4 Min Read
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Thinking about the process of building your own custom home but unsure where to begin? At GTG Builders, custom home building is in the very breath we breathe. We've compiled 7 steps to add to your guide to building your own custom home. Here, we'll go in-depth into what your budget should entail, just who you should have on your team, and whether or not you can break out that Pinterest board for design inspiration.
Step #1: Decide Your Budget
The Cost of Building a House in New Jersey
Deciding your budget is the crucial first step when planning to build a house in NJ. Knowing how much it costs to build a house in New Jersey and the amount you are willing to invest will provide a clear framework for your project. Custom-built homes in NJ offer a unique opportunity to tailor your living space, but understanding the financial aspects is essential to avoid any surprises.
Begin by assessing your financial situation and determining how much you will invest in your new home. Establishing a hard budget limit is essential to prevent overspending. Our homeowner's resource can help guide you along this process.
This number can change as your situation changes, but having this budget allows you to navigate the subsequent steps. The amount of money you are willing to invest
#2 Identify a Piece of Property
Location, Location, Location
Identifying the right piece of property is a critical second step in the custom home-building process. The property you choose impacts how much money you spend, how your home should look, and what work must be done before building can begin. Your team can design your dream house, but must align with your chosen space.
In Central New Jersey, the hunt for land is a genuine factor, so you'll want to have your property lined up sooner rather than later. The location where you build your custom home impacts your life as long as you live there, so don't rush this step.
#3 Identify the professional you need to do site work.
A Must-Have When Building Your Own Home
It's important to find the right person for the job. And what's the job? Doing the site work needed to transform a piece of property into the ideal home for your family.
We recommend a local custom builder who understands the codes and regulations in your area and has proven experience doing this sort of work. Site work is an important part of building a house in New Jersey, and no guide to building your own home should forget this step.
Of all the must-haves when building a custom home, the one you absolutely cannot omit is the site work necessary to turn a piece of land into the home's basis. Skipping this step is dangerous and will make it impossible to sell your home in the future. Don't settle for just anyone to do your site work. Find a professional who knows how to build a custom house and every step involved in the site work beforehand.
#4 Speak to someone about the cost
the next step of the custom home-building process
Now that you have a budget, have the land picked out, and have found someone who can do the site work, it's time to find someone who can tell just what's possible within your budget. This step in the custom home building process is best covered by a custom home builder. With the parameters you've already put in place, your custom home builder can tell you how many square feet and what level of complexity is possible within your budget in just a short conversation. A skilled custom home builder can listen to your ideas and come up with what's possible quickly. For example, at every step, the key is finding someone skilled and experienced in custom home building who knows what is possible in the area.
Your builder gets to be the person who tells you what custom home dreams of yours can come true.
#5 Someone to Keep an Eye on the Budget
The Cost of Building a House in Central New Jersey
No one wants to be a Scrooge, but having someone to keep an eye on the budget and ensure that every step of the custom home-building process aligns with the budget allows you to worry about one less thing.
But don't worry, you don't need another guide to building your own home. Instead, lean on the custom home builder you've carefully selected, who knows your budget and how to build a custom house within that budget. A builder with a long history of custom home builds in your area is the best person for this role.
#6 Provide Artwork and Furniture
Fill Your Home
When you're building a house in New Jersey or anywhere else, you're not building an empty structure. Instead, you're creating a home to be filled with the people you love (or maybe just tolerate) most and the artwork and furniture that you have carefully picked out. Provide your architect and builder with these pieces, showing them the furnishings you plan on decorating your new home with.
Whether you want to highlight a piece of art or accent a large piece of furniture with window placement, showing your team these items will allow them to create a home that matches the investments you have already made.
#7 Create a Dream Board
Show Your Team What You Love
Whether it's a Pinterest board, screenshots from different portfolios of custom home builders, or pictures of designs you've loved in different friends' houses, showing your team the ideas that spark joy for you is the best way to have a home that sparks joy.
With your goals, dreams, and favorite trims in front of them, your team can construct a house that matches your tastes and preferences every step of the way. They can bring you options that match what you already love instead of fumbling through ideas that don't align with your preferences.
Contact GTG Builders Today
If you're considering the custom home-building process and feel overwhelmed by the options involved, a custom home builder is for you. Contact GTG Builders today to see what we can build for you in Central New Jersey. Let us partner with you to build your custom home and start off your dream life.
