The exciting time is here and you are ready to get your home build started. With an oversaturated market of inspiration it can be difficult to know exactly where to begin. Below are our top 3 things to do first.
No. 1
Determine your budget
While it may not be as fun as scrolling the internet for design inspiration, knowing your budget is the most important factor above all else. It helps you determine the estimated square footage and the quality of fixtures you should be looking at when searching for house plans and design selections. Ultimately, the square footage of your home build will be the largest determining factor.
No. 2
Obtain a quality set of drawings
Once you have decided upon a set of house plans it is important to make sure it includes all of the necessary information needed by your contractor in order to properly estimate your project. While plans found online and in books are great for inspiration, they don’t always include the most important information such as measurements nor are they taking into account the lot of land you are building on. A home designed for building in California is going to be built differently than in Pennsylvania.
At Ryan McClure Construction, we work with a trusted engineer to design all of our house plans. Professionally drawn plans are not a requirement in order to get your experience with us started. However, before a proposal can be given, we will obtain professional drawings to make sure that when we give you your estimate it includes all of the proper information tailored to your specific design details.
No. 3
Research your contractor
It is important to have a good working relationship with your contractor. You will be walking the same journey closely together for the next 4-8 months and the ultimate success and ease of your home build is dependent upon a solid, approachable relationship.
At RMC we are happy to answer any questions you may have about what your experience with us will be like. This is typically done via an initial phone consult, Zoom call, or our preference, a meeting here at our studio office or within the comforts of your current home. We will discuss the progress you have made thus far and what the next appropriate steps would be. We can also answer questions regarding the construction of your home, as well as, design help. Throughout these discussions it is most helpful to be upfront about your budget from the beginning. It is not our desire to then make sure that your proposed estimate maxes out this budget, but for us to be able to properly guide you in your design decisions and make sure you are selecting details that will fit into a cost that is comfortable for you while giving you exactly what you are looking for.