Are you thinking about building a house?
Conceptually, the idea of building a home seems so exciting! You are starting totally fresh; You get to watch an empty piece of property literally transform into your own personal kingdom! You are in charge of every major decision from start to finish! It is so exciting and empowering!
Over my time at The Plan Collection, I’ve talked with hundreds of people who are at this stage. Even though most of them are calling from across the country — even across the world — I can practically see the stars in their eyes and the smiles on their faces. They have the idea that — “I am in control of my destiny, and my first order of business is building my dream home!” The only problem is that with great power comes great responsibility (Sorry, Uncle Ben).
Sure, you get to make every major decision from start to finish, but that sweet thought can quickly turn sour. You have to worry about getting permits, hiring a builder, deciding every little detail: shingles, bricks, siding, stucco, flagstone, mortar, paint colors, ceiling texture, flooring, light fixtures, cabinets, appliances, tile work, windows, insulation, landscaping, and so forth — even electrical outlet covers! And that list doesn’t even scratch the surface! You have to decide what your budget is going to be. You have to pick and choose between which is more important: size or luxury. You might end up having to choose between having a nice refrigerator or spa tub. — And then there’s the whole worry that comes when you and your spouse don’t agree! Just thinking about it all can make you want to crawl back into bed and forget about the whole thing! It can be terribly overwhelming.
But remember, building your own home is not, and should not be a scary process. Sure there are a lot of factors, but if you start off on the right foot, hire the right professionals, and take it one step at a time, building your own home can still be a fun and invigorating experience. The most important thing to remember when building a house is that you need to start off on the right foot. It is absolutely essential to start with the right house plan — and I’m not just saying that because I work for a house plan company. Nothing will blow your budget (and your enthusiasm) faster than starting out with the wrong plan. Your life can easily become a living nightmare. All of those horror stories you’ve heard about building your own home could easily be dwarfed. At best, you’ll end up uncomfortable your new home (and nobody likes that — just look at this post from Houseplans.info).
You’ll never find a plan that is 100% perfect, but that’s a discussion for another day (Remember the 90% RULE. If you need help finding the house plan that’s right for you — check out The Plan Collection. Sure, I’m a little biased, but I know how much work those guys put into helping people find their dream home. Really, you should Check it out!
