Building a custom home is a serious undertaking. An extensive period of planning, organizing and anticipation usually precedes it. Most new home buyers only build once or twice in their lifetime and are naturally inexperienced in making the many decisions that will be necessary in this planning process. The process can seem overwhelming and frustrating at times. Patience, understanding and a good source of information are the keys in planning and building your new custom home. The first step to start organizing your wants and needs for your home is to write down all the thoughts for each room that are important to describe to the builder and designer of your new home.
We recommend a three-ring notebook binder with pockets in the front and back to hold any drawings, notes and photos.
We also recommend a tabbed organizer insert to separate each area of thought. Divide up these items as follows:
NOTEBOOK CATAGORIES
1.Top priority items
2. Wish list
3. Decorating allowances
4. Construction materials
5. Interior room sizes and designs
6. Exterior elevation styles and landscapes
7. Keeping your cost down
8. Specialty items
1. Top priority items (things you must have as a minimum ); the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, garage requirements, etc.
2.Wish list (if you could find them to be within your budget).
3. Decorating allowances (budgeted amounts for appliances, light fixtures, carpet, marble, granite, tile, plumbing fixtures, hardware, wood floors and landscape, etc.).
4. Construction material selections (tile roof, composition roof, brick, stucco, stone, window type, electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning, insulation, trim woodwork, painting, tile work, and any special material instructions).
5.Interior room sizes and design (room sizes that you have reviewed and decided on; wall dimensions and decorating design work for special wall areas).
6.Exterior elevation style and landscaping (focus on a design or photo that appeals to your taste and style, landscape plant types, tree type, flower bed borders, stone walls, waterfalls and pools.)
7.Keeping your cost down (knowing the price for your selections will help you choose materials within your budget; knowledge and research about products is a key factor for your decisions; knowing your source for information through your builder, designer and the Internet).
8.Specialty items (such as closet designs, custom woodwork, energy efficiency products, wine storage, media room, beamed ceilings, special cabinetry, upgraded phone system, exercise room, workshop, summer kitchen, structured wiring and audiovisual equipment.)
Take pictures or cut out clippings you wish to use as your conceptual ideas for your new home design and/or floor plan. Keep these together in your planning organizer and do not collect more than a few photos of the same area. Write down all your thoughts and ideas about this project. The more organized you are the more accurate your project. Stay focused on the project when working on one area and put the project away when it becomes frustrating. Keep your thoughts organized and at your fingertips; this will help lower your level of frustration. Planning, designing and building should be an enjoyable experience for you if you take one step at a time and do not rush the planning and designing process. When working with your partner, remember to compromise and be considerate of each other’s ideas and needs.
Research as much information as you need for making an educated decision. At GBN Construction, Inc. we have a list of suppliers and sales people to help with your product selections. Each supplier will give you a written price to keep in you organizer. The selection of products you should research are exterior finishes, windows, exterior doors, driveway finishes, roofing, appliances, hardware, flooring, cabinetry, interior trim work, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, audiovisual systems, security systems, phone systems, and any special areas. Your selection of products will help set your estimated budget allowances for your new home. Using the Internet for research will help easily identify brand name products and specifications. Our team at GBN Construction, Inc. will share information and ideas to help you with your budgeting, financing, lot selection, home design and material specifications to make your planning and design decisions. Call us at GBN Construction, Inc. 904 725-3338. |
