builder is the warranty provided on the home.  Most builders offer some form of written warranty.  Many builders back their own warranties on workmanship and materials, typically for one year.

Find out from each builder what kind of service you can expect after the sale.  Typically, a builder makes two service calls during the first year to repair non-emergency items covered by your warranty.  The first call is usually 30 to 120 days after move-in and the second is around the eleventh month before any one year warranties on workmanship and materials would expire.

A builder will want to please you because he or she will want you as a recommendation for obtaining future business.
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