Contributed by Melanie (McGinley) Sparks of Kurk Homes Custom Builders

There’s almost nothing more exciting than designing and building your dream home, but there are pitfalls and common mistakes that can cause major delays and expenses if you don’t plan ahead. The more informed your decisions are in the planning stage of your home, the faster and smoother the building process will go. Putting extra time into planning your home will pay off in the end.

Here are some things you’ll want to consider when planning your custom home.

1. Storage. You can never have enough storage. Give us an empty drawer or cabinet and we will fill it. Here we shared tips on where to save, but also where to splurge on storage space and flex rooms in order to maximize your home’s efficiency.
2. Building Time. Are you prepared for the time commitment to build a custom home? Knowing and understanding your timeline can help relieve a lot of stress when building a home. We discussed the factors that come into play when we set timelines for our custom houses in this blog. It’s also very important to factor in any changes that are made during the build process. Setting a budget and understanding the timing associated with building are imperative to making the construction process run smoothly.
3. Style. Do you have your heart set on a certain home style? You can never go wrong with classic touches like subway tile or indoor wood paneling, and don’t be scared to branch out and add a few unique features in modern paint colors that stretch beyond the neutrals– being able to pick and choose each item is a huge benefit of building a custom home.
4. Building for the Future. Building a custom home has so many benefits but one of the best ones is being able to prepare your home for future needs. Multigenerational Living is a huge trend that we don’t think will phase out anytime soon, and you’ll never regret having been prepared with extra living space for family members. Also, keeping energy-efficient building principles in mind and seeking out builders that have accreditation in this area might be something worth pursuing, for example looking for builders who are ENERGY STAR® Certified Homes Partners.
5. Property Size and Features. Your lot size and shape will be a huge factor in determining the footprint of your custom home. For example, if you want a wide one story but your lot is narrow and long – there are ways to accommodate your wants within the property boundaries. But advance planning is essential to make it happen.

These are just a few factors to consider when designing and building your custom home. You’ll want to make sure you’re working with a team that has professionals on staff to help you design your home to ensure it is not only aesthetically beautiful but also functional to meet your specific needs. Once you find that perfect piece of property, there are a few things to consider as you begin the design and build journey. For more information and guidance, feel free to contact us or visit us at our Southern Living Showcase Home in Texas Grand Ranch!

Kurk Homes is a Third Generation Full-Service Custom Build on Your Land company that is one of an exclusive group of builders chosen for the Southern Living Custom Builder Program in New Braunfels, College Station and Huntsville, Texas, and we are the only Southern Living Custom Builder to have a 20-year structural warranty. Kurk Homes designs and builds custom dream homes to a higher standard. We offer 2 x 6 exterior walls and multiple meticulous third-party inspections from pre-foundation placement to the final T.R.E.C. and Guardian Home certification. For more information, please visit www.kurkhomes.com.