Building a home is more than just deciding on layouts or thinking about open concepts vs. cozy enclosures. It represents the moments when your vision – your dream – starts to come to fruition. Among the steps you will take along the way, a pre construction meeting with your builder is one of the most important. It can feel intimidating, especially if it’s your first experience with custom home building. Relax: our aim is to ensure the entire journey, from design to move-in, is as streamlined and positive as possible!
Prepare for the Pre Construction Meeting With Your Builder
At this point, you have done research on custom home builders in your area; you’ve vetted them; you’ve checked references; you’ve gone on tours; you’ve selected the professional team you want behind you. Now it’s time to sit down with them. At a pre construction meeting, you will discuss your vision: simply, what do you want and need from your home?
To make the most of this conversation, take a few steps before you meet with your builder:
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Carefully Consider Your Budget
What is the budget you have set? While some people think they have to be cagey with their builder, it is imperative that they know what type of ballpark they’re playing in. This gives them – and you – a basis for decision making as you move through the process. After all, they cannot help you stay within budget if they are not sure exactly what that budget is! Check out these tips on building a custom home on a budget.
Your builder can also guide you on areas in which it is smart to spend more in order to save more in the future or areas in which you can cut costs. They will also have helpful tips to ensure you maximize your budget – and, of course, your results.
If you have been pre-approved for a loan, bring a copy. Likewise, if you have a lot on which you intend to build, provide county records, land surveys, etc.. This can be exceptionally helpful for the builder.
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Think About Potential Floorplans
Ahead of the pre construction meeting with your builder, take some time to study floor plans. Do you love the look and feel of an open layout, for example? Do you want a master suite that is set further away from other bedrooms for privacy?
Take a look through your builder’s gallery of floor plans and homes they have constructed to see which spark inspiration in you and align with your goals and needs. And, please, be sure to bring your ideas: your custom home is only limited by budget and imagination. If you love a feature you saw on Houzz or Pinterest, for example, share it with your builder!
When you find features or elements you love online, in magazines, or in your community, bring photos, video, Pinterest boards, sketches, or other materials that enable your builder to gain a better understanding of what you like. Need some help deciding on a floor plan? Here is a helpful article on choosing a floor plan for your custom home.
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Think About Your Lifestyle
A gorgeous house that does not suit your lifestyle is not going to be truly home. For example, if you work from home, an entirely open concept may not be ideal. You may be far more productive when you are in an enclosed office – and it’s easier to shut the door and leave work behind when the day is done!
Other considerations: do you enjoy cooking? Entertaining? Do you have children? Elderly parents? Are you planning to age in place? Do you prize privacy or love rooms that flow into each other? Do you want a home gym, guest room, craft room? Where do you spend most of your time? Prioritize the rooms that are most important to you. This is where you really maximize your budget, as we’ve mentioned.
It is helpful to think about the home in which you are currently living. What do you love about it? What would you pack up and take with you, if you could? What do you dislike, or even hate? What would you change? Building a custom home is your chance to get exactly what you want, and being able to articulate it to your builder is important.
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Think About Location
Do you have a property on which you plan to build? If not, it is helpful to discuss location with your builder. Do they build where you want to be? They often specialize in various locales and know the lay of the land, so to speak. Builders may also have lots available in several communities, which allows you to streamline the process even further.
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Prepare Some Questions for Your Builder
As part of your “due diligence” in selecting a custom home builder, you asked questions to ascertain their experience and level of quality as well as learn more about their processes, licenses, certifications, etc.. During your pre construction meeting, feel free to ask more:
- Can you tell me about your energy-saving features?
- Can I supply my own floor plans?
- Can I customize your floor plans?
- What are considered “standard” features?
- Who is my point person that I can contact when I have questions, concerns, ideas?
- What happens if I want or need to make a change or upgrade?
- About how long will it take for my home to be built?
- Can I visit the jobsite?
- Does the community in which I want to build have a homeowners association? If so, can I get a copy of their rules and information on their fees?
- How will you keep me updated on my home’s progress?
The pre construction meeting with your builder is an exciting step in the process! If you are feeling overwhelmed, contact the top custom home builders in Loxahatchee. Synergy Homes strives to ensure the entire process, from start to finish, is positive and rewarding. Let’s start with a conversation.
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