Taking on the task of building your own home from the ground up is not for the faint-hearted.
The reality is that very few people actually qualify to perform and oversee all aspects of a home construction project. But, this doesn’t mean you can’t act as your own general contractor and bring your dream home to life.
If you’re considering building your own home from scratch, here’s what you can expect from the process…
The Realities of Being Your Own General Contractor
Many cities and counties across the U.S. impose a limit on acting as your own general contractor (GC) — and this is for very good reason.
Hiring a GC comes with a number of benefits. Very often, they are well-connected and can actually save you money in the long run. Most GCs have well-established relationships with electricians, builders, plumbers, and other contractors. This means you can secure a good rate and high-quality, trusted professionals working on your home.
To add to this, your home construction project could quickly run away from you. If you’re inexperienced and don’t have the time to commit to the project, this could cost you in the long-run. This is where a GC becomes an invaluable asset.
Key Steps to Expect During a Home Construction Project
Whether you decided to act as your own GC or hire out the expertise, this is what you can expect from the home construction process…
1. Establish A Realistic Project Budget
This is hands-down one of the most important steps in your entire construction project. Your budget determines the size and type of home you build, as well as your construction timeline and the quality of the contractors you hire. Not-to-mention, the types of materials, fittings, and appliances inside your home.
Before you begin searching for land or dreaming of a living room color scheme, sit down and discuss a realistic budget. Ultimately, this will help you plan out a realistic timeline for the project, too.
Where is your funding coming from, how much leeway do you have if something goes wrong or the project is delayed? Will you have access to backup funding or savings if the project calls for it? These are all important questions to consider.
2. Securing Your Land
Bear in mind that you’ll have to pay certain fees to secure your land in Kings County. The plans for your home must already be compiled and approved before your construction project begins.
Once your building project is approved, check the zoning and condition of the plot. Make sure it’s free from zoning issues, soil contaminants, or under-developed area utilities.
In addition to this, make sure the property has adequate access to local utilities. This includes electric, gas, and plumbing lines. If utilities or plumbing need to be updated, this must be factored into your budget.
3. Establish Your Construction Team
This is the make or break for your project. Without the right professionals on your side, things could quickly snowball — costing you time and money. You need to research and assemble your entire team of professionals before your foundation is laid.
The construction of a home generally requires an architect, a builder, and other subcontractors such as electricians, plumbers, engineers, carpenters, and a designer.
Your best bet is to hire a construction company that works as a one-stop-shop for the majority of your home build needs, such as Higgason Construction.
4. Design Your Dream Home
This is probably the most exciting part of constructing your own home. The design process allows you to bring all your ideas to life. It also allows you to consider your budget and where you may need to make adjustments.
During this step, you’ll select the overall style of your home as well as room preferences, and materials. Bear in mind that you must be flexible during this process. Some of your ideas may be limited by structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
The overall design of your home must meet structural, zone, and code requirements in Cook County, too. While you may be the one designing your home, it has to meet construction approval.
The local planning board may also require a licensed architect or contractor to sign off the design plans before beginning a project.
5. A Basic Timeline of the Construction Process
There is a myriad of steps that go into the entire construction process of a home. It should all come together like a well-oiled machine by choosing the right team of builders and subcontractors.
This is a basic timeline of how a home is built, from the ground up:
- The concrete footings and foundation of the home are poured first
- After this, the home’s plumbing and electrical lines are installed
- The house slab is then poured, forming the base of your home
- The framing, siding, and roofing is installed
- Subcontractors then install rough-in electrical and plumbing works
- Once this is complete, drywall is hung and trim is installed
- This step is followed by interior and exterior painting and all finish work
- The wiring of electrical and plumbing fixtures is completed
- Flooring is then installed i.e. carpeting, wood flooring, tiles
- Finally, the exterior of the home is completed i.e. driveway, paving, and landscaping installation
This is a very summarized version of what goes into a home construction project. But it’s important to understand these basic steps first, before launching into a project of this magnitude.
6. Remember to be Flexible
One of the most important factors of a home construction project is the timeline. If you make provision for a little leeway, this will stand you in good stead.
Ultimately, there are a number of things that can crop up along the timeline. This includes permit hiccups, weather delays, accidents, labor shortages, and material delays. In reality, this is to be expected. It’s best to go into a home construction project without a rigid timeframe in mind.
Throughout the duration of your project, estimates on its completion tend to become more and more precise.
Home Construction Experts At Your Fingertips
Whether you’re looking for full home construction, a simple renovation, kitchen or bathroom remodeling, Higgason Construction has you covered.
Explore our home remodeling portfolio to get a better idea of our quality and standard of work…