The building of a new home can be one of the most important times in your life.
Finding the perfect house plan is one of the first steps you need to take because it shows what you want in a new home. A lot of thought needs to go into choosing the right plan to ensure you are happy for many years to come.
Tri Point Homes has a wide range of home plans and floor plans to help you find the right home for your needs, stay within your budget, find the right builder, obtain financing and purchase the land for your home.
List of ideas to get started in a new home
You may have an idea of what you want your new home to look like.
Start by writing down some information about your current home. Make a note of all the features and accessories that you like. Then write down the ones that you would like to have.
Here are some things to consider when planning your new home:
1. Square footage under heat and air
2. Number of garages
3. Workshop area
4. Larger master bath
5. More living space
6. Split bedroom floor plans
7. Number of bedrooms
8. Number of bathrooms
9. Fireplaces, garden tubs, walk-in closets, etc
10. Balconies, porches, decks, etc
11. Lot size, water view, sun exposure
12. Neighbourhood, schools, shopping
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Calculating your New Home Budget
When choosing and building your new dream home, there are many questions to ask yourself and one of the biggest will be “How much house and property can I afford?”.
It is important to evaluate your daily and monthly expenses in every aspect so that you do not have to make major changes to your lifestyle after taking out a mortgage on your new home.
Use a worksheet to calculate your monthly expenses. Formulating a budget can help insure that you’ll have money left over to make your new house a home.
Selecting a New Home Site
Just as important as choosing the home plan you want to build is choosing the lot upon which to build it.
Here are some key points to consider when choosing your new home:
1. Desirable school district?
2. Shorter commute to and from work
3. Property taxes for the area
4. Parks, lakes and recreation facilities
5. Proximity of Shopping
6. Zoning requirements and limitations
7. Homeowners Associations, Fees and Responsibility for Property Improvements
8. Will the house I want to build fit on the lot?
9. Availability of public utilities
10. Cable, Internet, Satellite
11. Room for swimming pool, recreation, boat.
Have a lawyer review any house purchase agreement or home plan contract before you sign it.
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Choosing the Right House Plan
Finding the perfect plan may be time consuming, but it’s key to the success of building your new home.
It’s important to ask yourself a series of questions. The answers will help you choose a plan that works for you.
When choosing your home plan, ask yourself lifestyle questions:
1. Are you married or single?
2. If so, will each child require a separate bedroom or will they share rooms?
3. How many bathrooms are necessary to fulfill the day-to-day needs of the family?
4. Do you have parents or in-laws who may be living with you in the future?
5. Do out-of-town visitors often stay overnight?
6. Do you frequently work at home?
7. How much parking is needed?
8. Do you require separate formal spaces for different occasions?
9. What type of house would be best for resale value when you decide to sell?
10. Workshop and storage space requirements?
Keeping the above factors in mind will help you select the perfect lot for your new home.
Will the House Plan need Modifications?
You have found the house plan that best meets your needs. But are there a few changes you’d like make to the plan to make it truly your dream home?Â
Would the existing kitchen layout better suit your love of baking or entertaining if it were just a little bigger? Would the addition of a door between the master suite and an adjoining bedroom make it easier to use that bedroom as a nursery in the future?
Your geographical location may require some minor changes to comply with local building regulations. Modifications of our stock house plans can do just that.
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For a smaller price than a custom-drawn home, modifications can tailor your stock home plan into a home that’s as good as any custom home plan.
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Finding the Right Contractor to Build Your New Home
One of the most important aspects of building a new home is finding the right builder.
You will need to be able to consult with them on the cost of materials that you choose. You will basically be forming a partnership with this person through the process of building your home. This is why it is so important to find the right person.
It is best to find someone who is very experienced because they will know all of the ins and outs of the building process.
Get references from any builder you are considering to use and check them out closely.
Make sure not only that he or she is competent, but also that your personalities mesh.
Building a house can be intense. You and your builder will need to have patience and trust each other.
Make a list and start looking for a builder months before you begin moving dirt. Make plenty of notes! Contact the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).Â
You can also contact your local building association. Find the most recommended builders.
Take note of any advice they can give you. For example, how to set up a new home, the features of modular homes and the advantages of manufactured homes.
Now you need to find the right financing for your new home.
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