There is a certain appeal to building a custom home. It’s exciting to look at images of homes online or on television and fantasize about what it would be like to build a home designed to your specifications.
Building a custom home, however, isn’t for everyone. Even individuals who want to build a custom home may find that the timing just isn’t right. How do you know if you’re ready to build a custom home or not?
There are a lot of factors that can go into your decision to build or not to build, but let’s look at a few general indications (signs, if you will) that you’re ready—or not ready to build a custom home in the Poconos.
Stability
Generally speaking, individuals who are looking to build a custom home are in a fairly stable place in their lives. They’re planning to stay where they are for a while. They’re looking to put down roots and they want a home that will fit their needs for some time to come. Of course life is full of surprises, but if your career is up in the air or you have other considerations (such as health of family members), you may want to think hard before committing to building a custom home. If those things are pretty settled, building can make a lot of sense.
Decision-making
Building a custom home requires a lot more involvement than simply buying an existing home or a tract home. If you struggle with making decisions (or if you second-guess yourself continually after making decisions), the custom homebuilding process may cause you more stress than you’d like. If you don’t mind doing the research and making decisions, building a custom home could be right up your alley!
Availability
Your responsibilities in building a custom home don’t end when you pick a floor plan and sign a contract. Your builder will have questions for you along the way. There will be times when your builder has to wait on you for input. If you don’t have the time (or the desire) to be involved at that level, this may not be the right route for you. If the idea of working with a team to create something is exciting, you could really enjoy the process.
Time
If you’re in a situation in which you need to move quickly, custom homebuilding probably isn’t a good fit. The process takes time. When you consider that you need to select a lot, choose a plan, make modifications, and then actually have the house built, you’re looking at a significant amount of time. You’ll want to talk to your builder to get an accurate estimate of how much time will be required—but it’s not something that happens overnight.
If you think that building a custom home is something you may like to pursue, I’d encourage you to download our Free New Home Buyers Guide to get yourself started. You’ll find information about how to budget for a custom home; how to find a home site; keys for selecting the perfect builders and designer; and much more.
What I’ve mentioned above isn’t a comprehensive list, but it can help you get an idea if a custom home is right for you or not.Don’t jump into building a custom home if you’re not ready. But if the signals are “go,” download the free guide and give us a call!
