7 Avoidable Mistakes Made Before and After New Home Construction

In 2020, a whopping 1,452,000 housing units got started. That is a whole lot of Americans going through the experience of having a home built for them.



If you're considering new home construction, you know how exciting the prospect of a brand new home built just for you can be. You won't have to move into a used home with someone else's messes or bad paint colors. 

Building a new home is exciting and a big decision. Often the kind of decision you only make one time in your life. And while it comes with great excitement, it can also be daunting and challenging.

If you are about to build a new home, you want to have a clear idea of what you really want and what kind of house will be perfect for you. Then you can work with your builder, to end up with the house of your dreams.

Read on for a list of mistakes to avoid during the building process. 

1. Think Through Your Layout

This might sound simple enough, in theory, to consider the spatial planning of your new home. Before the construction gets too far along you need to take some time to consider how space is arranged in your home.

Consider closely the size and location of closets. Do you have the proper storage where you will need it? Does every room have the right closets for you? 

In many new construction homes, especially custom homes, closets are very large. Do you need that much space or would you be better served to put some of the space that the closet is connected to?

2. Hire an Experienced Contractor

Many people who approach the building of their own home look for ways they can shave some costs off the bottom line. They might consider hiring the builder or contractor who is the cheapest versus the most experienced. 

Some people might decide they want to act as their own contractor. This is a huge mistake. 

You want to hire a contractor for their experience and connections in the construction industry. They will know if the individuals hired to do work on your home are properly completing the work. 

They also have the needed connections to find the best people to be a part of your home construction.

3. Home Location

You are going to make so many important decisions related to your new home. From big things like it's square footage to more minute details like what paint colors get used.

All those decisions are important ones and can get overwhelming. Don't forget to take time and consideration for where your new home actually gets built. 

In fact, it makes sense to find the perfect location, then start to plan the home build.

If you are having a home built in a neighborhood, really consider what lot you select. What will that lot be like once more homes are built? What kind of noises will your home be exposed to? What will the views be like from that location?

It can be tempting to want to save some money on the lot location. This is one thing you can't change once your home starts to be built, so choose carefully.

4. Room Location 

You want to build a house that works for you and your family, not just one that is preplanned by the builder. 

Think about the location of important rooms in your home. Is the kitchen easily accessible from the garage when you are carrying in groceries? 

Is having a main floor master bedroom to avoid stairs important to you? If you have a young family, maybe it makes sense to have a laundry room upstairs instead of on the main floor or basement. 

The allure of a new home can get distracting. Make sure you think through how the placement of important rooms will work for you and your family once you actually live in the house.

5. Skipping the Inspector

You have heard of the importance of hiring a home inspector when purchasing a home from someone else. They can look carefully at all the features of the home, often helping you to understand both the good and less desirable features of the house.

You might think why would I need a home inspector for a new build home? Everything is new. 

You want to hire a home inspector for really the same reason. They are qualified to inspect all aspects of the property to make sure they have been completed up to snuff and will remain in good working order once you move in. 

Don't be fooled by the fact that nothing could wrong with the components of a new home. Hire the inspector and have them go over all parts of the home using their expertise.

6. Carefully Considering the HVAC System

The HVAC system that goes into your home might be one of the more costly decisions you will make. While it might not be as glamorous as selecting kitchen counters or flooring, it's a pretty big decision.

Because most people don't know much about HVAC systems, it would be easy to ignore and not make an informed decision. 

You want to make sure to get the right size heating and cooling components. Going too small for the size of your home can lead to uneven heating and cooling. 

However, choosing a system that's too large can also lead to issues of moisture build-up and possible mold problems.It can also be unnecessarily costly to run a system that is too large.

Use the expertise of your builder to get advice on selecting HVAC components that will perform correctly in your new home.

7. Planning for Contingencies

You know the old adage about the best-laid plans. Anyone who has ever built a new home will tell you to be prepared for unexpected surprises.

Have cushion money in your budget for any surprises that arise. Be prepared to be patient with your timeline. 

Everyone hopes the building process will go smoothly and without any surprises. But your experience will be less stressful if you go into expecting a bit of the unexpected along the way.

Avoid New Home Construction Mistakes

Deciding to take the path and do a new home construction is exciting. Know that you will need to make many thoughtful choices and have the time to dedicate to research and careful planning along the way. 

Hiring an experienced, quality builder is key to the success of any new home construction. If you are looking to build in the Miami and South Florida area, we can help.

Contact us today to get a quote on your construction project.