Building your home is a fantastic way to make sure you get everything you want, but it’s no small undertaking. Along the way, you’ll meet several people who will prove crucial to your journey and help see to it that your finished home is everything you thought it would be. Embrace these six people as you embark on your home-building adventure and be prepared to spend a lot of time with them all.
The Code Compliance Officer
Every city and town requires that you obtain various building permits to construct your home. They also require you to follow specific building guidelines and send inspectors out to make sure that you do. Befriend your code officer early and save yourself much aggravation later.
Architect
Long before you break ground, you’ll need to have your home plans professionally drafted. An architect can do this for you and verify that your ideas are feasible and your new home structurally sound.
Designer
Architects and designers view floor plans differently. Designers are good at maximizing flow and utilizing every square inch of a home to its fullest potential. They ruthlessly hunt down and find uses for wasted space. When working together, designers and architects can create some truly amazing spaces.
Loan Officer
Financing a new home can be more challenging since construction costs can be higher than anticipated if problems are encountered during construction. Find a lender who is willing to work with you – you don’t want to borrow more money, but try and have that option just in case.
Contractor
Your builder or general contractor will oversee the construction of your home and all of the subcontractors involved in the process. He will manage the electrician, plumber, HVAC installer and other professionals working on the structure.
Choose a contractor you trust as they will serve as your central point of contact for all of the trades. Review reviews and resumes to make sure you pick wisely. Look for key experience such as an online Master’s in Civil Engineering. He or she will also ensure plumbing lines aren’t placed too close to electrical ones and help avoid other issues.
Lawyer
A lawyer is crucial to the building process. An attorney can overlook all of your building contracts and loan documents and make sure there are no hidden surprises. He can also check into your land rights and make sure there will be no legal issues involved in hooking into or adding utilities. There will be a lot of fine print to read during the home-building process so hire someone who can read and understand it all.
Conclusion
Armed with these six professionals and a bit of patience, you can build yourself a new home to enjoy for years to come while minimizing the stress of the building process. You can expect to run into some delays and issues along the way, but you can also expect a finished product likely to be even better than you anticipated.
