Do you live in Los Angeles and want to build your dream home? There are many decisions you must make. Where do you want to build it? What kind of home do you want? How long do you want to live in it?
Perhaps you live in the city and want to move into one of the beautiful locations in the suburbs. Research the different areas to find the land or neighborhood where you want to live.It takes planning, the right resources, and some knowledge about what is involved in building a home.
Below are seven tips on what you need to do and things to think about to get to your destination of a dream house.
1. Establish a Realistic Budget
Your first step is to figure out how much you can afford and how the cost fits into your overall future plans.
There are many detailed costs, such as:
- Plumbing
- Construction
- Appliances
- Lighting fixtures
- Landscaping
- Bathroom accessories
- Counters
- Engineering and designing services
- Decorating
- Taxes and fees
You should start putting money aside and saving it as soon as you start thinking about building a home. Consult a professional custom home builder in Los Angeles for advice on how much money you will need and how to prepare an accurate budget.
It is a good idea to keep track of the costs in a spreadsheet while developing your budget so you can modify and update it when needed.
2. Know Your Financing Options
You will likely need to get a loan. Below are several tips to consider:
- Correct any problems with your credit report as it will affect the loan you can receive
- Check with several lenders to see which one offers the best deal
- Look at the loan options and decide if you want a fixed or variable rate and for how many years
- Save for a down payment as soon as you can
3. Build New or Renovate?
You might find that building a new home on a new piece of property is beyond your financial reach. Even if your dream is to build new, do not overlook an older home that you can transform into what you want.
If there is a specific location you have your heart set on and there either is no land available or it is too expensive, consider purchasing a home that needs TLC.
If the home if structurally-sound, you might be surprised at how much you can do to transform it into your dream home.
For example, removing ugly shag carpeting, taking down clunky blinds, remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, replacing windows, and repainting walls, makes old and outdated look fresh and new.
4. What Are Your Needs?
Your dream home should match your lifestyle. Make a list of what is important to you. For example, do you want a dining room? Some homeowners prefer a large eat-in kitchen.
Are you an avid reader with a collection of books that you want to keep in a home library? How about a pool in the backyard? If you want a pool, you will need to have enough flat land in the yard.
5. Assemble a Team of Professionals
You have ideas of how you want your dream house to look. Architects are construction professionals can turn your ideas into reality.
Architects and builders (sometimes they are the same) are the most important members to add to your team.
They will design and build a home according to your specifications and within your budget from the initial construction stage to completion.
Hire someone you feel comfortable with to act as a guide through the home building journey. You should be able to ask any questions you might have and have confidence that the professional has your best interests in mind.
As your project proceeds, you might want to add more team members such as an interior designer, a landscaper, or a bath and kitchen designer.
6. Blueprints and Building Essentials
Once you have finalized the design of your house, you will have the blueprint as a guild for your team to work with and to get a building permit from the community.
Work with your team to make sure you get all the permissions and permits you need for your building project.
7. Build and Enjoy
After completing the steps above, your contractor, builder, or architect will supervise all the work to start building.
It takes a lot of planning, time, determination, and dedication to build your dream home. Do not forget to rely on the expertise of the professionals you have included on your team.
Enjoy your new home.
