Advice for New Home Builders Part Two
Have you been on the edge of your seat waiting for the rest of the tips for building your new home? Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about you! Now, here is the rest of our list of Tips for Building a New Home: 6. Before you agree to any plans a builder has showed you of previous floor plans or homes he has... Read More
Have you been on the edge of your seat waiting for the rest of the tips for building your new home? Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about you! Now,
here is the rest of our list of Tips for Building a New Home:
6. Before you agree to any plans a builder has showed you of previous floor plans or homes he has done, make sure the plans have been modified to reflect your home as it will be built. As changes come up during the process, make sure to make those changes to your floor plan and get rid of the old ones. It’s also a good idea to have it in your contract all new plans and changes be initialed by you!
7. Have you been wondering how you will make sure you builder knows all of the small details to your plan? We recommend describing the complete home in writing and the builder should offer specifications
detailing as well. Include in these specifications not only what will be included, but also things that will not be included (that are noteworthy to your plan). Make these plans as clear as possible and have everyone involved in those specifics initial the plans. Wouldn’t you rather know before building that something may not be possible?
8. Communication is key and you will find this throughout the process! Always make sure you are being made aware of any changes and the cost of those changes to eliminate any surprises later on. Once again, put these changes in writing so there are no misunderstandings later.
9. If you have now made it through the stress of the above steps, congratulations! Your plans are complete! Now what? You should receive a firm price for your home from your builder completing the home as specified.
Some costs that you should make sure not to see listed as “allowance items” are fill cost, foundation height, governmental fees, and utility connections.These costs can be HUGE and any builder should be able to estimate them.
10. Before any of this begins we suggest you have your builder visit the site before you purchase the lot. It’s important to make sure it’s good quality, starting with having a soil test done to make sure it’s build-able because correcting soil can cost around $50,000. A soil test on your land before you purchase it and begin to build your home is similar to your home insurance. While, it can’t protect you against everything, paying that smaller amount for the test helps cover you for a never ending list of costs that could come up if something went wrong.
We should also remind you to contact your agent about your New Jersey home insurance before you build. You may be thinking you won’t need homeowners insurance until your home is built, but it’s also important to protect your home throughout the building process! When should you get insurance? Call today and our agents can answer your questions.
-->Advice for New Home Builders Part One
Do you dream of building your own home some day or maybe that day has come and now you’re wondering where to start? There’s many different ways of approaching building your dream home and there will be more decisions than you can imagine before the building even begins! While we all want the two-story closet and custom built-in everything (thanks Pinterest), where do... Read More
Do you dream of building your own home some day or maybe that day has come and now you’re wondering where to start? There’s many different ways of approaching building your dream home and there will be more decisions than you can imagine before the building even begins! While we all
want the two-story closet and custom built-in everything (thanks Pinterest), where do you begin? Check out these 10 Tips When Building a New Home from Ask Rick. These tips will help you know what to expect and also what to address before the building begins.
- The first step is choosing the right lot for your home. When choosing make sure you figure out what your “building envelope” is. This is the maximum measurement of the exterior of the home you will be building. It’s important to know this before purchasing a lot not just so you make sure you have enough room, but also so you have enough room to build within local code restrictions.
- What do you want in your new home? Divide those things into three categories (1) must have, (2) would like to have, and (3) you can do without. It’s important to have a balance among the three so that if changes in the budget arise you know what your priorities are.
- A lot of new home builders ask where the best place to find inspiration is. A good idea is to visit models and look through plan books or visit builder’s websites. Not everyone can afford to consult with an interior designer, but you can probably find some of their great tips online. It’s a good idea to also reach out to others you know that have built a home before.
- Found a plan where you like a lot of it, but also don’t like a lot of things about it? Copy the plans and make notes on what you do and don’t like. Chances are your builder can create a plan combining 2 plans.
- Want to take it one step further? If your builder has a designer, meet with them with some sample plans of what you like and your list from number two. The builder can then combine various elements of those things you need and the layouts that appeal to you.
Want to read the rest of the 10 Tips for New Home Builders? Check back in with us tomorrow and while you’re planning on building that dream home, call one of our agents about a New Jersey home insurance plan right for your needs!
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