You want to buy a house. However, you don’t want something that’s move-in-ready. You would prefer to have a product that you can call your own from the jump, that has everything that you desire. From designing to planning to selecting layouts and finishes, you would like to be involved. This means you need a custom home. The question that remains is what does it look like to build custom homes in Texas? Follow along as we discuss seven steps that will make up your journey.
Step 1: Research
Hopping right into constructing a custom home in Texas isn’t possible. You need to go into it with some idea of what you want to get done and what you are willing to give for it. That is, do you have a very limited budget? Are you on a condensed timeframe? And what about how much space you think your family needs? A number of factors go into the research phase of your build, all of which your contractor needs to know about upfront. Take the time to thoroughly plan out your dream home. Just make sure that it is in accordance with standard building processes so you don’t get your hopes up too high.
Step 2: Partnership
Search around for home building companies in your local area that appear trustworthy. This will be based on their referrals and portfolio. If you know someone who has had a custom home built in Texas previously, ask them who they worked with. Word-of-mouth is a great tool for finding impressive workers. Your contractor is the one that will be bringing your vision to life, so you need to make sure to find one that genuinely has your best interests in mind. Have conversations with a few different companies before committing to one.
Step 3: Expectations
You should already have a timeline and budget in mind from your research period. While it is important to understand that things can certainly come up that take the build off course, it helps to know what you are shooting for. Share with your contractor what you are hoping to get out of your new custom home. They will give you estimates accordingly. With an Austin design-build company, you can expect the team to have a collaborative relationship. This way, as multiple tasks are being done, the coordination will be seamless. Your contractor will also be your single point of contact so that you can stay up-to-date with the progress.
Step 4: Preferences
With your overall layout decided, you can start on the fun details for your custom home in Texas. Be clear about the types of materials that you are interested in. You should know your style early on. For instance, determine whether you want a hardwood floor in your living room as opposed to a carpeted floor. Another thing to be mindful of is the structural features that will most benefit your lifestyle. It could be that you would like a Jack & Jill bathroom or an island in your kitchen. Custom homes are “custom” because they are built specifically for you. Professional interior designers can help you fill in the gaps that you aren’t sure about.
Step 5: Building
Site consideration is critical to the success of the project. Your location may have unstable soil, which would require more work on the foundation. It could also be that you live in an idea that is prone to certain weather conditions. A Houston custom home would have different requirements from an Austin custom home, for example. But before breaking ground, your contractor will get all of the necessary permits. These include building, plumbing, and electrical permits. Once every permit has been obtained, the process can begin. By working with a design-build company, you will be kept in the loop throughout the construction of your custom home in Texas.
Step 6: Installations
Your rough framing is good to go. Now comes the time for everything to really come together. The installations that you will need include your plumbing and electrical work, your HVAC system, and the sewer lines. That way, your house can get up and running. From there goes the insulation. This plays an important role in your home’s energy efficiency because it intends to make a more consistent indoor climate. The type of insulation used depends on what the exterior climate is like. Your construction team will continue putting amenities in place until the last floorboard is secure.
Step 7: Adjustments
Local authorities should perform home inspections throughout the construction. That way, you don’t have a doubt that your custom house was built with regulatory standards in mind. Before you have washed your hands of your contractor, there needs to be a final walk-through on your own part to determine if anything needs fixing. Be as observant as possible. Look at the fixtures, walls, and floors. You want to get what you paid for, and that can’t be the case if there are several minor things wrong with the house.
We want to build your custom home in Texas! Bat City Builders offers services in the Northern Austin area, as well as West Lake Hills and Lakeway. We provide you with a personalized experience from the jump so that you get the house of your dreams. Give us a call if you want to know more about what to expect from our design-build process.
Photos, in order of appearance, by:
- mwitt1337 on Pixabay
- Scott Blake on Unsplash