BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT

Knowing your budget is essential. Prices for new homes can range from $120 – $200+ per square foot. Without knowing how much you can spend, it is nearly impossible to decide how large of a home you can build and where, or what design features can be included.

Things to factor into your budget include:

• The cost of the land
• Local fees and taxes
• Design and engineering fees
• Home construction
• Landscaping costs
• Interior decorating and furnishing

It's always a good idea to Speak with multiple lenders to get the best interest rates and loan program for your project. There are several different types of financing options available to you. speak with a lender who will educate you about the differences in each.  See our resources tab for a list of trusted Mortgage lenders who are experts in their field and work hard to get you what you want.

Most new construction projects can take up to 8 months and sometimes longer depending on materials selected, weather delays etc.

• The size of the lot
• Closeness of neighbors
• Slope/flatness of land
• Direction the plot faces (Where will the sun be?)
• Natural surroundings (forest, field, water, etc.)
• Trees (Remember – tall, old trees can’t just be planted)
• The style of other houses in the neighborhood (if applicable)
• Access to resources (Will you need a well? Septic tank? New power, phone or cable hookups?)
• Having a view versus privacy

Having a professional like your realtor, an architect and a builder look at the property you are interested in, will help to save you some headaches down the line by making sure you can do what you want on that piece of land.  There are many factors that need to be assessed when looking at land to build that you may not know.

Once you find a lot you are interested in, Beckett real estate will help you assess the property. For example, zoning regulations, flood plane maps, soil studies and land use tax exemptions should all be carefully considered. Zoning regulations and city ordinances can also have required setback distance from the street, the height of your house, square footage requirements and the type of home you build can all be restricted. Knowing where to find this information and how to navigate this process can be very tough without the expertise of a professional Realtor.

• Do you want an open interior layout? Or separate spaces?
• Do you want separate formal and informal areas of the home (i.e. public vs. private)?
• For multi-story homes: What do you need on the first floor? What do you want on the second (or higher) floors?
• How many entrances do you want? Do you want a private entry? Any rooms in particular in which you wish to have a doorway to outside?
• How do you want the indoor and outdoor space of your home to interact? Should they flow into each other, or be completely separate?
  

• Which rooms/spaces do you want near each other? Maybe you want the children’s playroom to be within earshot of the kitchen. Or does it make sense to have the laundry room near the bedrooms?
• Are there any areas of the home you want more private/separate? Maybe the master suite should be separate from the other bedrooms, or on a different floor? Should your office or artist studio be in a quiet corner?
• If creating an in-law suite, do you want it to be separate or integrated with the rest of the home?
  

• How much prep/counter space do you need?
• Eat-in kitchen, or a separate dining space?
• Social space (to watch TV or hang out?
• Work/homework space
• Island or peninsula for food preparation or buffet
• Separate/walk-in pantry
• Prep sink and/or main sink
• Wet bar
• Gas or electric stove/oven (This will affect what hookups you need)
  

• Numerous closets? Walk-in closets?
• Connected bathroom? (shared or private?)
  

• Shower? Tub? Combined shower and tub? Jacuzzi tub?
• One or two sinks? Separate vanities or together?
• Linen closet?
• Jack & Jill bathroom (connected to 2 bedrooms)?
  

• Should it be its own separate/dedicated space? Or combined with another room, such as bathroom or mudroom?
• Space for additional features? (folding counter/table, sink? Hanging rack?)
• Outdoor spaces: Do you want a patio? Deck? Screened-in porch? Convertible indoor/outdoor space? Balconies? Courtyard?
  

• What kind of accents do you want in the home?
• Any specific materials you want to include?
• What color palette do you want to use?
• Kitchen: cabinets, flooring, appliances, countertops, finishes…
• Ceilings: Do you want taller ceilings? If yes, everywhere, or just in some spaces?
• Hallways: Desired width? Do you want as few as possible, or many?
• Stairways: One flight or more? Do you want a private staircase in the back of the house?
• Windows: What kind? A lot or a few? Skylights? Bay windows? Wide windowsills?
• Wall space: Do you want a lot of open wall space, perhaps to display art?
• Lighting (indoor and outdoor): Recessed lights? Sconces? Chandeliers? Look at some of the lighting options at the Home Depot to get inspired.
• Roof: Flat, pitched, asymmetric gable, multiple gables, curved?
• Exterior: What kind of siding do you want? 
• Do you need limited mobility access?
• Safety considerations: Do you live in an area prone to tornadoes or flooding? Ask your builder how to take these into consideration with design and materials.
  

There are an infinite number of additional features that can be built into your custom home.

• Fireplaces (Gas or wood? More than one? In which rooms?)
• Media room
• Central sound system
• Heated floors
• Central vacuum system
• Pool and/or jacuzzi (indoor or outdoor?)

There is a growing trend today towards green design. Building with this in mind can reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, many features can be built into your home that will increase your energy efficiency and water conservation, reducing your utility bills down the line. Talk to your architect about what green design features will work best with your custom home.