When you get your first notion that you may want to build a home sometime in the near future, get yourself a folder. Anytime you see something in a book, magazine or online, cut it out (print out and cut out the online items) and put it into a home design ideas folder.
This might not sound like a big deal, but have you ever tried to explain something to a builder without showing them what you’re talking about? It’s not always an easy thing to do.
Include items such as bathroom accessories, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, trim details, textures, exterior design features – even floor plan designs. In short, whatever you see that you like, cut it out and put it in your folder!
Here is something you should also do: Cut out something that you do not like! When you can show the builder what you do and don’t like, he will have a much better idea of what makes you tick. Here is another little homework assignment you should do: Every builder assigns this task to his or her potential clients when they’re ready to build a custom home. It’s fun and informative, and it lets you be creative. Let your imagination run wild (within reason, of course).
Get several sheets of paper and gather everyone who will be living in this home around a table. First, you should all make a big master list of everything that you would like to have in this dream home.
Once you do that, as a group you should collectively rank each of these items in order of importance.
For example, quite often a woman will want a large dining room and a smaller breakfast room. Meanwhile, her husband will wish for one big room. Who wins out? That’s entirely up to them. They may ask the builder for a recommendation to be the proverbial tie-breaker, and the builder may lean in the direction of which way helps the future resale value of the home that’s about to be built.
Once the group has its preferences in order, you then begin to eliminate items that do not fall within your budget.
Once you are finished, you’ll probably still think to yourself, “I wish I could have had X,” but at least you won’t have any regrets that you didn’t even bring it up.
There’s no harm in listing everything your heart desires, but your head has to take over when it counts.
