New to homebuilding or considering it again after a while? There might be many questions you have unanswered, or didn’t even know you had. Here we list a few questions that should be considered about homebuilding.
Building a home is a time-intensive process that can take about a year from signing, to building, to closing. Some stages will feel busy while others won’t require as much involvement. If the process begins to feel overwhelming, just remember that your sales manager is there to support you along the way!
In addition to time commitments, be mindful of the financial commitments when building your home. There is more to it than just the floor plan and design options. When budgeting for your new home, be sure to include the base price, design options, and homesite premiums, as well as longer-term costs such as area taxes, homeowner’s association fees, and maintenance requirements.
A homesite premium, also known as a landsite or lot premium, refers to an additional cost or value associated with a specific piece of land due to its favorable location or desirable features. It represents the premium or extra amount of money that buyers are willing to pay for a particular site compared to other similar properties in less desirable locations.
How much you budget will depend on the options you’d like to have in your home, if you’re building in an existing community or on your own land, and what kind of amenities are within your community of choice. You’ll also want to consider your closing costs, which are typically around 15-20% of your overall budget. When you’re committing to your floor plan and lot, make sure to work with your sales manager to get a full understanding of the total costs you’ll be responsible for during and after the build.
Designing your new home is one of the most fun and personal parts of building new! Options and features to consider range from structural options – which need to be finalized early on in the build process – to interior and exterior options including cabinets, countertops, flooring, plumbing fixtures, lighting, brick colors, siding colors, and more. When you build a Lombardo Home, most of your interior and exterior selections will take place at your Design Studio appointment. Check out our Michigan Home Design Studio and Missouri Home Design Studio.
Many cities and communities have design restrictions, which help to break up monotony in a community. Even when you’re building on your own lot, ordinances and rules can dictate some of the choices you can and cannot make for your home, including brick, siding, and square footage requirements. If you have a particular feature in mind, it might be worth researching if it’s allowed in the area you’re moving into before making a commitment. In addition, knowing what appliances, furniture, and décor you have interest in can help you decide on certain options early on so everything in your home will have a cohesive look and fit properly.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a homebuilder before you make your final selection. Some of the main aspects to look into are their credibility, past work, the style and fashion of the homes they build, and their pricing. If something doesn’t match up with your vision, you might have to look for other builders to compare. Some builders often allow a considerable amount of customization, so while their standard homes might not seem to be your type at first glance, they might be worth a deeper look. Knowing how much of this process revolves around mutual understanding and communication makes that one of the most important aspects to look into about a builder. Understanding how much they will walk you through this process can also be a key factor in your decision.
The great thing about homebuilding is that you won’t be expected to have your new home completely planned out, especially at your first meeting with the sales manager. Your builder will work with you from start to finish to help the process flow smoothly, so you won’t be alone. The process will sometimes feel intimidating, but your homebuilder will be well-versed in their work and can be a source of reassurance while going through this process.
Our team members would love the opportunity to answer any questions you have and start you on your homebuilding journey. Check out our communities in Michigan and Missouri and contact us to set up an appointment with a member of our sales team. We look forward to meeting with you!
