Decisions, decisions, decisions. One of the advantages of custom building a new home is the opportunity to select the features and finishes that reflect your personality and lifestyle. While this is an exciting endeavor for some, for others, it can leave them feeling dizzy with an endless array of builder options and upgrades at their disposal.
There’s cabinets, countertops, flooring, fixtures, and appliances to choose. How about structural changes such as additional bathrooms, garages, or outdoor living spaces? And, that’s just the beginning of the options your builder may allow you to select!
So, what are you to do? Here are some tips to help you narrow it all down.
Structural Changes
Make any structural changes early in the process. The time to do this is when you sign the contract. Let the builder know if you want to make structural changes such as adding rooms or garages, moving doors, adding a fireplace, or installing recessed lighting. These kinds of changes can impact the building permit. Any electrical or plumbing changes may require walls opened up which can end up being costly.
Builder Timeline
Follow your builder’s timeline for selecting options and upgrades. Generally, this is approximately two to three weeks after you sign the contract and is approved. Most builders will have you meet with them at their design center. Be prepared with a list of things that you want. Also, bring photos of kitchens and baths you like. Depending on your builder, you may not be able to make changes after this meeting. Check with your builder about their policy.
Prepare a Budget
Prepare a budget before each design meeting, and STICK TO IT! Walking into a builder’s design center is like being a kid in a candy store. You can quickly overspend and overextend yourself if you don’t stick to the budget you’ve prepared.
Be Flexible
Remember, you have a budget. You may not be able to afford all the extra’s you’d like. Focus on what you need first. Then, work on the wish list.
Keep Resale in Mind
You want what you want. You want it to reflect your personality, style, and taste. However, over-customizing can hurt you when you go to sell your property. Keep resale in mind when choosing your builder options and upgrades.
Work with a Builder You Trust
Deal with a builder you trust. You’ll need to rely on their to guide you through the process, offer expert advice on design choices and how to spend your budget wisely. Trust is of the utmost importance.
Selecting Builder Options and Upgrades
Helping you to select your builder options and upgrades is what our exclusive builders do. We are proud to work with the best home builders with decades of experience and are known for exceptional craftsmanship and quality construction. It’s their job to make your home everything you want it to be. Visit Scissortail and see why it’s the premier gated community in Northwest Arkansas.
See our gallery of homes and contact our exclusive builders to start planning your dream home. Check out our lots for sale and new luxury homes for sale. It’s time to Dream It. Build It. Live It in Scissortail.
You make a good point when you mention how you should look for a builder that you can trust so that your budget is spent productively. I would like to use the inheritance that I received from my late uncle to have a custom home built that is close to my work, but I need to make sure that I do not need to use any of my savings when having the home constructed. I’ll look for a home builder that will help me carefully plan the building process.
I like that you mentioned how you should provide your builder with pictures of kitchens that match your preferences so that they will understand what your expectations are. Now that my sister has a new job, she would like to have a home built with a large kitchen since she tends to enjoy hosting dinner parties on weekends. Hopefully, she can find a builder that will help her create a house that suits her needs.