How to Avoid Common New Home Construction Nightmares
When you design and build your own home, you have hundreds of decisions to make. You might know problems you’ve experienced in your past homes, but not quite know the right choices to avoid them down the road.
Take a few notes from our experience and make sure you aren’t stuck with these common nightmares in your new home. There's no reason your dream home shouldn't have everything you need, build it with care.
Skinny Hallways
Were you stuck taking apart furniture to get down narrow hallways or door frames in your last home? If you don’t want scratched walls and a difficult move-in process: discuss the width of your hallways and door frames with your contractor. Their experience can help you create a more comfortable and spacious home.
Noisy Neighbors
Even if you’re not building near the airport, you never know what kinds of sound issues you may run into down the road. One noisy house-party loving neighbor or Saturday morning lawn mower can leave you wishing you’d discussed soundproofing options with your contractor during the construction process. From double-pane windows to carefully planned closets, find a contractor who knows how to ensure you’ll have a peaceful home environment.
Rewiring Down the Road
Plan your conduit locations according to your ideal floor plan and prepare for the possibility that you might want to change their location in the future. Including extra conduits in your plans now can save you a massive headache and bill in the future.
Inconvenient Floor Plans
In your last home, were you left dealing with an awkwardly placed laundry hamper or no space for one at all? Was the path from the laundry room to the bedrooms overly complicated? Only you know the day-to-day issues you hate dealing with, think about the placement of every important part of your home.
Budget Shortages
Be realistic about the price of your new home and plan for the unexpected. Research every aspect of the home building process and set aside at least 10% more than you think you’ll need. You don’t want a budget problem leaving your new castle half-built.
Lack of Space for Growth
You might be building your home as a 1-car family, but don’t forget to allow space in a garage for a possible second car. One extra bedroom for guests, children, or an office space you don’t currently need is always a good investment. You’re building this home for your future self, don’t build something you’re likely to grow out of in 5-10 years.
