When deciding to build a house, there have to be no less than a thousand decisions to be made. You’ll make many of these decisions in a short window, and hesitation will cause delays. Then, if you change something after it has been ordered or installed, you’ll pay for it twice.
The obvious decisions are things like:
What is our budget? (This will creep up. Plan on it. Upgrades stack up and there will be surprises.)
Who do we want to hire as our builder? (References and testimonials are invaluable.)
Where can we build the house we want to build? (All lots are NOT created equal!)
But there are many, many much more nuanced decisions to be made along the way, and some of them may come as a surprise.
What are the lot dimensions and setbacks?
Can the lot support a house as wide as we want to build?
What direction do we want the house to face, and can it face that direction?
I was recently with a client who has hired a local builder to build their home. Here are just a sampling of the additional questions they ran through:
- Stomped v. flat ceilings?
- Drywall wrapped windows, or wood trimmed?
- Tankless water heater?
- Zoned HVAC?
- Where do you want your hose bibs to be located on the exterior of the home?
- Shower head AND handled sprayer?
- Under cabinet kitchen lighting?
- What type of door and window trim?
- Single or double-hung windows? Casement?
- Which way do you want the doors to swing?
- How high up/down do you want the windows?
Walking your home constantly as it’s being built is your biggest opportunity to catch mistakes without incurring additional cost. And, anticipate a constantly changing schedule thanks to weather, inspections, material delays, and subcontractor timing. This is where a good homebuilder is worth their weight in gold.
Remember, decision fatigue is real. Simplify where you can. Be mindful of resale, as you do what fits how you actually live. Steer clear of ultra-niche decisions that could hurt value, and above all, remember—no house is perfect, even if you build it yourself! Remembering that can go a long way toward keeping your sanity.
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