One of my true passions in Real Estate is new construction. Such exciting opportunities exist when you choose to build your new home. There are many communities in the development stage in both the Olentangy and Dublin School districts. I would love to share my knowledge of those developments and their builders with you. I am Certified in Residential Construction and New Home Sales and have a Bachelor of Science in Design which provides a unique skill set that many Realtors® don’t have and can guide you through both the construction and the design process. I am a member of the local Building Industry Association(BIA) as well as Ohio Home Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders. I have also built two homes with area builders myself and can pass on first hand knowledge of what it is truly like to build your new home from the buyers perspective! As your Realtor® I can assist you with important aspects to consider while building that may effect the resale value of your home.
While buying a home may fulfill the American Dream, building can make your dream home a reality. It is important to find a Realtor® that understands your lifestyle and needs, and can help you find the right piece of land and the right builder. Of course a big advantage to building is you can get exactly what you want! For many, this factor alone is enough to choose building over buying, but there are other advantages, too. A new home is more efficient, especially with the new energy codes including better HVAC [heating, ventilation and cooling], insulation and air filtration standards. Before you begin to make decisions about your future home, here are a few things to know about the building process:
Financing
Building a custom home isn’t necessarily more expensive than buying a newly built or existing home since it is possible to build an affordable custom home. An important thing to understand in your decision is, the land you buy, and the design and quality of construction you choose, will impact the final price. Financing a custom home will require two separate loans. One for the land you buy and the other for the construction of your new home. Often you will have two closings, one for each loan.
Start With Land and a Plan
If you don’t already own land, I will work with you to find the right property, in the right location. It’s essential that your home design and land plan, match. Sometimes builders have existing lots to purchase while others can build on land that you find. In the case of finding your own parcel of land, along with helping to find it, we will make sure the land is zoned correctly and has utilities accessible to it.
Consider the Neighborhood
Most people who build a custom home believe they will never sell it, but eventually you may want to move to a different area or even build another custom home. It’s always wise to consider resale value when building a home. In particular, you want to match the price range and general size of your custom home to others in the neighborhood so that your house doesn’t stand out as over sized or overpriced. This is where it is crucial to have expert Realtor representation. I know how the decisions you make when building can effect the resale value and guide you in making the right ones.
Avoid Delays and Cost Overruns
Planning your home from the foundation to the roof and every single item in between can save you time and money when you are building a custom home. Your decisions about every detail in your home should be made before construction begins. Good planning, and hiring a good team can make the custom-home experience as easy as dreaming.
Home Design
Virtually everyone must limit their home design, size, style and home design aesthetics according to their budget. Your house design will determine whether it costs $80 per square foot, or $200. Once you know how much you can afford, you will need to find out which home design works with the amount that you have to spend. This is not an easy task. The design of the room layout is important as individual tastes and needs vary. While you might like a large eat-in kitchen with lots of cabinets, another might want a small kitchen and a separate dining room. You may want large bathrooms while another is happy with small bathrooms. People could also have special needs that will need to be considered in the design of the home. I will assist you in finding the right builder for your lifestyle and your budget. The right builder will assist you in answering all of these questions.
Why is Home Design Important?
Visually, the design of the home is important but even more important is its structural design. If it is not designed correctly, with the correct spacing of floor supports, wall joists, etc. there could be serious problems and costly repairs in the future. These may not be apparent to the untrained eye, which is why I provide a professional inspector to my clients when building. An expert that inspects your home at critical stages during the build, and not just after it is built, is imperative to the long-term investment you are making.