New Home Construction Checklist
Summary New Home Construction Checklist for
Kicking-off a New Custom Home Project
By Mark J. Donovan
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A new home construction checklist
should be part of every home construction document package. A new home
construction checklist helps during the planning and construction phases of
a new home construction project. A new home construction checklist helps to
ensure the project is completed on time and budget.
Building a new custom home is an
exciting and daunting endeavor and without a plan and a new home
construction checklist in place, your chances of getting the new home of
your dreams is highly unlikely.
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For many people the idea of
building a new custom home is loaded with uncertainty and questions, however
by generating a list of questions and then a new home construction
checklist, a home construction plan can begin to take form.
To help you get started in
planning your new custom home, I have summarized below a high level new home
construction checklist.
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However keep in mind, that like an
onion, there are many layers to a new home construction project. The summary
new home construction checklist I outline below should get you started, but at
some point you will need to go much deeper in developing your own new home
construction plans and schedule.
Summary New Home Construction Checklist
1) Visit
Banks to Understand your New Home Construction Financing Options
At the top of the list in every new
home construction checklist should be financing. First, and foremost you need the cash
or financing to build your new custom home. Without this, you won’t make much
headway in your new home construction project. Find out what banks will loan you
money, how much money, and at what terms.
2) House
Plans
Another imperative item in the new
home construction checklist is a set of house plans. You will need a complete set of house
plans that include the structural detail to obtain building permits. Visit a
local architect to find a set of existing house plans or to design custom home
plans.
3) Land
Third on the new home construction
checklist is the identification of a building lot. You will need land to build your home
on. Keep in mind that not all land is appropriate for every type of house plan,
so do not purchase your land in a vacuum. Have your house plans handy when
evaluating land. Also, make sure the land is zoned for residential building.
4) Hire
a Home Builder
Forth on the new home
construction checklist is finding a home builder. With a complete set of house
plans in hand, meet with potential home builders to go over your house plans
and to solicit contractor bids. Carefully review each contractor bid to
determine which home builder is right for your new home construction
project.
5) Obtain
New Home Construction Financing
Once you have selected a home
builder and know your new home construction costs obtain financing on the
project. |
Photo by Mark Donovan |
6) Pull
New Home Construction Building Permits
After complete the top 5 items on the
new home construction checklist you need to obtain building permits. With a builder and financing secured
provide your local building inspector with your house plans to obtain building
permits.
7) Begin
Home Construction
With building permits in place you
are ready to break ground and begin your new home construction project. Start
and completion dates for construction work to begin should have been included in
the timeline provided by your home builder, and should also be in your new home
construction checklist.
8) Visit
Home Construction Site Regularly
Plan to make regular site visits to
you new home construction project to make sure the home construction is going to
plan. You may want to consider soliciting the services of your architect to help
in this process, as he has the knowledge and experience to ensure your home is
being built to your house plans.
9) Schedule
Home Construction Inspections
Every new home construction checklist
should include the specification of required inspections. At the completion of each major phase
of a project the local building inspector should inspect and sign off on the
work. Make sure the home builder or yourself contact the building inspector at
these completion points to arrange for inspections.
10)
Obtain Occupancy Permit
When the home construction is
complete, obtain an occupancy permit from the town to enable you to move into
the home.
11)
Converting Construction Financing over to a Conventional Mortgage
The final item in your new home
construction checklist is converting the construction mortgage to a conventional
mortgage and having the mortgage closing. With the house ready to move in,
visit your bank and convert your home construction loan over to a conventional
mortgage.
With an occupancy permit and mortgage
papers in hand, you are now ready to move into your new custom home.
It is important to remember that this
is a summary new home construction checklist. There are many other detailed
steps along the way, and additional major steps may need to be included in your
custom new home construction checklist, depending upon your unique situation. For example, if the new home will require
a private septic system, you will also need to have a septic design created and
approved by the state and local agencies.
For a more comprehensive new home construction
checklist, see my
New Home Construction Bid Sheet. The New Home Construction Bid
Sheet provides a request for quote checklist section that you can provide to
prospective building contractors. It also includes a comprehensive new home
construction cost breakdown table, in Microsoft Excel format, that allows the
contractor to include his projected new home construction costs for every phase
of the project.
How to Finance your New Home Construction Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
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Building Resources
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