Bennett Construction has been building custom homes in central Florida for more than 35 years. Based on their experience with hundreds of projects, here are some of the key considerations that will make your home building experience successful:
Plan Your Budget
Those who follow Dave Ramsey understand that planning your budget is the first and most essential part of building a home. What will it cost to build your dream home? Can you afford what you imagine?
Even when you can pay cash for your home, there are limits in every budget. Attention to details at the beginning of your building project will help you avoid cost over-runs.
Bennett Custom Homes will sit down and discuss in detail costs involved in building a home. These costs include site work, permits, home design, interior and exterior finishes; you will discuss everything down to the color of the master toilet handle.
Do your homework and ask lots of questions. The builder you choose should be able to answer or find out answers in advance of moving any dirt.
Understand Your Upgrades
When considering building a home, most people visit model homes of multiple builders in advance of making a decision on a builder. You walk into one model and fall in love with it. The trick is in the price. Many models are advertised at a price that doesn’t include the upgrades you find in most models.
In a model home a builder is putting their best foot forward. They want to show you what they can do. But when it comes to pricing, the desire is to let you see how affordable building a home can be.
Your job is to make sure the upgrades you want are factored into the price of a home well in advance of signing a contract and starting the process. This is where many experience the most frustration and disappointment in building their dream home. Bennett’s unique process eliminates this frustration.
Hire the Right People
You are making a considerable investment building a home. You will also be spending a lot of time with your contractor and team. Be sure to research your builder. What is their reputation? You can research online, but also ask family and friends who’ve been through the home building process.
What is the reputation of the builder you are considering? Do they finish jobs on time and in budget? Are they members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)?
The motto at Bennett Construction is “Building relationships, whatever it takes.” Customer satisfaction and top quality are the standard, whether you home is $500,000 or $5 million.
Know Where the Furniture Will Go
A house doesn’t get bigger with furniture in it. It’s important to think about furniture layout early in the process. Where will your couch go? Do you plan on having a sitting area in your master? How will that work? Do you like to entertain? Do you have enough seating? Is there enough room to fit the furniture you want?
The key is to plan, plan . . . and then plan some more. Will there be enough room to push chairs away from the table in your breakfast nook? How many cabinets do you need for storage? Is the laundry room functional for your family’s lifestyle?
Bennett Custom Homes invests a lot of time at the beginning of the process. And most of the decisions are made in advance. Jim will help you visualize your space and what life in your new home will look like. Adjustments are made early in the process so once you’ve signed a contract and construction has begun you get to see your vision become a reality.
Building a home is exciting. Most people dream of doing it one day. The experience should be a good one. If you choose the right builder, everything else should fall into place. When your Bennett Construction home is complete you will Love Your Builder.
