If you’ve decided to build a custom home instead of opting for one that’s already built, your head may be full of ideas for your dream home. However, you might be unsure where to start. By considering the following factors before reaching out to a team of experienced custom builders, you’ll start this important project off on the right foot.

3 Factors to Consider Before Building a Custom Home

1. Size of Property

Is your family likely to grow in the future? Are your children approaching adulthood and preparing to move out? Bedrooms, bathrooms, and built-in storage take up valuable square footage, and it’s easy to underestimate how much room you require.

As a reference, consider asking friends and family for their room measurements, and see how their homes feel with furniture inside. Second bathrooms can be surprisingly small and still have everything you need, whereas what you imagine to be a small bedroom might be nothing more than a large cupboard once you’ve seen the real-life dimensions. Consider how to make more of the space. Open-plan layouts are roomier, simply because you gain inches from not having walls.

2. Financial Situation

Financing the construction of a custom home is slightly different from financing a traditional home purchase. Instead of taking out a traditional mortgage, you need a construction mortgage. It releases funds throughout the build, as per an agreed schedule, and reverts to a regular mortgage once your home is complete. Before applying for a loan, make sure you have prepared everything you need. Provide reassurance to your lender that you’re financially stable and that your project is a viable investment – after all, it doesn’t yet exist. Show build timetables, contingency plans, and proof you’re working with a qualified builder. 

3. Location

When you’re building a new home, the location is as important as the materials you use. Aside from practical considerations — such as the area of town you’re building in and how close you are to amenities — you’ll also need to choose more minute details, such as the direction your home faces and whether there are any natural features you’d like to incorporate into your design.

For over 20 years, our team at Bryan Bell Construction in Mountain Home, AR, has turned homeowner’s dreams into a reality. We’ve built hundreds of homes across Baxter County, using only the finest tradesmen and the highest quality materials – we even install state-of-the-art media systems on every build we do. We run every project as a collaborative partnership with you, making sure you’re as involved as you want to be. Call us today on (870) 424-6969 to discuss your property ideas or go online to learn more about what we can do for you.