A Complete Guide to Custom Build Your First Home

There is nothing as exciting as building and living in a house that is specifically tailored to your visions and needs. From selecting an appropriate piece of land to constructing it with the best materials and decorating it to represent your personality and style – the entire process is indeed worthwhile. However, if it is your first time then there might be plenty of challenges you would have to go through before getting to slide the key into the lock of your new house.

Read below the step by step guide to learn about the process and planning to have your home ready to move in. Following is a detailed description of how to build a custom home:

  1. Purchase a Land

When it comes to choosing the right home site, you have to do ample research and then buy a land real estate that accommodates your needs. Even if a piece of property seems perfect, there are a lot of things your seller might not tell you right away. However, asking these questions can give you a clear path further –

  • What is the property size?
  • Who are the neighbors?
  • What kind of utilities and facilities does the property have?
  • What is the orientation of the property?
  • Are there any back taxes, debts or liens?

 

  1. Finalize the Home Design Essentials

The second phase of custom home building involves designing a home to match your preferences and tastes. It is the most exhausting yet a thrilling experience – to give your family and kids a home that caters to their specific requirements. These are some important considerations while deciding a home design –

  • Room size and arrangement
  • Open or segmented floor layout
  • Cabinets and countertops
  • Type of HVAC system, etc.

 

  1. Contact Professionals for Support and Guidance

The next phase is all about assembling your custom home team to give life to your dreams. This team aids in putting the plans into action and executing the project well in the first go. Here is the list of experts you would need in the process –

  • A custom home builder or general contractor
  • An architect
  • An interior designer
  • A landscaping contractor

Once you are done with hiring a specialized team, apply for building and electrical permits. Also, get homeowner’s insurance to insure it from the start.

  1. Start Building

When all your plans are approved by the reviewing committees or other concerned authorities, you can finally ask the builder/contractor to begin the construction of your home. Of course, there can be highs and lows during this phase but if you break the entire project into these milestones, it can become less of a hassle –

  • Site preparation
  • Foundation and framing
  • Installation of heating and cooling, plumbing, and electric systems
  • Flooring and paint
  • Fitting the cabinets, countertops, and kitchen appliances
  • Giving the exterior finishing touches like rain gutters and decorative mouldings
  • Landscaping

 

 

 

Simple Ways to Improve the Exterior of Your House

Are you looking for some easy ways to enhance the beauty of the exterior of your house? If so, then this post is for you. In this article, we have jotted a few ways that can help in bringing charm to your home’s exterior.

 

The exterior of your home is like the cover page of a book. It set standards for what’s inside. So, it is crucial to have a splendid outer appearance of the home. And for this reason, necessary improvements are a must. Moreover, if you are interested in selling your home in future, it will help in boosting its value.

 

Now, let us see what the simple changes are that you can bring to the exterior of your house.

 

#1. Stain the garage door – Installing a new garage door may be an expensive option, so you can go for staining it with a different color to get a new look. Don’t forget to power wash the door completely before staining the surface. Just painting the old looking and dull garage door can contribute a lot towards improving the outer look of your property.

 

#2. Have a clear and attractive walkway – A well-defined and clear driveway make your home more inviting. So, make sure to sweep all the leaves, debris and dirt off your paths on a regular basis. You can also rent a power washer to remove dirt and stains that don’t get cleaned with a hose.

 

To make walkway visually appealing, you can use stones, bricks and rocks in the bedding area to create artistic and unique exterior appeal.

 

#3. Add some lighting – The right light can improve the ambience of your house. No doubt, they can lit only at night, but they have the power to change the entire feel of your property.

 

Landscape lighting is the best and the cheap way to enhance the exterior curb appeal of your house. These lights look amazing and give warm and welcoming feels.

 

#4. Have clean gutters – If gutters are not looked after timely, they can bring you the chaos. Dirt, leaves and debris accumulated in the gutters for a long time can lead to water damage and mold. So, it is highly recommended to keep a check on the gutters and get them cleaned when necessary.

 

Remember, this is the most essential step if you want to have a properly functioning and a good looking home inside out.

 

#5. Frieze boards and decorative mouldings installation – Frieze boards and decorative mouldings are innovative products that have the power to beautify the exterior of your house.

 

Frieze board is the trim detail installed horizontally below the soffit, and its size ranges from 1×6 to 1×10. Moreover, they provide a design with a colonial appeal and are pocket-friendly too.