5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building Your Dream Home

Building a new home from the ground up can be an exciting and super rewarding experience, but it's also a major investment that requires extremely careful planning and meticulous attention to detail. To ensure that your home meets your high expectations, it's important to avoid these common mistakes that can lead to costly delays, setbacks, and repairs during construction and down the line. Here are some straightforward do's and don'ts to keep in mind when you're building your dream home.

DO NOT: SET AN UNREALISTIC BUDGET

One of the biggest, most common mistakes people make when building their dream home is not setting a realistic or sustainable budget. It's important to have a clear understanding of how much you can afford to spend on your home, and what your decisions now will cost you in maintenance in the future. You'll also need to keep on eye on and stick to that budget throughout the building process, which can be easy to lose track of in the moment. Make sure to factor in all of the outlying and intricate costs associated with building a home, including permits, materials, labor, longterm maintenance, and unexpected expenses. It's also a good idea to set aside a bit of extra money for surprise contingencies, just in case something unexpected comes up and you need a cushion.

DO NOT: HIRE UNREPUTABLE BUILDERS

Building a home is an extremely complex and intricate process that requires the expertise of many reputable professionals. From architects and builders to electricians and plumbers, interior designers, etc. it's important to hire the right people for the job so all of the moving parts slide into place fluidly. One of the biggest beginner mistakes people make when building for the first time is trying to cut corners by hiring inexperienced, cheaper, or unqualified professionals. This can lead to very costly mistakes and delays in the building process, and especially down the line. Just make sure to do your research via the internet, word of mouth, and portfolio to hire professionals with a proven track record of success. It may cost you more upfront, but it will definitely save you tons of time and money in the process and the long run.

DO NOT: FORGET TO CONSIDER LOCATION AND ORIENTATION

Another one of the most common beginner mistakes people make when building their dream home from the ground up is not considering the location and sun-related orientation of the home. It's important to take into account natural factors such as the direction of the sun and what your lifestyle requires of it, prevailing winds on the property, and the surrounding natural landscape. This can impact many things in a home from the energy efficiency of the structure and the ultimate comfort of those living in it. Additionally, the exact location of the home can heavily impact its resale value in the future. Make sure to work with your reputable architect and builder to choose the best location and orientation for your home that will ultimately fit your lifestyle like a glove.

DO NOT: FORGET TO INCLUDE BUILT IN STORAGE

When building your picture-perfect dream home, it's super easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of excitement in designing the best living spaces! While this is one of the best parts about building from scratch, it can be easy to forget about practical considerations like storage space. It's important to plan for enough storage space for you and your lifestyle from the beginning, including closets, pantries, shelving, cabinets, and other storage solutions. Consider all of your family's needs in each room, and think about what will suit your lifestyle the best when designing your storage spaces. Especially don't forget about outdoor storage for things like lawn equipment, gardening tools, sports gear, and any other random items you may need to store. Lack of thoughtful storage can to a ton of unreasonable clutter and a much less functional and organized home. Make sure to prioritize this particular aspect of your design while dreaming up your perfect home.

DO NOT: FORGET TO PRIORITIZE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Today's last common, beginner mistake when building a home from scratch is being energy deficient, with scientifically less sustainable homes. This oversight can lead to much, much higher energy bills and a signficantly less environmentally and sustainable friendly home. Be sure to consider all energy-efficient options when you're choosing appliances, windows, and insulation.  Consulting with a professional on the matter could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars down the line! You should also consider incorporating renewable energy sources like solar panels or geothermal heating, especially as these features become more and more accessible. Not only will this save you lots of money in the long run, but it will also drastically increase the value of your home. Make sure to not overlook or disregard the absolute importance of energy efficiency and sustainability in your dream home design.