10 STEPS TO BUILDING A HOME
Building a new home doesn’t begin with breaking ground at a job site. There is a process that precedes the actual construction phase that is equally important to the successful outcome of the project.
All the work you do ahead of time is essential to building a house in Texas that you can envision yourself living in and enjoying for the foreseeable future. The process may seem daunting at times, and that’s why breaking it down into more manageable stages can be helpful.
As you prepare to start the home building process, here are the phases you will encounter in the coming months:
1. Choosing a City and Community
Before you can answer the question, “What sort of house do you want to live in?,” you have to decide, “Where do you want to live?” You might be facing several nonnegotiable factors that sway this decision, such as your need to be closer to an aging parent or a mandatory relocation for work. Otherwise, the choice depends on which city in Texas best aligns with your lifestyle and personal and professional goals. If you have children, a reputable school district and the availability of youth-focused recreational activities are factors to consider. If you enjoy going out, you may want to find a city filled with its own array of interesting and entertaining events, activities, and attractions, or one that is within driving distance of a larger, more vibrant metropolis.
Once you’ve narrowed down the destination – whether that requires an out-of-state move or you’re staying in the same city – you will next select the community or neighborhood where you want your new house to be built. The home builder you’re working with may have their own communities for you to consider. Other determinants may be the amenities provided in the community, as well as its proximity to major highways, the downtown area, parks, grocery stores, schools, or your place of employment.
2. Selecting a Floor Plan
After you’ve settled on your new community, you can start exploring available home sites and floor plan options. Your new home builder can introduce you to their collection of floor plans and discuss the unique benefits of each one. Your personal lifestyle, family dynamic, profession, and tastes are all determining factors when it comes to deciding on the right floor plan. You also must take your tentative budget into consideration to secure a ballpark figure, although you can’t nail down concrete numbers until you’ve selected a floor plan, as well as the interior finishes and any personalized features, which comes after you secure financing.
3. Securing Financing
With an approximate budget for the project, you can pursue the necessary financing for this major undertaking. Buyers commonly finance a new construction home with a short-term construction loan, through which money to cover costs is advanced incrementally as construction progresses and you only are required to pay interest during the construction period. Once your house is completed, you can refinance the construction loan into a regular permanent mortgage and start making payments on the principle amount. You can also consider Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, home-builder or developer-sponsored financing, or Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, depending on your specific situation.
4. Picking Out the Finishes
You’ve selected a standard floor plan, but now it is time to make it your own. With the help of your builder, you can start finalizing the details and hashing out the particulars of your new home’s specifications and interior finishes. This phase of the home building process typically includes discussing the styles, colors and overall “feel” that you wish to create.
5. Finalizing the Contract
Once you’ve made your final selections on the finishes and submitted your plan for permits, you will work with your Real Estate Agent and builder on writing up a contract for construction. The contract should outline the expectations and responsibilities of you and the builder. It will include detailed schematics, the scope of work expected of the contractor, a construction timeline or schedule, circumstances that justify a delay, warranties, and the price you have both agreed upon. The contract should be thorough and precise so it can be used as a definitive reference if there are miscommunications or disputes in the future.
6. Construction in Progress
With plans and permits in hand, your builder can move on to the construction phase of the home building process. While the construction crew handles the nuts and bolts of the project, all that’s required of you is patience and commitment as the work advances.
To start off the construction phase, the home-building crew will prepare the site and do foundation work. Your builder may also assemble other professionals with special skills to complete certain aspects of the home building process. These individuals may include engineers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and interior designers. Next, the crew will start the months-long process of building your home, working efficiently and effectively without cutting corners. Construction starts with a rough framing of the house and completing floor systems, walls, and roof systems. From there, crew members or subcontractors will install rough plumbing, electrical and HVAC; install insulation; complete drywall and interior fixtures; start exterior finishes; finish interior trim; install exterior driveways and walkways; install flooring and countertops; complete exterior grading; finish mechanical trims; install final interior finishes; and complete landscaping.
*You can read more about this process here: https://www.newhomesource.com/learn/step-by-step-guide-to-home-building-process/
7. Final Walkthrough
Now is the moment you’ve been waiting for. With the completion of your new home, you will go on a final pre-settlement walkthrough to familiarize you with various systems and features, along with warranty procedures. At this time, you can point out any spot items to be adjusted or corrected so our team can take care of them before finalizing the sale. This mitigates the risk of later disputes over whether damage to the home was caused during the construction process or after you moved in. Finally, you can load up your family and belongings and start making yourself comfortable in your brand new home!