There is no doubt that home renovation is an exciting thing. After all, every person loves to give a beautiful makeover to their home. But there is another fact that you keep in mind: home renovation is a time taking and daunting task. If not done properly, you may end up investing a lot of money in unnecessary things. However, here are some tips that you can follow to complete your home renovation under your budget.
Choose A Perfect Layout
Before you can begin with your home renovation task, you must have a clear idea of how different spaces in your home will be segregated. The possibilities are endless. You can go for cost-effective ways of partitions such as wooden trellises, jute rope, 3D-printed screens and more.
The Flooring and Fixture
If your home renovation project is primarily focused on renovating its interior space, it will be better for you to decide your budget for fixtures and flooring. Creating a detailed floor plan can help you allocate funds effectively and visualize the final look. You can visit different shops to get an idea of how much you may need to spend on these crucial entities. Your local markets and artisans can help you with this. For a minimal look, you can opt for a combination of concrete flooring and pale ceramic fixtures. On the other hand, veneer and terracotta tiles will add homeliness and warmth to the place. Metallic fixtures can also come under your budget.
Budgeting
As you want to complete your home renovation under your budget, it is crucial to ascertain the total expenditure limit. While budgeting, you need to keep in mind that it is not advisable to overestimate your renovation budget. Keep it underestimated.
Try Out Some DIY Projects
Buying new home accessories, painting, doing garden work, getting furniture, etc., are some DIY projects that you can do by yourself. Besides, designing some renovations that don’t require expert help, like plumbing changes and carpentry, can help you save money.
Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose
This is where you will have to be a little creative. Some furniture, fixtures, and fittings can be easily remodeled into useful things and aesthetically pleasing. For example, woodwork. You can transform the old wood from mobile furniture, cupboard, or doors to something chicer while aligning with your new décor. By polishing and painting them, you can save money as you don’t have to buy new furniture.
Garage Conversion
It has been seen that many homeowners have started to modernize their house’s exterior look to attain a perfect combination of home efficiency and functionalities. By renovating your garage, you can enhance your home’s exterior without going out of your budget. In fact, the cost of such home renovation is low and can offer a good ROI.
Work With a Professional
Well, you may feel like by hiring a home renovation expert, you can spend money unnecessarily, but you will later realize that this is a smarter decision for you. When you work with a professional for your home improvement, they can provide you with insights on the latest trends, designs, safety features and more. Besides, they will also offer you an unbiased opinion on your home décor taste.
Hire a Contractor
If you don’t have much time to do it yourself, then taking the help of a professional contractor can help you a lot. However, make sure you and your contractor agree on the fundamental aspects of home renovation and that you both have the same vision. Prefer to hire a contractor who has years of experience in this and can keep everything aligned with your budget. Your contractor can get quality materials at the best prices. If you want to know how they will handle the project, then you can test him for a small gig first.
Combine Things Like a Professional
In recent years, the challenging task of uniformly matching different pieces of furniture in living spaces has witnessed a steady decline. With a creative mind and careful eye to combine different colors, you can easily craft an amazing blend of elements during your home renovation. Be it fixture, paint, furniture or rugs, using your creativity to mix and match, you can keep your home renovation task under your budget, and you can opt for only the things that are necessary for you.
Paint Can Affect Your Lighting
If you have a tight budget, then buying various colored pallets can be very counterintuitive. To save money, you can go for a black-and-white palette. Using this, you can come up with a sophisticated and modern look.
Final Words
Renovating your home is a mammoth task, but following these tips can complete the task under your budget. Besides, you can always take help from a custom home builder for this, as they can offer effective home design. Furthermore, if required, they can also help you with financing. The choice is yours. If you’re looking for professionals, consider Maine Home Builders for their expertise and reliable service.
It is a fact that constructing your dream home is an exciting as well as alluring prospect. When you build your house, you will be able to design it in the way you want. Besides, you can personalize it to your tastes. But the entire process can be very challenging. As building a house is a massive investment, it is crucial to work with a reliable and professional home builder. Hiring the right builder will make the project go smoothly, and you will witness an outstanding result. So how to find the best home builder for your home construction project? Check out the below-given points.
