Most Common Home Building Regrets
Are you thinking about building a home? Building a home is a lifelong dream for many. Although starting the home building process is exciting, it should not be entered into lightly. There are several factors to consider before signing a contract with a home builder. Your home is, after all, likely to be one of the biggest purchases you ever make! In this blog post, we’re going over the most common home building regrets. Don’t make these mistakes!
For those of you who are visiting our blog for the first time, welcome to Hearthside Homes! Since 1987, we’ve been building beautiful and long-lasting houses for residents in the Kansas City and surrounding areas. During this time, we’ve created an efficient and effective home building process. Not to mention, we’ve helped over 1,500 homeowners create a home they can be proud of! With over 30 years of experience, it’s safe to say that we know a thing or two about home building. We hope you enjoy learning about how to avoid common regrets when building a new home!
1). Not Thinking Through The Floor Plan
Your floor plan will determine the overall functionality of your home. Picking out all the finishings for your home is fun, but the layout of your home is a crucial component to consider! Depending on your family’s needs, your floor plan needs might differ from your neighbors. Not only are the number of bedrooms and bathrooms important to consider, but so are the other areas of your home. For instance, you might want the laundry room to be central to all the bedrooms. You may have the need for an in-home office or even a playroom for the kids.
Luckily, for homeowners who build with Hearthside Homes, we have an array of pre-designed functional floor plans for our customers to choose from! We’ve built these homes time and time again, so we know that the layouts are effective and aesthetically desirable.
2). Picking The Wrong Location
No matter how beautiful a home is, the wrong location can quickly destroy the value of it! Be sure to build your home in a safe neighborhood. Consider nearby attractions, school districts, and highway access. At Hearthside Homes, we build in some of the best up and coming neighborhoods in the Kansas City, Liberty, Parkville, and Kearney areas. We want your home to be a great investment!
3). Going Overboard
Keeping up with the Jones isn’t always the best idea. If you can’t afford to splurge, stay within your means! Some folks get so excited about building their dream home that they forget the reality of the financial obligation. Working with a good loan officer and home builder will help you avoid overspending. Your loan officer should be able to give you a realistic budget for your new home. If you need a good loan officer recommendation, we highly recommend Groundwork Mortgage. Additionally, your home builder should be able to provide you with an accurate quote for the total cost of the home without another penny spent along the way!
4). Not Splurging On What Matters
Although you shouldn’t buy more than you can afford, there are a few areas of a new home build that you should splurge on! More specifically, you shouldn’t pick a home builder just because they are the cheapest. Like all businesses, not all home builders are created equal! If one home builder’s estimate is significantly lower than the competitors in your area, it’s likely too good to be true. You pay a premium to know you can trust your home builder and that the final product will be everything you’ve hoped for!
5). An Impractical Kitchen Design
The functionality of your kitchen should be one of the most important components you consider when building a home! The kitchen is, after all, the heart of the home! Consider features such as a kitchen island, butler’s pantry, and ways to maximize your cabinet storage. Don’t forget to add tons of outlets! Additionally, the placement of your appliances can also make or break your kitchen design. For instance, the sink should be near the dishwasher. If you have children, consider placing the microwave at a lower level so that they can have more independence!
6). Picking The Wrong Material Selections
Believe it or not, it’s possible to pick the wrong material selections for your home! Some materials wear kinder than others. For example, matte paint is harder to clean than semi-gloss. Light-colored carpet will easily discolor. When it comes to flooring in high traffic areas, such as entryways and living spaces, ask your home builder about the most durable and scratch-resistant options.
7). Going Too Bold
Trends go in and out of style quickly! As much as we love to make a statement, it’s safest to go bold on choices that can easily be changed such as wall paint and front doors. In terms of flooring and cabinetry, we recommend choosing neutral colors that will work well with your interior design preferences throughout the years. Plus, having neutral flooring and cabinetry will make your home easier to sell should you need to move in the future.
8). Not Enough Lighting
Lighting plays a huge role in the overall look and feel of your home! This includes natural and artificial lighting. Make sure that your home has lots of natural lighting! Oversized windows and skylights will make your home appear more open and inviting. In darker places, such as the basement and bathroom, consider adding extra recessed lighting. You’ll never regret adding lots of lighting into your home!
9). Forgetting About Storage Needs
Let’s be honest, we all need some storage space! Be sure that the design of your home will allow you to store seasonal decorations and miscellaneous keepsakes. If you have the option, splurging on a 3-car garage is a decision you likely won’t regret!
10). Not Planning For The Future
Be sure to plan for the future! You know what they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day! It’s okay to save up for certain features of your home such as a finished basement or outdoor living area. If you do plan on installing big projects in the future, let your builder know! They might be able to plan ahead in regards to plumbing and electrical needs.
11). Choosing The Wrong Home Builder
You may have guessed this one! In terms of home building regrets, picking the wrong home builder is likely at the very top of the list! After all, picking a bad builder can lead you down a path of disaster in no time. There’s a reason why you’ve likely heard so many horror stories about bad home building experiences. There are tons of moving parts when it comes to building a home! Not to mention, contractors likely have multiple jobs running consecutively. Be sure to pick a home builder that has extensive experience and great communication skills. Before signing a contract with a home builder, look up reviews and watch video testimonials! Picking the right builder will make a huge difference in your home building experience and the final outcome of your house!
Building Your Kansas City Home With Hearthside Homes
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog post all about home building regrets. If you live in the Kansas City and surrounding areas, Hearthside Homes would love for you to consider building with our team! Hearthside Homes make the home building experience easy and fun! From the time we break ground on your project, you can expect your home to be move-in ready in about six months. Click here to learn more about our process.
Hearthside Homes is a semi-custom home builder. This means that our clients choose from one of our expertly designed floor plans. From there, our customers can customize their home by choosing unique material selections that match their style and interior design preferences. When you become a client of Hearthside Homes, you’ll be paired with an experienced Designer. We have a Design Center that allows our customers to pick all the finishings for their new home! From paint to flooring, cabinetry, hardware, and more, you’ll have a great time customizing your home!
Our Design Center is located at 1915 Industrial Dr #300, Liberty, MO 64068. We currently build in communities in the Kansas City, Liberty, Kearney, and Parkville areas. To learn more about the communities we build in, click here. If you have any questions and would like to speak with an expert, fill out this form on our website or give us a call at (816) 781-0234.
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