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| Building |
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| Build Your Dream Home | Building New or Adding On | Buying Property to Build |
| Think About Resale When Building |
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Build Your Dream Home  |
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| Planning to build the home you've always wanted can be an exciting but challenging experience. You know what you want but just how do you ensure that the finished product will meet your expectations? This is where a team of professionals who are trained and experienced with every aspect of home building can take the headaches out of your project. |
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| Your first contact should be your real estate agent. He or she is the one that can help you find the perfect location for your home. The agent can also refer you to other professionals who will comprise your team such as an architect, a builder and a lender. If you're really fortunate, you won't need the latter but most people do! |
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| The architect is the person who will draw up the plans you've imagined. Gourmet cook? Your architect can design the kitchen of your dreams complete with cooking island, cast iron hanging rack for your copper pots and storage nooks and crannies. Avid gardener? Talk to your architect about a solarium where your plants and you will thrive! Libraries, office space, sewing room, anything you want! |
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| Your Realtor® can also suggest reputable builders who will ensure that your structure is sound and exactly what the architect ordered. |
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| And finally, a lender will discuss your financial options with you and help you understand some of the lesser-known costs involved. The lender will negotiate the best possible loan for your budget. |
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| Building New or Adding On |
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| So now you have a new addition to the family - or your present house just seems to be bulging at the seams ! The question is - do we add on ? Or do we move ? |
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| First, look at your neighborhood. If you overbuild - i.e. if you have the "best house in the worst neighborhood' - you will probably not recoup your renovation dollars when you sell. The type of neighborhood you live in will put a ceiling on how much future purchasers are willing to pay, no matter how lovely your home. |
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| If the neighborhood is not an issue then next examine your tolerance for dealing with the hassle of renovating versus dealing with the process of finding a more suitable house and moving. Should you decide to add on, you would need to find out if your house can, structurally, allow you to do the renovations without spending a fortune to reinforce the existing structure before you begin adding to it. |
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| You also need to check your zoning regulations as to the square footage that you are allowed to build on and how close to property lines you may build. |
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| If you are unsure as to what to do, you might find the decision easier to make if you get a quote from a builder for your planned renovations and then add that figure to the price your Realtor® feels your house will sell for. |
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| Armed with those figures go out with your Realtor® to see what you can purchase with that amount. You may find that you can afford to move into a home that provides all you want and...... The work is all done for you ! |
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| Buying Property to Build |
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| You have decided that you are going to build your own home, a home that will be just perfect for your needs and desires. Once you find a lot or acreage that you wish to build on, there are a few things to check out before you purchase. |
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| Check that local zoning laws will permit the type of structure(s) you plan to build. Some areas can have severely restrictive building regulations. You may be restricted in the size, design, number and location of any building(s) you put on your property. You also may be restricted in the type of building materials you can use. Make sure that any activity you plan, whether it is a home based business or just keeping a few chickens, is permissible within the zoning laws. |
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| If the land you buy is not serviced you will need to factor in the cost of bringing in utility services. The lack of a water supply can make the most beautiful home site useless. It is important that you ascertain that you will be able to access a reliable source of water. If you will not be connecting to a sewage system you must make sure that the local Health department will approve the installation of a septic system. |
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| Finally, it is important that you find out from your Realtor® how you can check with the local planning boards to find out if there are any plans or applications to develop the area. You could buy and build on your own quiet little corner of Eden and find yourself a few years later living on the edge of a huge and noisy mall! Probably not what you had in mind! |
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| Think About Resale When Building |
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| If you are buying a home, which is under construction, consider how the features you select will add to the re-sale value of your home. |
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| Attractive, up to date and functional kitchens and bathrooms are always good investments. Durable, quality floorings like hardwood and ceramic are also worth the money. Be aware of the builder’s standard and don’t be afraid to improve on it as much as is possible within your budget. |
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| Without overimproving or including something you really won’t like or use, view the house as a property, which could have a second owner. Maybe it would be a good idea to go for that fireplace, or to roughly lay out plumbing for a bathroom in the unfinished basement. |
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