Why Should You Hire a Home Builder?
If you don’t have any knowledge about building codes, construction processes or ordinances, then it will be better for you to work with a professional home builder. A builder has the expertise and experience to manage many critical aspects. For example:
Working as a liaison with local jurisdiction, building inspectors and more.
Getting the certificate of occupancy.
Managing ordering as well as installation of building products.
Assisting you in getting construction loans.
Building plan designing and more.
How to Hire The Best Custom Home Builder?
Understand the Types of Builders
In general, you will find two types of builders in the market. The design-build builders and build-on-your-lot home builders. A design-build builder will plan your house from scratch, and every project will be custom designed. However, their services will cost you more. On the other hand, a build-on-your-lot firm will offer you a collection of floor plans, and they allow you to choose certain products. With this, you can save money.
Understand the Cost
As per the experts, you may need to pay around USD 150 to USD 200 per square foot for a builder. That means if you are building a 2000-square-foot house, it may cost you around USD 300,000 to USD 400,000 to construct. On the other hand, the construction cost will also vary considering the home’s design and features such as fixtures, appliances, flooring and more. A professional home builder can help you save money on these things.
Ask Around For Some Recommendations
When you are planning to construct your home, you can also ask your friends, family or neighbours who might have hired a builder recently. You should also ask about what types of services the builders offer and whether they offer home or land packages. If they include house design in the prices, then you can save more.
Don’t Forget to Verify the Credentials
Before finalizing with the builder, you should always check the licenses and insurance information of the contractor. Based on the location and size, the license requirements will vary. Remember that different states have different licensing requirements, and in some states, it is also compulsory to get local zoning board clearance. It is crucial to verify all these things, as if you don’t have a clearance; then you could end up paying penalties and fines. Make sure the home builder you are hiring can help you with that.
Interview With Your Custom Home Builder
Well, while hiring a custom home builder, here are some important questions based on the NAHB- National Association of Home Builders’ recommendations that you can ask the builder.
Can you offer some references from your recent clients?
What will be the estimated property taxes?
What type of financing strategy does the custom home builder offer?
Does the home builder offer any warranty? If yes, what is the duration of the warranty?
Does the builder offer house design services?
Can the builder help you get all the required permits?
Inspect Their Work
You can look at the previous work done by the home builder to ensure it effectively meets your desired standards. Take a tour of model homes and check if they are well-built or not. If possible, check the project they are currently working on and check how their teamworks.
Final Words
You all know that the process of home-building can be very long. However, in the end, you will get the prize of enjoying your stay in your dream house. Follow the above-mentioned tips carefully and choose Maine Home Builders who can understand your vision for a perfect home and can attain it.
Building a custom home is a dream for many young people in the United States. While there are many pre-built homes on sale, certain people opt for acquiring a piece of land and building a custom-designed home because there are more perks to go with it.
As we will be focusing on the state of Maine, Custom Home Builders Maine is ready to guide you all the way from acquiring the best land for your specific requirements regarding the house to building and erecting your custom-designed house.
While the average cost of building a house in Maine is around $300,000, it is no surprise that many individuals may look for building a simple house to cut costs. Custom Home Builders Maine provides reasonable rates so that you also have the opportunity to build your perfect home.
What Is the Cost per Sq. Ft of Building a Custom House in Maine?
The cost per sq. ft varies from land to land in the Northeast and Southern parts of Maine. Every contractor will have a different price for every rural and urban location in Maine.
The average cost of building a house per sq. ft in Maine is about $150. Going with this rate, a 2000 sq. ft home will cost around $250,000 to $300,000 which is the perfect home for a family of 4 or five people.
On the other hand, the construction costs can be lower as well but a lot of negotiation and finding the right construction team will take time. However, the price goes up instantly when you approach a premium construction team. Their per sq. ft costs can go above $500.
Cost Factors for Building a House in Maine
Planning and Designing
This is the initial part of the whole building process. You will have to work together with your home designer to figure out the perfect floor plan to build your home.
