Building a custom home can seem intimidating and overwhelming, especially if you’ve never done it before. When you first meet with your builder, you don’t have to have everything perfectly laid out, but a little prep work goes a long way. Here are five things you’ll want to bring to your first visit with a custom home builder.

Your Budget

This is the most important thing you can bring to your meeting. Although you don’t need an exact number, having a range will be crucial into knowing what can go into the custom home. All decisions will be based around your budget. Another reason it’s important is because the builder will know if the budget matches market pricing.

Potential Floor Plans

Having some examples of floor plans you like will be helpful in designing your home. Of course, this is a custom home, so you do not need to exactly copy an existing floor plan. You can customize it so it fits the needs of you and your family. Bringing a floor plan to your first meeting will give the builder a better idea of what you’re looking for and they can assess what will fit into your budget. You can download our Catalog of Floor Plans to get some inspiration. 

Likes and Dislikes of Your Current Home

There’s a reason why you’re building a custom home. Make a list of what you like and don’t like about your current home because it’ll help you formulate an idea of exactly what you want in your new home. This list will help the builder come up with solutions and ideas of what to add to your custom home.

Contact Information

It’s important to designate a point of contact for the builder. Having one person be responsible will simplify things and make the process go quicker. The point of contact should be the person who is most familiar with the vision of the new home. Provide email, home phone, and cell phone information so the builder can reach you anywhere.

Relevant Paperwork

Bringing in relevant paperwork will help jumpstart the project. Bringing in sketches or pictures can help show the builder what you’re looking for. Bringing financial documents or if you’ve been pre-approved for a loan will also be helpful. If you’ve already purchased a lot to build on, bringing in county records will be useful as well.

If you’re ready to build your dream home, contact us to get started. We’d love to help. In the meantime, check out our Ultimate Guide to Home Building in West Michigan to learn more about the process.

Building a custom home is an amazing opportunity for you and your family to decide the details of every inch of your property. While keeping your budget in mind, here are five aspects of your new home worth splurging on to increase your home’s resale value.

Countertops
Countertop space is prime real estate in the kitchen. The more you have, the better. Splurging on countertops can actually increase the value and appeal of your home if you decide to sell. Solid marble, granite, or wooden countertops are long-lasting if they are well cared for, making them as durable as they are beautiful. You’ll notice the difference a good countertop makes after just a few days in your new home.

Flooring
Flooring is worth splurging on not only for the look, comfort, and resale value of the home, but also for durability. Especially if you have pets or young children in the home, it’s smart to opt for wood, high-end laminate, or tile in moisture-prone areas like the kitchen, mudroom, and bathroom. Your home will be able to stand up to usual wear and tear longer with higher-quality flooring.

Storage
The longer you live in a house, the more things you accumulate. Between children outgrowing clothes and toys, to lawn and sports equipment, storage space is oftentimes overlooked when building a new home.

Energy Efficiency
A home is a long-term investment so it’s important to consider the property’s lifetime value as you build. Adding energy-efficient features like insulation, a high-quality HVAC system, and energy-efficient windows will help on utility bills and boost your property value. It’s easy to
incorporate these features when the house is being built rather than having to update systems post-build. 

Appliances
Appliances can make a huge difference in the look of a kitchen. Spending a little extra on appliances can be a good investment and improve the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. The more frequently you use the appliance should determine which appliance you prioritize over others if you’re working with a tight budget.

Elevate your forever home by putting more of your budget into these five areas. You’ll increase your home value while providing your family with little luxuries along the way. It’s easy to replace lower ticket items along the way, so focus on these areas while building. If you have any questions about custom home building, we’d love to help. In the meantime, download our Ultimate Guide to Home Building in West Michigan to learn more about the custom home building process. Feel free to reach out anytime! In the meantime, download our Ultimate Guide to Home Building in West Michigan to learn more about the custom home building process.

One of the many benefits of building your next home is that you can make it energy efficient. Efficient homes will reduce energy bills while giving back to the environment in the process. Here are some elements to consider when designing an energy-efficient home:

Location

One of the first considerations that go into building an energy-efficient home is the location. You want your home to be in an area that is naturally protected from elements like wind, rain, and snow. Selecting the building site and positioning the home appropriately on the building envelope is essential. Certain cities also provide tax credits for more energy efficient homes.

Energy Efficient Windows

Having energy-efficient windows is one of the most cost-effective things you can do when it comes to designing an energy-efficient home. Control window heat loss by selecting appropriate window products, carefully locating them, and optimizing their size and orientation. 

Roof Design

“Cool roofs” take standard roofing materials like tiles, shingles, or paint, and integrate them with reflective components. This can result in big savings, especially in the warmer months as it reflects the sun’s rays and absorbs less heat from the exterior. Other roof design elements include more advanced features like solar panels or green roofs.

Appliances

One of the simplest ways to make your home more efficient is to choose the right appliances. When designing your custom home, you have the option to select every appliance, from the refrigerator to your washer/dryer. Choosing appliances that are Energy Star-rated will help lower your utility bill.

Insulation

Choosing the right insulation can be a crucial decision to the efficiency of your new build. If your home is not well insulated, your heating and cooling systems have to work harder to keep temperatures consistent. If you choose an insulating material with the highest R-value (the rating of thermal resistance), you will reduce energy loss and save on heating and cooling costs. 

Lighting

Using energy-efficient lights that use less wattage is another simple step in reducing energy usage. LED lights are a great option as they last longer, don’t contain mercury, and offer a variety of lighting preferences. Additionally, strategically placing your lights and utilizing natural light will also drastically reduce your home’s energy use. 

Heating and Cooling System

You can also consider installing a high-efficiency heating and cooling unit. During the home building process, you can express interest in energy reduction with your  HVAC contractor. They’ll design the size and layout of ductwork to optimize performance and efficiency. 

Energy efficiency is just one benefit of building a custom home, to learn about more benefits download our Ultimate Guide to Home Building in West Michigan.