Navigating the Custom Home Building Process in Today’s Market
The home construction industry has had its ups and downs over the years, but it’s hard to think of a time that has been, for lack of a better word, crazier, than it is right now.
Price increases and supply chain delays are impacting home construction and remodeling now more than ever. With rising interest rates, we may see a slowdown in the near future, but it will take some time before inflation slows and we begin to see prices backing off from their record highs. What can those of us who are just starting out in the construction process do to help offset the higher prices and longer lead times?
My Personal Experience
My husband, David, and I are actually in this position ourselves. We have lived in the suburbs for twenty years and it has always been our plan to move back to the city of Houston once our children graduate school. We have been planning this house for a long time and weren’t about to let anything stand in our way. So not only do I have professional experience on this matter, but I can also relate on a very personal level.
…and my advice
My biggest piece of advice to anyone building a custom home or embarking on a large-scale remodeling project is to hire an interior designer. An interior designer, along with your architect or residential designer, and builder, is going to be able to help you navigate the process and stay on top of all of your selections. Now more than ever, it is critical to make selections early as many products must be selected and ordered well in advance of installation. It is difficult for many clients to pick lighting, for example, when they don’t even have cabinetry in their home. An interior designer can help you visualize your space before it is a reality and guide you in making decisions along the way so that everything is ordered in time and you have a cohesive look once it all comes together.
My next piece of advice is to prioritize. Everyone is having to cut costs in todays market. We ourselves are having to forego some of the features we wanted on our house due to cost. For example, we are more traditional in our taste and I always thought we would install clad windows in our home, but due to the rising price of windows, we opted to go with a composit window. We are not sacrificing the quality and the look will still be beautiful, but for us, it was worth shifting our design to a slightly more transitional style in order to realize that savings.
My final piece of advice is to plan, plan, plan. Even if you cannot afford to do everything you want to do today, there are things you can do on the front end that make these additions more feasible down the road. For example, we will probably not purchase our generator right away, but we worked closely with Chris Wyrick, our home designer to ensure that we have the necessary clearances to fit on the side of our home, as well as the necessary electrical and plumbing connections so that we can easily add a generator down the road.
The Value of a Strong Team
A strong team that includes an experienced interior designer can help you navigate the home building process. Whether it is a new construction project or remodel, having someone to walk you through your selections, help you stay on budget and on time, and help you make the tough decisions when it comes to prioritizing, will make the project run that much smoother.