Managing the Home Building Process

Managing the Home Building Process

If you build your own home, you can get the house you've long dreamed of living in. You don't have to go through the design and building of your house alone, a professional home building company will help you and your family navigate the planning process. Knowing what to expect throughout the process can help you plan for any potential surprises and can help you make the most of the experience

Benefits of Building Your Own Home

A home that you build will have your personality throughout the entire structure and design. You can use reliable, modern technology to lower your energy bill and save you money in the long run. Building your own home can bring you and your family closer, allowing you to create memories and enjoy the process together. Some of the benefits of building your home include:

Built to Your Specifications

When you build your own home, you can put your personality into it. If you buy an existing home, you might find that you need to paint one of the bedrooms or replace the floors. You may even need to do more extensive renovations such as adding a new bedroom or upgrading the kitchen.

Your new home will only have what you want and need. You can choose your home's floor plan and overall design. You get to pick the color of the walls and floors. You can choose the most energy-efficient appliances. You'll know exactly when your appliances were installed and their maintenance history. You can customize your home to fit your budget, your lifestyle and your personality.

Built With Energy Efficient Material and Appliances

Typically, newer homes are made with energy efficiency in mind. Houses built after 2010 often use 28% less energy than older homes. Updated building codes require new construction to be more energy-efficient than older homes.

Newer Homes Require Less Maintenance and Repairs

Since everything in a newly built home is new, you usually have less maintenance work to do compared to buying an existing home with older,  potentially outdated, appliances and HVAC. You might also find it easier to clean your home since there won't be years of dust built up.

Financial Benefits

Your new home is likely to be under warranty, meaning you're financially protected in case there's a problem with its foundation, flooring, heating and cooling and other elements. Some warranties also cover appliances, so you don't have to worry about purchasing new equipment or having to pay for costly repairs if something breaks. New home warranties are typically for six months to two years. You might be able to renew the warranty, as well.

A new home not only provides financial benefits in the short-term but also when you plan to sell it. You might find it easier to sell your home if it's a newer build. Potential home buyers like move-in ready homes because they won't have to put as much work into them to make them what they want. More than half of all homebuyers between the ages of 29 and 38 bought a new home to avoid renovation costs in 2019.

Questions to Consider Before Building Your Own Home

You need a plan that works for you and your family as you build your custom home. Before starting the home building process, you and your spouse should discuss some important factors that could affect your construction experience.

• What is your construction budget? Create a budget and stick with it as you consider what materials, appliances, and additions you want to include in your home. You should keep track of your spending and save about 10% of your budget for higher-than-anticipated costs or unexpected expenses.
• What is your timeframe for building a house? The building process can take as little as three months to complete, but can sometimes take up to eighteen months. If you have to move into a home right away, you should move into an existing home.
• What do you want and need in a home? You and your family should create a list of what you want to include in your new home. How many rooms do you need? Do you want a house with multiple stories, or do you want a one-story home? Do you need a home office? Do you plan on adding to your family in the near future? If so, you might decide to build a home with additional bedrooms.
• Where do you want to build a home? As you research where to buy, look at the neighborhood and the amenities it offers. It's also a good idea to check out the housing styles in that area. Homes in a region or neighborhood often have similar styles. You can look at existing homes for inspiration.
• Should you hire a builder or do the work yourself? After you narrow down your land search, you should consult with your builder to check the zoning requirements for the residential area.

Creating Your New Home

As you think about breaking ground and building your dream home, you should make a plan. To take on a home building project, you need money, land and the right people to walk you through the process.

Apply for a Loan

If you are going to borrow money to build your home, you need to apply for a loan. SK Builders allows for a traditional mortgage if you choose to build in one of their 30+ communities. If you have your own plot of land, then a construction loan will be required.  Construction loans differ from conventional mortgages in a few ways, notably in the interest rates charged, the length of the loan and how the funds are distributed. In many cases, a construction loan can convert to a traditional mortgage once the building process is complete and you're ready to move into the home.

Choose Your Floor Plan

Your floor plan should accommodate your current and future lifestyle. Decide how many bedrooms you need, how much outdoor space you want and if you want any bonus rooms like a home office or a playroom.

SK Builders hasmore than 90-floor plans that can be customized to your unique home design. You can create a custom floor plan, but some common floor plans include:

• Open floor plan.
• Split bedroom plan.
• Single floor plan.

Buy a Plot of Land or Choose a Community

Search for a plot of land for sale in the area you'd like to live in. You should research the zoning regulations for your desired location to find out if you are allowed to build your ideal floor plan at that location. It's also a good idea to check with your builder to make sure your home will have easy access to running water and electricity. You can also work with a real estate agent who can help you find a plot of land and give you some information about the local area. SK Builders also has 30 + communities to choose from where the cost of the lot and home are conveniently combined. Our communities routinely offer amenities such as swimming pools, clubhouses, walking trails and sidewalks. 

Choose a Builder

After you have your building plan, your plot of land, you can hire a builder to oversee the construction of your home. Your builder should be able to help you stay within your budget, understand zoning laws and create the design of your home.

