How to Build a House From Scratch?

Want to build the house of your dreams and wondering how to build a house from scratch?

That’s an overwhelming journey, I know!

At the same time, this is the perfect time to discover who you are, what you want, how you want to live, and where you want to stay for the next several years.

Also, it’s your chance to reflect your personality in your home structure.

Of course, it is important to do some research and plan ahead of time.

You need to see the end result of the whole project and estimate how much it’ll cost.

Building a house from the very start requires time, effort, and money. That is why you need to learn more and feed yourself with useful guides to properly envision your dream house.

Here are some of the useful things on how you can start creating your future home:

Budgeting

If you think that the first step of building a house is the construction itself, well it’s not.

Before building a house from nothing and delving deeper into the construction process you should count if you have sufficient financial sources to finish it.

The initial step is to create a home building budget. You need to determine how much is your expected expense and what is your maximum limit.

The best and easiest way to have a solid and editable budget is to make your own spreadsheet.

You can instantly input the costs of labor and materials and let the computer software do the math for you.

Do not keep manual calculation or records as these hardcopies are prone to “lost and found” scenarios.

You can also save your records online for back-up storage in case of urgent matters.

If you want an itemized breakdown of the average cost to build a house, you can contact the nearest contractor in your area.

Ask if they give a free estimate including labor, materials, and average price per square foot.

Request for their available home price guide to learn more about estimating the cost of building your home!

Here is some advice on effective budgeting:

Be realistic!

Whether you are a creative and thrifty person, building a house can never be a cheap project.

On average, future homeowners spend between $100,000 and $500,000 on their new house. So if you want an in-ground pool, a basement, or garage, you need to account for these extras. It is important to include the cost of these additional areas.

Adjust the budget as you need to and you should be flexible about possible changes.

Purchasing the Right Property

Now that you’ve got your budget for the house, it’s time to start hunting for land if you don’t have one.

If you have children, make sure the location of your future house is accessible to their school or your workplace.

Remember that land with uneven or difficult terrain will be more expensive to excavate and prepare for the construction.

Purchasing a land property that’s already been prepared will save you some time and extra cash. Keep in mind that you should also include the cost of the land in your budget.

Here are several things to do when purchasing a property:

List down the zoning requirements by the local authority.

Eminent domain is the right of the government to take private property in case of road expansion and future development.

You can consult the city’s development department and ask for useful information on zoning ordinances. Use this when looking for the location of your future house.

You should also consider the neighborhood ambiance. Is there any airport, main highway, or railway that can cause a lot of noise?

The countryside has its own pros and cons, too. Farmland and ranches are just as smelly as the city due to plants and animals.

Last but not least is to know whether the price is fair or not.

At this moment, you can hire an appraiser if necessary.

Planning & Designing

If you haven’t figured out what the look of your home will be, whether a prefabricated, modular, or custom one, you definitely need to start finalizing now.

You should also expect that custom homes will incur higher planning costs, so make sure to focus on those into your budget if you’re looking to build a practical home.

You can tour neighborhoods with houses that match your vision. Go on for a drive along with a few subdivisions in your area and look for the houses there.

Forget about whether or not such a home is within your price range for that moment because you’re just mining for ideas that you can borrow that you need so you can design your home.

Take notes of the specifications on what you like about each property, as well as what you’re not so attracted to.

Keep an eye out for homes that are up for sale and you can ask for a tour.

Make sure that before you do this you ask their authorization, never take a single picture without stated permission from the owner himself.

 

Related Article:  5 Steps to Designing & Building Your Dream Family House

 

Finding the Right Contractor

At this stage, let engineers and architects do their job.

When looking for a residential architect and engineer, make sure you do your job as a practical homeowner.

Compare their prices, obtain as many quotations possible, and make sure your chosen contractor is licensed, bonded, insured, and has credible records.

Applying for a Building Permit

If you hire a private contractor, they’ll usually take care of all the paperwork for you.

If you’re doing it yourself, of course, you are the one responsible for completing all the building permits. This is usually done through your city’s development department.

For more information, you can check out the website of the local government for compliance requirements.

Purchasing an Insurance

Getting home insurance is another thing. What we’re talking about here is construction insurance.

If something goes wrong while the work is in progress, you’ll want to be covered.

As always, compare multiple quotations, and don’t forget to factor construction insurance costs into your overall budget.

Starting the Construction

Now the fun part starts here. When the things above are completed, it is the moment to pop up a bottle of champagne and celebrate this journey!

If you’re still wondering how to build a house from scratch, here are the general home construction steps, listed in order of activity:

1. Land preparation and grading
2. Foundation
3. Framing
4. Windows and doors
5. Roofing
6. Siding
7. Essential plumbing
8. Essential electrical
9. Essential HVAC
10. Insulation
11. Drywall
12. Underlay
13. Trim
14. Painting
15. Full electrical
16. Counters and cabinets
17. Full plumbing
18. Flooring
19. Full heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
20. Hook up water lines
21. Hook up sewage
22. Punch list

Conclusion

The process of home building is complex and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

Yes, it’s not just building 4 bedrooms, looking for reliable contractors, or finding the best pipe locator. It is definitely so much more than these activities.

When you have sufficient funds and obtain all the necessary permits.

Of course, every dollar is precious when it comes to building your dream home, which is why sourcing project-specific quotes from the best local contractors are necessary.

So once you finish the construction, you can now work on landscaping, furnishing, and decorating your new home.