Setting a budget and understanding the cost to build a custom home on your land is important in understanding the overall building process. Keep in mind that total home building costs can vary widely depending on the type of property you buy, the site work necessary to make the lot buildable, and the type/size of home you build.
The easiest way to think about things when you’re developing your build on your lot budget is like this: Land Price + Site Work + New Home Construction = Total Project Cost
Developing your lot into a home site
Whether it’s the perfect lot you discovered while driving around or it’s family land that has been around for generations, building on your land is special and unique.
When budgeting, it is important to know that the cost of purchasing a lot and the processes necessary to develop it can be a large part of your budget. Site prep work (work done to your land before construction) can be one of the biggest unknowns when purchasing your lot. However, many builders will discuss and estimate your site work costs during a lot walk.
Other things to think about when budgeting for land improvements are Homeowner Association requirements, building setbacks, and the availability of utilities like electric, gas, and water, to name a few. To help guide you through this process, here is a list of the typical lot development items necessary to turn your lot into a home site.
While this may sound like a lot to think about, American Heritage Homes will work with you to help you better understand the steps in transforming your land into a home site. Though some customers prefer to manage their own site work, we are happy to assist if you decide that you need help! After all, we know this might be new territory for you and want to ensure we are your partners every step of the way.
choosing a floor plan
If you’ve been thinking about building a new home on your land, you have probably also been thinking about what your dream home looks like, its size, and its features.
When choosing a home design, think about things like – do you have or want to start a family? Is there adequate room for expansion as your family grows? Will you need to care for grandchildren or elderly parents in the future? Is an open concept for large casual gatherings your style, or would you prefer a formal dining and living room?
As you begin to look at floor plans, you’ll notice that nearly all home builders have their prices on their websites. These prices help give you a general idea of what you should set as your budget to build your custom home on your lot. One thing to think about when looking at floor plans is the house’s overall footprint. For example, a home with a larger footprint won’t be an issue if you have a large lot. However, if your lot is a narrow, city lot, then you will need to consider a home with a smaller footprint.
Comparing Standard Features
As you look at floor plans, you will notice that the base prices vary from builder to builder. That is because each builder includes a different list of standard features in their homes. For example, here is a list of the standard features that go into every Designer Collection home built by American Heritage Homes. When looking at these features, you’ll notice that we feel the bones of the house are equally as important as the finishes, which is why you will see our basement waterproofing system is top of the line!
Keep in mind that typically, if you want a feature not included, it’s considered an upgrade which will increase the overall price of the home.
Customizing Your Design
You’ve probably scouted lots of homes online and pinned tons of beautiful images, but most likely, there’s not a single home you’ve found that’s exactly perfect as it was designed. Why? Because it wasn’t designed for you. Some home builders limit the alterations you can do to their plans. The good news is that with American Heritage Homes, you will have endless opportunities for customization. And the best part is our draftsmen are located in-house, producing construction-ready architectural drawings for our homeowners every day.
From inspiration to design, we will lead you through the entire process. Want to add an extra 4′ to the kitchen? A cathedral ceiling the Family Room? A walk-out basement? No problem! You will work one-on-one with your Sales Consultant to create the perfect one-of-a-kind home for you and your family. Our Sales Consultants have years of experience making homes both beautiful and functional with backgrounds in Interior Design. Not sure what kind of customizations you want to add? Here is a list of some customization ideas our customers have included in their American Heritage Home. And, if budget is a big driver in your custom home build- no problem! We can modify the size, finishes, and architectural features to stay within your budget. Ensuring you get a quality American Heritage Home at a price you can afford.
Interested in learning more about building a home on your land? Contact us today and experience the design-build difference.