Building your dream home is an exciting journey, but it can quickly become overwhelming if you make avoidable mistakes. Here are nine common pitfalls to steer clear of, with tips to ensure your project runs smoothly and within budget:
- Choosing the Wrong or Cheapest Contractor
It might be tempting to go with the contractor offering the lowest bid, but the cheapest isn’t always the best. Quality work often comes with a price, and hiring an inexperienced or unqualified contractor can lead to costly repairs down the road. Instead, focus on finding a contractor with a solid reputation, proven expertise, and timely effective communication.
- Not Reading Your Contract Thoroughly Before Signing and Paying
There’s the blueprint for your home and then there’s the contract for your project. The contract is the blueprint of expectations of the contractors, outlining responsibilities, timelines, and costs. Skipping over the details could leave you vulnerable to unexpected charges or incomplete work. Take the time to read every clause, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or request revisions if something seems unclear or unfair.
- Not Asking for References for Everything from Plumbing to Painting
Every subcontractor plays a crucial role in the success of your home. Don’t just take their word for it—ask for references and check their past work. Whether it’s plumbing, roofing, painting, or countertops, knowing they have a history of quality work will give you peace of mind.
- Designing for Right Now Instead of the Future
While it’s natural to focus on your current needs, your home should also accommodate future changes. Do you plan to live here forever? Will you have more children? Will your in-laws eventually need to come live with you? Thinking about aging in place, growing your family, or reselling is always good to keep in mind. Features like wider doorways, additional storage, and energy-efficient designs will ensure your home remains functional and desirable for years to come.
- Sticking with Traditional but Inefficient Building Methods
Traditional construction methods can feel safe, but they’re not always the most cost-effective or efficient. Consider advanced engineered building products that offer better durability, sustainability, and energy efficiency. Not only will this save you money in the long term, but it’s also an investment in the future of home building construction. If you could go back and buy a share of Facebook in 2012 at $38 knowing that the value would grow to $500 per share someday, would you hesitate? No way, you’d buy 100 shares and relax because you secured your future wealth early! Innovative home building concepts and systems, like what we offer at Trinity, might feel new and scary but they are going to secure the value of your home and grow it much quicker and more reliably than any other building methods available.
The Johnsons & The Year-Long Build
The Johnson family was ecstatic to break ground on their dream home, a stunning two-story house designed perfectly for their growing family. Having a set of twins after years of infertility struggles, they found themselves needing something large quickly. Since David Johnson grew up with a handyman for a father, he trusted what he knew, what was familiar. So they opted for traditional construction methods, believing it was the most tried-and-true approach and were told their home would be complete well before their twins arrived. However, as the project progressed, they began to encounter significant delays. Supply chain issues caused months-long waits for essential materials like lumber and roofing shingles. Despite their contractor’s best efforts, the delays were completely out of everyone’s control. What should have been a seven-month project stretched into a grueling 14 months. While the Johnsons were ultimately thrilled with their home, they couldn’t help but wonder if more advanced, readily available building materials could have saved them time and stress, even if it meant learning something new.
- Setting and Forgetting Your Budget
Establishing a budget is critical, but it’s just as important to actively manage it. Don’t hand over complete control to your contractor without oversight. Regularly review expenditures and make adjustments to ensure you stay on track. This accountability prevents surprises and unnecessary spending.
- Failing to Plan for the Unexpected
No project is immune to hiccups. Materials might arrive late, or hidden issues like faulty wiring could arise. Choosing contractors with experience and a good reputation reduces the likelihood of major problems, but always include a contingency fund in your budget to cover unexpected costs.
- Being Afraid to Fire an Inefficient or Problematic Contractor
If your contractor isn’t meeting expectations or engaging in questionable practices, don’t hesitate to take action. While firing a contractor can be daunting, sticking with someone who’s not delivering could jeopardize your entire project. Trust your instincts and prioritize the success of your build.
You don’t know what you don’t know, and neither did Alex & Sarah
When Alex and Sarah began building their forever home, they were assured by their contractor that he would guide them toward the most cost-effective solutions. It wasn’t until late in the process that they discovered alternatives like the advanced systems offered by Trinity Building Systems. This was such a new concept their contractor had never heard of it before. Unfortunately for them, these systems could have saved them significant money upfront and reduced ongoing energy costs. Frustrated, they realized that by sticking with traditional methods and assuming their contractor was regularly investigating new innovations in home building, they had spent more than necessary. Funds they would have liked to use for future family expenses. While their contractor was reliable and skilled, Alex and Sarah felt let down. Had they known about Trinity earlier, they could have built a stronger, more energy-efficient home while immediately increasing its equity. The experience taught them to explore all options before committing, even when it’s a field of expertise you don’t know much about and importantly don’t be afraid to bring your discoveries to your contractor. You don’t know what you don’t know, and often they don’t either. In the end this is your home, not theirs.
- Not Contacting Trinity Building Systems
We know, we’re tooting our own horn a bit, but we truly are in the business of helping people. And we want every opportunity to help future home builders not just love their dream home, but feel safe, reassured, and joyful that they made the right choices in the process.
Trinity Building Systems offers innovative building solutions that can save you hundreds, if not thousands, on construction costs and often considerable amounts of time in the building process. We can help you design homes with energy efficiency that beats out traditional stick builds 5x over, reducing long-term utility expenses. Giving you a state of the art home that is ahead of its time not only in costs and innovation but in long term durability as well. Before starting your project, reach out to us to see how our expertise can enhance your dream home in ways you can’t imagine.
But even if you don’t talk to us we hope that by avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother, more rewarding home-building experience. Plan thoughtfully, choose your team wisely, and don’t be afraid to advocate for your vision every step of the way.
