Building a house may seem like a simple step-by-step process, but there are actually several steps that need to be taken before you can even break ground. Here are five steps to take when building a home.
1. Purchase a Property
Before you can perform any other steps in the home building process, you must find and purchase an appropriate property on which to build. There are several ways to go about this, from contacting private sellers and realtors to working with cities and counties in your area that may be seeking someone to develop land in these jurisdictions. If you work with a private seller or realtor, you will likely be purchasing the property outright, whereas a government body may enter into a contract with you to ensure all building requirements and codes are met. Either way, be prepared to compete against other bidders to gain building rights.
2. Find a Contractor
It’s unlikely you’re going to want to construct your home yourself, so typically your next step will be finding a contractor who can do the work you require. You should review various contractors in your area, including their credentials, project experience, and customer reviews. Contact the most likely options and ask for quotes, then make comparisons. Once you come to a decision, you can enter a contract with your chosen construction company and begin working in earnest.
3. Get the Necessary Permits
Before you can break ground, you need to figure out the basic design elements and wiring and plumbing needs for your home. Once you do that, you’ll need to study the required permits, zoning and building codes for your design. You cannot legally perform any construction work without making sure you have the permits to do so. During this process, you should also work with your contractor to put together and sign off on a contract, pricing estimates, and any other paperwork needed.
4. Finalize Structural and Design Elements
After your initial design and permit approvals, you can review your designs and construction needs. Your home’s basic structure, including large plans like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, whether there is a garage, and the size and height of the building should have already been completed by this point. The basic structure of your home’s internal wiring and plumbing should likewise be completed. Now, you can make final decisions on design elements unrelated to the structure, such as flooring type and how furniture will be set up.
5. Break Ground
You can break ground after completing all these steps. This is the point where all your materials should be gathered, your team should be together and ready to get started and you should have all appropriate paperwork signed, copied, and notarized. Make sure you have an estimate on the amount of time it will take to build your home.
Because you need to ensure the home is safe, stable, and meets the needs of future homeowners, you must follow all standard procedures from the initial research and design to the structural integrity of the building.