The house designer will then work with an architect and an engineer to see what kind of a house can be built on that specific piece of land.
The final blueprint will be presented to you with all the details about every process to make sure that you are happy with the final product.
Land
Whether you already own the land or are looking to buy a piece of land for a house that you already have an idea of, the state of Maine has some beautiful prime locations.
The cost of land depends on some factors such as whether it is closer to the city or not, the location in regards to its scenery, and the facilities around that piece of land.
In regards to the facilities, you have to check if the location is in a good school district, how much transportation is needed to get into town, where is the nearest hospital, or supermarket, and so on.
Permit Process
Before starting any sort of construction in the United States, you have to apply for and get a permit to do that construction. This permit acts as an authorization by the local government.
The permit costs in the state of Maine vary from city to city but generally, the rate is anywhere between $1,000 to $5,000.
This permit is needed if you have to repair any interior or exterior part of the house and if you decide to sell your house, and in your taxes to show that you own this house and have constructed it with legal means and passing all formalities.
Cost of Labor
One of the major costs of building a custom house is the labor costs.
If you decide to have a premium construction team with lots of credibility and years of experience, they will charge more.
The labor costs vary on the design of the house itself as a multi-story house with plenty of rooms and other perks such as a basement, big backyard, and swimming pool will make the labor costs higher. But if you are building a simple house with a few rooms, a basic kitchen, and a driveway, the labor costs will be considerably lower.
It all depends on the type of house you are building and the construction team you are hiring. Generally speaking, the labor costs around 30 percent to 50 percent of the total construction costs.
Cost of Materials
The cost of materials is also prominent in your total construction costs.
If you opt for premium construction materials, you would have the peace of mind that nothing will go wrong in the long run but it takes a toll on your wallet.
So if you do not have a flexible budget, you have to go towards medium to low-quality materials. It is better to have a talk with your construction team manager and see what kind of materials lie within your budget.
Cost of Foundation
The foundation of your house or any other building is the backbone and main support for the entire building. If the foundation of your house is not sturdy, the whole house may not have structural support in case of an earthquake.
Due to this, the foundation of your house can also be a major expense along with labor and material costs.
There are many types of foundations that you can opt for for your house. Each has varying costs as well. Having a basement is the most expensive while having a crawlspace is the cheapest.
Nevertheless, a basement provides many advantages as it is perfect for storage, a laundry room, an extra bedroom (if needed), and so on.
Cost of Utilities
During the construction of your house, utilities have to be installed. These include plumbing, electronic wiring, HVAC, and son. These are customary for each house but if you are looking for high-end materials, the cost of these will be higher than average.
One of the main electrical utilities is whether or not you choose to install solar panels on your roof. Maine has sunshine for more than half of a year and the local government is keen for people to use solar energy and has even reduced the permit costs.
In the United States, solar-powered houses do have better resale value than conventionally powered houses. The installation, panels, and batteries to store the excess energy may put a huge effect on your wallet, it is better for the long run and gives you the inner satisfaction of being eco-friendly.
Interior Design
The cost of interior design depends on your preference. Some people might say that this expense should not be associated with the total house construction but in most cases, it should be associated as the house is not ready for use without it.
The furniture, appliances, cabinets, closets, cupboards, tile floors or wooden floors, and paint are some of the interior design costs of a house.
These costs can be lowered if you bring some of the old furniture and appliances from your old house. Some people do opt for new stuff when moving into a new house but if your budget is not flexible, reusing the existing stuff will do wonders in lowering your expenses.
How Can You Acquire a Loan for Building a House in Maine?
To get a house building loan, you need to have a good credit score and viable means to ensure that you can repay the loan.
Construction loans Maine depend on the type of house you are building and the amount of money you want to spend on the land and the construction of the house. When applying for a loan, you also need to make a down payment. This can be anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent but it depends on the lender and the total amount of the loan.
Is It Better to Buy a Pre-Built House or Build One?
Many people ponder over the thought of either building a house from scratch or buying a pre-built house. While both have their pros and cons, there is no right answer as it depends on the person and their interests.
