Do you dream of building your forever home, but are not quite sure where to start? Have you outgrown your current home, your kids have moved out or your needs have changed? Building a home from the ground up can be a feat, and to be honest is kind of like having a child. You’ll never feel truly ready but sometimes you just need to take the plunge and your future self will thank you. Here are some questions to consider if you are thinking about taking the next step in the custom home process to see if this is the right choice for you.
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- You’ve considered building versus buying. The first step to any decision is to weigh the pros and cons and to do your research on both. There are pros and cons to every decision you make but ultimately the choice is up to you. You can buy an existing structure that’s been lived in, has a matured landscape, and might not be perfect in every single way or you can build from scratch and spend a little more money and time and end up with a house that’s designed exactly as you imagined it.
- You’ve run the numbers. This goes hand-in-hand with the research aspect but it is important to note that you have budgeted correctly on how much it is going to cost to build a custom home in your geographical location as well. Buying a house, remodeling, or adding an addition is going to be less expensive than a custom home. Here on Cape Cod, labor and land are more expensive than in other parts of Massachusetts. Will your budget allow this flexibility?
- You are ready to put in the time and effort. Creating a beautiful, custom home is a labor of love and there is a serious amount of time and work devoted to the process. If you enjoy decision-making and choosing finishes, meeting with your residential architect, you will enjoy the process, however, if you are strapped for time, this process can very quickly become a stressful one.
- You have a good idea of what you want. You’ve seen the houses out there on the market and none of them are it. You know what you would add to them but you just cannot find one single house that encompasses it all. If none of them are “perfect,” this might be a sign that you should take the next step to build the perfect home for you and your family.
- You have realistic expectations. With a custom home, the sky really is the limit, however, your budget is often the limit to what you are able to achieve. This coincides with running the numbers. You have to be very honest with yourself about how the home-building process will go. It’s easy once you get started to want to over-extend yourself and your budget, but you have to build what you can comfortably afford.
If you have the desire to build your dream home, are financially capable, and are willing to put in the time and effort, we say go for it! We are more than happy to help you walk through the process and to talk through the details. At the end of the day, we just want you to be happy with the home you are in – whether that’s a brand new one or one that’s hundreds of years old. Reach out to us to take the next steps.
