Sure, all of us have dreamed of building our own home, but where do you start?
We all know what we want and what we need, but have you thought of what you don’t want or what you might not need for your home?
Seek professional advice from residential architects, licensed contractors and professional trades.
Do you have floor plan in mind? Have you hired an architect? Money can be saved by working with an existing floor plan?
Look for a desireable floor plan and figure out your must have’s and wish list from kicthen appliances to coffered ceilings, from built in custom cabinetry to hardwood flooring.
Always best to consult with the architect before getting the land to take into account the myriad of facts that affect well-being and costs - sun and wind factors, elevation, utilities, etc.
When land falls into your lap, it is wise to plan the house to work ideally with the land and take into account zoning requirements, preferences for sun/light and fitting into the neighborhood.
If you see something in a magazine that is visually appealing, save those pix, preferably as images and pass those along. Note however, that it is truly rare for an exterior image and a floor plan to BOTH meet your needs. Be a bit flexible, but by all means relay your architect your needs and be prepared to answer dozens of questions, many of them very personal in order to get off on the right foot. Many “standard” plans for purchase leave a lot to be desired and may be intended for a family in a different stage of life. If you want to age in place, be sure to tell the architect so the plan is flexible enough to accommodate needs now and in the future.
First you must check to make sure no gas, electrical, telephone or water lines run under the area you plan to build on. Second hire a prof. engineer to determine land stability and grade. Third when pouring footer use extra re bar and mesh and aditional or best fiber mesh in concrete mix and use 2-3 inch insult foam on all ex - walls and install generics back - up generator and themo,solar hot water tank. Everything else will be basic and try to install hvac last.
Building a custom can be exciting and fun if you pick the right contractor.
First things first-
Highpoint construction always advises to get a general soil test to see if the land perks for a home build. You do this through your county. Once the land passes soils test and land is purchased you should work on septic permit and a construction loan… After this, the ball really starts to roll and your in your way to your dream home !
Highpoint Construction LLC
Chattanooga tn
Start with your local building code official. You can set an appointment with him and he can answer almost any question even before you purchase a property. Obviously you will need to talk with a bank for construction loan fianancing unless you have deep pockets. (Banks will want complete designs, insurance and proof that you or your contractor has experience building homes). This can be done while you begin the approvals proces. Things to consider could be: zoning (is the property in the right area and do you have enough room), wetlands, DEP, state land use regulations (states can have areas set as conserve such as NJ pinelands which set strict limitations on building), county concerns (often septic design and well construction), as well as city limatations and requirements (size, height,use…), a perk test should then be done to determine you are not near ground water, soil tests usually are submitted with your septic design to determine drainage and type of design. At this point Your design plans (blueprints, drawings), get approved by your inspector and then you may proceed with construction of your approved foundation and home, inspections are done along the way anf then final inspections at the finish, usually you will have all systems working and tested to meet approvals. Your final ok is called a C.O. or certificate of occupancy which gives you permission to move in and the local tax office permission to tax your property as a residence.
Seek professional advice from residential architects, licensed contractors and professional trades.
Do you have floor plan in mind? Have you hired an architect? Money can be saved by working with an existing floor plan.
First two things you must do before you begin this process.
Survey property, set boundaries and house location (front elevation is facing which direction)
Run a soil test to make sure the land perks for new home construction.
