Building Your Dream Home: Part 1
So, you’re thinking about building the custom luxury home of your dreams. Congratulations! This exciting and rewarding experience will be a part of you and your family’s lives for many years – possibly generations – to come. This two-part blog series will help guide you through the process before, during, and after construction.
Build or Buy?
The crucial first step toward building your dream home is to take an objective look at yourself and decide if you have the following personality traits that help improve the likelihood that your homebuilding experience will be pleasant and rewarding.
Vision – You know what your dream home looks like – both aesthetically and functionally – and you can communicate this vision to your builder.
Patience – During the homebuilding process things can change and mistakes can happen. Are you comfortable dealing with issues as they come up or do you get upset when things don’t go as planned?
Teamwork – Can you work well with a home building team — builder, architect, interior designer, etc.? If you prefer to be in complete control, buying an existing home might be a better choice.
Lifestyle & Time Commitment
Your lifestyle also needs to support the home building process. Can you dedicate a significant percentage of your free time to this project and can you meet with the builder on short notice to review designs, look at samples, choose materials, and so forth? Do you foresee any changes that might impact your stability such as getting a new job, having a child, facing health or personal issues, or losing a source of income?
Other Factors
If one or more of these scenarios is or could become true for you, you may want to consider buying rather than building a home:
- You are under a tight deadline
- Your budget is inflexible
- You struggle making decisions
- You have trouble trusting people or giving up control
Now What?
If you’ve made it this far and you’re still feeling amped about building your custom luxury home, it’s time to focus on where to begin. While you may be tempted to work with a real estate agent to search for lots or an architect to design your dream home, speak first with an experienced home builder. A good builder can recommend the best people for your specific needs and educate you about the entire process.
To choose the right builder:
- Talk to previous clients about the builder’s experience
- Take a tour of a builder’s spec home or one that’s under construction
- Ask the builder about experience and credentials
- Interview key trade partners and suppliers
- Trust your instincts
Traditional Home vs High Performance Luxury Homes℠
Not all custom homes are the same. Homes built using traditional construction principles typically don’t take into account the long-term impacts of home design and construction materials. Thanks to advances in modern home science, R.E.A. Homes builds High Performance Luxury Homes℠. Also known as green building, R.E.A. founder Jeff Bogard incorporates elements that make homes significantly more efficient, sustainable, and healthier to live in with little or no additional cost and without sacrificing the luxury features you desire.
High Performance Luxury Homes℠ feature renewable and recycled building materials, highly efficient HVAC systems and installation, smart home technology and controls, cleaner indoor air, and third-party verification (LEED or ENERGY STAR® certification). Homeowners enjoy superior comfort throughout the home, lower utility bills, less maintenance, better potential resale value, lower interest rates, and less impact on the environment via a smaller carbon footprint.
If you would like more in-depth information about topics covered in this blog, request a free copy of the e-book Building Your Dream Home or contact Jeff Bogard at 314-400-2119 or [email protected].
Want to Know More?
R.E.A. Homes builds custom luxury homes with a family’s entire well-being in mind. Their hand-crafted High Performance Luxury Homes℠ use best building practices, modern design, and smart technology to create ultimate living experiences that are more comfortable for families and better for the environment. To learn more, call 314-400-2119.
To Continue Reading on this topic click to read our second installment: Building Your Dream Home: Part Two