You can interview multiple people who have good reviews online or have been recommended by friends. You should find a builder who can provide a quality home for you and your family. Look for builders who are transparent and have a collaborative attitude, since you will be communicating with their team throughout your home building process.

Keep Legal Documents and Receipts

Your builder should know what permits you need for your project. You can have a file box of all your important documents — including permits and receipts — or you can save them digitally. When you want to sell your home, you should have these permits and receipts on hand in case potential home buyers question your home's compliance with local regulations.

The Home Building Process Timeline

After you create your home building plan, you can now begin building your home. The following factors determine how long the building process might take.

• Building permits and pre-construction: You can start your home construction project when you have the right permits. If you need to level out your plot of land and remove trees, you might need a permit to do so. The architect, builder, landscaper and town authorities can collaborate with you to efficiently move along the process to construct your home.
• Season and weather: While builders can often work in the rain, some projects — such as digging a hole for your basement — can only be done in dry conditions. Your builders will need to wait for above freezing temperatures before they can pour the concrete of your foundation. 
• Availability of supplies: As you figure out the finishing touches of your home — such as the cabinets and countertops — you should tell your builder as soon as you know what appliances and details you want. Cabinets can take several weeks to order and deliver, so your builder should place the order several weeks before the kitchen's structure is completed. If there's a delay in receiving the supplies and materials needed, it can slow down the entire project.

The following home building process timeline shows a timeline of 24 weeks to give you an idea of how long your construction project will take if everything goes smoothly.

• Week 1-3 — Groundbreaking: Your contractor will begin by mapping out on your property and leveling the ground to lay the foundation. This process usually takes about one week. The footings should be inspected before laying the foundation of the house.
• Weeks 4-5 — Laying the Foundation: Your foundation may be a crawl space, a full basement or a slab. Laying the foundation takes about two weeks since the concrete needs to dry completely. Your home's foundation must be free of cracks before the process continues.
• Weeks 6-7 — Framing: The framing gives your home its shape. Based on your floor plan, your builder will start with the exterior walls and then continue with the floor and roof. Your builder will cover your framing with sheathing and a house wrap to protect your home from moisture. If your framing takes place during a rainy season, your builder may also add roof shingles and windows to protect your home. An inspector will make sure the builder framed your home properly before continuing. The process of framing your home often takes about two weeks to complete.
• Weeks 8-9 — Wiring and Plumbing: The next stage is adding the mechanical elements of your home. The whole process takes about two weeks to complete, with an inspection to follow. Your builder will put the wiring in through your walls and floors and will install your HVAC system during this stage.
• Weeks 10-11 — Insulation/Drywall: The next two weeks of the home building process include adding insulation to the interior walls of your home. After the installation is installed, your builder will cover your exterior walls with drywall and sand them. You can also paint your walls during this phase.
• Weeks 12-13 — Flooring and Finishing Touches on Walls: During the next three weeks, your builder will install the flooring of your home and add the finishing touches to your walls. You can add trim to your walls and door frames after your builder lays down the floor. You can also finish painting your walls as needed.
• Weeks 14-15 — Exterior Siding: The next two weeks will consist of finishing the exterior of your home. You can choose to decorate your exterior with brick, stucco, wood or vinyl siding.
• Week 16-17 — Finishing Up the Interior: The next step in the process is to add light fixtures, appliances, countertops, cabinets, vanities, toilets and tubs. During this phase, your home will see a lot of traffic as plumbers, electricians and subcontractors work together to make the interior of your home come to life.
• Week 18-19 — Driveways, Walkways, and Doors: Adding your exterior driveways, doors and walkways will take about a week to complete. You should wait until all of the interior work is finished to avoid potential damage to the workers or furniture as the workers haul your appliances and other hardware into your home. 
• Week 20 — Clean Up the Interior: Once everything is installed, you can clean the house to get it ready for moving in.
• Week 21 — Landscaping: Your exterior landscaping will take about a week to complete. You can choose the flowers, shrubs, and trees to line your walkways and frame your home.
• Week 22 — Inspection: The inspector will walk through your home and make sure everything is up to code. Once the inspection is passed, you will receive a certificate of occupancy that legalizes your home's completed construction. This process takes about one week unless you have to make any changes to comply with zoning or interior design regulations.
• Week 23 — Final Walk-Through: After the inspection, you will have an opportunity to walk through the home with your builder for your pre-settlement demonstration. If you see any issues with your home, be clear with your builder about what you want to be changed before you move in. This process should also take about a week but can take longer if you want to make changes.
• Week 24 — Closing and Moving In: After you approve the closing, the house is yours. You can start moving in your furniture and possessions to make the home your own.

SK Builders Makes the Home Building Process Easy and Smooth for Everyone Involved

Our team at SK Builders can help you build a home that you and your family will love. We have a wide selection of floor plans and land available for you to build your home in upstate South Carolina. We can also customize our floor plans to meet your family's needs.

As a family-owned business, we care about you as the customer and will help you navigate through your home building journey. Contact us today to start your home building process.