9 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a New Home in Scottsdale
Did you know that a well-built house can last for about 100 years?
When building your dream home, you want it to last a lifetime.
But building a new home can be quite a challenging process.
Making mistakes can cost you and can make you go over your planned budget.
What’s more, you may have to deal with repairs and replacements in a few years.
This is why you need to avoid mistakes at all costs.
Below are some of the mistakes to avoid when building a new home in Scottsdale.
1. Choosing a Bad Location for Your New House
One of the benefits of building a custom home is the ability to choose where in Scottsdale it will be located.
But most homeowners often compromise location for the price.
While a cheaper lot may be tempting, it may end up costing you your peace in the future.
Ensure you do your research when looking for a lot to build a house.
Check out the availability of amenities, crime stats, traffic patterns, neighbors, and more.
When buying land avoid future resale killers like:
- Airport traffic
- Busy streets
- Train tracks
- Flood plain
2. Choosing the Wrong New Home Builder
The biggest mistake you can make during custom home building is choosing the wrong builder.
They will be in charge of your project and making a bad choice can make the process very stressful.
What’s more, you may end up with a poorly built home.
This is why you need to take your time when choosing builders.
Talk to other homeowners who have used home builders in Scottsdale, read online reviews, and check their portfolios.
Also, plan an in-person drive-by of completed projects done by the builders.
Make sure the builders are available, communicative, and excited about your project.
You should also enlist the help of a lawyer to sign a contract to ensure you’re protected in case something goes wrong.
3. Not Knowing How to Properly Read a Builder’s Quote
Reviewing a builder’s quotation can be frustrating.
Most people may wonder what it includes.
Unfortunately, some builders can exploit your lack of knowledge and try to rip you off.
That’s why you need to improve your knowledge regarding the builder’s quote.
It will also help you develop an open and informative relationship with your builder.
4. Energy Inefficiency
Energy Star-rated houses may use up to 30% less energy compared to conventional houses.
This means you may spend a lot of money if your new home isn’t energy efficient. To avoid increasing your utility bills, you need to build an Energy Star home.
To build a home with an Energy Star certification, you need to work with a reliable green home builder.
It’ll allow you to meet all the requirements set by the EPA and obtain the coveted Energy Star certification.
5. Poor HVAC Planning
While building an energy-efficient home is important, you should ensure it’s comfortable to live in.
A poorly planned HVAC system can lead to a lot of problems with air quality, too much moisture, and even mold issues.
You need an HVAC system that’s just the right size for your house.
You won’t want a small unit that can’t efficiently heat and cool your home or a large unit that causes your bills to skyrocket.
6. Poor Space Planning and Design
Whether you’re building a small or big house, space planning is important.
Think about how you want to use your space and then take time to plan out the layout of your custom build homes.
First, you need to assess the amount of storage space you will need in each room.
Each bedroom should have at least one closet, and your kitchen and bathroom should have enough cabinets.
Additionally, the designs for your new home should take your lifestyle and habits into account.
You can ask yourself questions like:
- How long do you plan on staying in this home?
- Will you need to accommodate safety features for children?
- Will you retire in the house?
Reflect upon what your future will look like and make the right design adjustments.
Remember that changes on paper are easier and cheaper than changes made once construction has started.
This is why you need to spend quality time during the planning and design process to customize your new home.
7. Wrong Room Placement
Poor room placement can be inconvenient. This can make living in your home unbearable.
When designing your new home, ensure you place your bedroom on the quietest side of your home.
Also, make sure the bedroom doesn’t share a wall with the main living space.
Since parties and family gatherings tend to end up in the kitchen, you can merge it into the main living area.
You should also position it in a way that makes unloading groceries easy.
Be sure to keep your bathroom away from your kitchen.
In addition, it can be convenient to place the laundry room close to the bedroom.
It’ll be easy to move your laundry. But the laundry machine noises can be a turn off at night.
8. Taking a Laid Back Approach
During the building process for your new house, you need to be calm.
But don’t let your level-headedness turn into a hands-off attitude.
Remember, this is your dream home.
While you may not be an expert builder, new build homes should reflect the preferences of the homeowners.
This is why it’s crucial to communicate and reiterate your ideas to the builders you hire.
While you can ask for their suggestions, don’t lose your vision to generic home designs.
9. Not Forecasting Delays and Overages
Even with the best-laid plans, something can go wrong.
Construction delays can result from complications like poor weather conditions and structural inadequacies.
As a homeowner, be realistic about the timeline of construction.
Apart from delays, you may experience overages in your original budget.
This is why you should always leave money in a contingency fund for these situations.
Ready to Start Building a New Home?
Building a new home from the ground up can be a daunting task. Luckily, you are not alone!
4 Gen Homes have got your back. From selecting the perfect lot location to designing and construction, we can make your homeownership journey as seamless as possible.
Contact us today to request a consultation.
Are you ready to build the home of your dreams? Work with 4 Gen Homes, a luxury custom home building company to get expertise and integrity every step of the way. We have been serving and supporting valley homeowners for 20+ years with custom home building projects and luxury remodels. Contact us to set up a consultation. Call (602) 694-7030 today!