It is often believed that pre-built homes are cheaper than custom designing and building a house. But the price of both initiatives depends on the location and the job market regarding labor and materials.
If the land and labor costs are cheaper in your specific area then building a house will be cheaper and preferred than buying a pre-built house.
On the other hand, if the labor and land costs are significantly higher for your budget, your options are not narrowed to only opting for a pre-built home, you can still go forward with custom building your home by using cheaper materials or by acquiring a house building loan.
Conclusion
So it all depends on your preference on how you want to build your house, how many rooms it should have, how many floors, whether it should have a basement, and so on. Maine Home Builders is here to bring your vision to life, ensuring every detail meets your expectations.
The total requirements of your custom home will reflect on the total construction cost of your house with the added labor and material costs.
One of the perks of building your own home is that you get to design everything when it comes to layout, floor plan, single story or multiple stories, and so on.
There is a plethora of choices and designs available and these will be narrowed down to your preference, budget, custom home plans, and house layout.
Having so many options available may seem exciting to some individuals while some may be overwhelmed by reconfiguring their house layout.
When you are designing your custom home plans, the functionality of the number of rooms and open space for leisure activities must be within your lifestyle. If not, then your money is wasted and you have to adapt to the existing floor plan and make changes in your lifestyle.
With that said, let’s look at some major floor plan tips for the best house layout possible.
Consult With a Professional
Custom home builders with no professional help are bound to make mistakes with designing their floor plans. These mistakes vary between room dimensions, furniture, inadequate number of rooms, going over budget, and so on. These will disturb the overall look and flow of your house’s floor plan.
Having a professional home builder will allow you to have structured details of your home and floor plan that lie within your interests and budget.
Professionals know what goes where and what lighting works best in a particular room and if you have beautiful scenery outside your house, how to design the floor plan in a way that best features the scenery. These kinds of things and thinking only occur to a professional and they will add real value to your money when it comes to designing custom home plans.
Speaking of experts, Maine Home Builders have gained a following by providing excellent results. They survey the land and provide creative ideas on how to make the most of it.
What Is Your Budget?
Before designing and choosing your floor plan, the main concern is your budget.
Having a clear budget in mind allows you and your professional builder to utilize that sum of money in the best possible way.
The portfolio of the builder will give you examples of designing your own home as well as the budget. On the other hand, it is safe to assume that the more you design and add to your floor plan, the more expenses will generally increase.
It is best to look into multiple houses and ideas, whether physically or online, to have a realistic point of view regarding what is a must-have for you and what is a necessity for you.
What Is Your Preference?
Your preference regarding your house floor plan includes what you need in your house and what you want in your house.
Both statements may seem similar to you but both have different meanings.
The “needs” of your house floor plan depend on the number of people staying in your house. If you are a bachelor, then a single-story house with one master bedroom and one guest bedroom will be sufficient for you. But if you have a family of six then you need a master bedroom and multiple bedrooms to accommodate your children. These are a must-have for your home.
The “wants” are not a must-have for your home as their main purpose is for enjoyment and leisure. But if they are not going to be properly used and taken care of, then your money is wasted in acquiring them.
If you love to cook, having a big kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances and ample countertops will work best for you. But if you only wish to use your kitchen for basic day-to-day cooking, then investing in a grand kitchen is not a must-have for you.
If you have dinner parties and people over often, having a large dining table is a must-have for you.
Just like that, make a wishlist of what you want and need in your house. Take a look at your budget and discuss with your home builder to see what will work best with your house.
Check Your Space
After you have made a wishlist of your “needs” and “wants” for your house, you and your builder need to see how much space you actually have in your floor plan.
The actual space will determine what makes the cut when building your floor plan. This will ensure how many “needs” are actually met in your floor plan. If all are met and there still is room left, what “wants” can you finally have in your homes?
For example, if you plan on using your furniture from the old house, take its measurements and see where it can be placed.
You should check your bed’s dimensions to see if it should be placed in the master bedroom or in other bedrooms.
If you pay attention to these details beforehand, the builder can design your floor plan with adequate space for all furniture.
