Guest post by Rose Morrison from Renovated

When you decide to build a home, there’s so much to think about. You might spend months or years planning the financial aspects of the project or scouting the perfect location. Every decision carries weight, especially when it comes down to a specific home and its features.

Check out these eight factors to consider when building a new home. Once you’ve covered all your bases, you’ll feel more confident about moving forward with the construction.

1. Kitchen Finishes and Appliances

Your kitchen is a place where you gather together to share meals and make memories. How you utilize the space will help you determine which features and finishes to include.

You might consider fixtures like:

• A walk-in pantry
• An oversized island
• A breakfast bar
• A range hood

Although you can always replace your fridge and stove, permanent fixtures will be more costly to renovate or upgrade. You’ll save money and time by investing your options before your project begins.

2. Sustainable Home Options

You might be one of the many people who strive to live sustainably. Your home can help with that, depending on what you use to build it. The construction industry provides multiple sustainable materials to choose from, like replacing concrete with “grasscrete”: mixed concrete combined with stone or soil to allow water to pass through – and grass to grow.

A simple switch to grasscrete allows more rainwater to nourish your property by allowing grass to grow in designated holes within the concrete. Otherwise, that water would turn into runoff that flushes essential soil and nutrients away.

Research every option to ensure that your floors, walls and other materials also work alongside your eco-friendly lifestyle.

3. Reliable Contractors

You’ll need to do your homework to find a reliable company to help you build your own home. Make sure you choose a contractor with a good reputation. Avoid construction companies that are either too cheap and too expensive. 

You might also want to do a little research into the construction equipment they’ll use for the project. If you unknowingly work with contractors who use old or unreliable machinery, it could require length repairs after construction begins, or even lead to safety issues. On the other hand, a company that chooses reliable equipment from well-trusted brands will save you time and money in the long run. 

4. Smart Tech Upgrades

You’re building a home to feel like it was made just for you. Smart tech will make your home more personalized, easier to use, and kinder on your wallet. Think about investing early in things like a smart thermostat, door locks, and smoke detectors. They’re essential features to consider when building a new home because they give you more control over your house and lifestyle. The earlier you have them put in, the sooner they can make life easier and save you money.

5. Your Preferred Floor Plan

Deciding on your preferred floor plan is one of the first steps you’ll take for your project. There are many types to choose from, including options such as:

• Open floor plan
• Multi-story floor plan
• Traditional (closed) floor plan

Your preference decides crucial components like where you’ll place load-bearing walls and electrical wiring. Browse various blueprints and talk with an architect to figure out what floor plan fits your lifestyle best.

6. Outdoor Home Features

Most homeowners agree that they love having a porch over other exterior home features, but there are plenty more to consider. Your family might use an outdoor kitchenette to make memories over the coming years and decades. Young kids love having a pool in the backyard and older kids would use a basketball court or trampoline.

Don’t forget to include outdoor home features in your project while you plan what your future home will look like.

7. Heated Housing Elements

Anyone living in cold climates will benefit from adding heating housing elements. Imagine walking over warm bathroom tiles after waking up or a toasty garage before leaving for work. You could even budget for a heated driveway so you spend less time shoveling snow or sprinkling salt to prevent ice.

As with other home features, you can add them after your project finishes, but it’s easier to work on them while the property comes together.

8. Underground Sprinkler System

Your neighborhood might require you to abide by strict Homeowners Association (HOA) rules that include your yard. Installing an underground sprinkler system during your initial landscaping work gives you an effortless way to maintain the green grass required by your HOA agreement or significant other. You can also choose a sprinkler system that conserves water, so you can have the yard you love and be conscious of the environment.

Talk With Your Contractors

After you review these factors to consider when building a new home, talk with your contractors. See if they have experience working with the materials and equipment you prefer. A bit of research and a few quick conversations are all that stand between you and your dream home.

Be sure to enlist whatever professional help you need. This doesn’t have to be limited to contractors but can include interior, exterior, and landscape designers as well.

Hopefully these factors gave you some insight into what might work best in your new home. If you’re interested in learning more about home improvement, check out the articles below. Thanks for reading!

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