But if you plan to buy new furniture, make sure to have noted down the rooms’ dimensions so as to know how big of a coffee table, dinner table, couch, and other types of furniture to buy.
Design Accordingly
Now that you have made your wishlist and narrowed down your basic needs and examined your floor space and talked with your home builder regarding how much space you have for everything, you should design your floor plan accordingly and see what fits where.
This is the ideal phase as everything has to match with each other and create a homey look and feel. You want to make sure that your house is ideal for your and your family’s needs.
Your Family Size
If you are newlyweds, you must decide on how many kids you want later on as you have to design your floor plan according to that. This point also counts on those who already have kids and still wish to have more.
On the other hand, if you have older kids who may soon go to college or move out, you can cut back on your “wants” and wait a little while till the room is available.
Moreover, your family size directly gives you an idea of how many bedrooms you want to have. If your budget is flexible then adding a second story to your house will enable you to also have room for other interests of yours like a gaming room with a pool table, table tennis, and whatnot.
Outdoor Space
While building a custom home, you have the choice of either expanding your house and having a small backyard or can compromise on the total space for your house and having a bigger yard.
The latter fully depends on if you ever plan to do anything about the yard. For example, if you have a garden back there, a well-maintained garden with trimmed bushes and colorful flowers will look a thousand times better than a yard with nothing except mud.
If you don’t want a garden back there, you install a swimming pool back there with possibly a slide running from the roof of your house.
Moreover, you can also have a porch back there with lawn chairs with a view of the street or beautiful scenery (depending upon the location).
Common Mistakes When Designing a House
When you are custom building a house, more often than not, you don’t follow up on your home builder’s suggestions and want to try your luck in designing the perfect floor plan for your home.
This can result in your home not having sufficient space for many things including the most basic requirements.
You should always listen to the professional and try to understand his reasoning.
So, what are the common mistakes people make while custom building their homes?
Not Having an Entrance Lobby
If you have space for it, you should consult with your home builder to have an entrance lobby. This creates a little room for privacy as when the pizza delivery guy knocks on your door, he does not have a view into your house.
Not Having Enough Windows
The morning fresh air and sunlight give your home the perfect “morning vibe”.
By having sufficient windows placed accordingly from where the sun rises, you can have natural light filling your home which also reduces your electricity consumption.
Storage Space
A bigger home with a big family requires ample storage space to go with it. While every bedroom has a closet and multiple chests of drawers, there still should be room for storing cleaning supplies like vacuum cleaners, sweepers, and many other things.
If you do not have sufficient storage space in your home, things start oiling up in unused corners around the house which does not look appealing and makes the whole house feel messy.
Not Being Eco-Friendly Enough
With the advancements in solar energy, it is easier to invest and install solar panels on the roof of your house and consume eco-friendly electricity.
The latter saves you money in the long run and gives that incredible feeling of being eco-friendly in your heart.
According to a survey held in 2022 on carbon neutrality in the United States, 39 percent of the respondents stated that they considered installing solar panels while 8 percent of them stated that they already had installed solar panels.
No Bathroom Privacy
Bathrooms in a home should be placed strategically so that you and/or your guest can have some privacy from the rest of the house but this point depends on the total size of your home.
If you have a small home with a few rooms in total, then having a separate bathroom attached outside your bedroom is not necessary as the guest can just use the bathroom attached to your bedroom. The downside here is that you cannot maintain the privacy of your bedroom.
But if you have a bigger house with more room and space, you can afford a little space for a bathroom outside your bedroom as well. This enables you to secure privacy for the rest of your house.
Insufficient Rooms and Their Sizes
This is one of the most common and crucial mistakes you can make while custom designing your house floor plan.
As we have already discussed above, not having enough space in your rooms will not only not fit your furniture, but it will make you question everything and bring you back to square one.
This is the very thing you should avoid as it can jeopardize your home floor plan.
Conclusion
So it is crucial for you to have a floor plan expert alongside you while you design your custom home plan because this will ensure that your space is entirely utilized and all your “needs” and “wants” are realistically fulfilled.
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