By using these simple steps, we hope to make your building project a reality for you.
Determine Your Budget. How much can you (are you) willing to borrow? Talk to your financial institution for answers to this question. Establish your priorities to determine where it is best to spend the money. Do you want to reserve some of your budget for redecorating or landscaping? How much value does this project have for you personally? How will this project affect the value of your home? Will an increase in the home's value allow you to borrow more money? Remember, besides influencing the size of your project, your budget helps determine what materials are proposed and used in your project.
List Your Needs and Wants. Because you have already established an estimated budget, you can prepare a realistic wants and needs list. Talk to all members of your household to gather input from everyone who lives there. What is the main reason for your project? For example, do you really need a kitchen addition or do you just need a more efficient layout? What features do you think you need? What features do you think you want? Write down everything to share with the designer. Now is the time to explore any option that comes to mind.
Collect ideas and information. Read magazines, watch related television shows, and visit showrooms to get ideas for your project. Collecting pictures and ideas to show the designer will help explain what you are seeking. Hiring a professional Drafter, Designer, or Architect to develop your building project actually saves money in the long run. Because they do this on a daily basis, the professional will know how to avoid costly mistakes.
Take some time to review your project. Before you move on to building, take the time to review all aspects of your project. Determine if the expense will be justified by the finished value. Ask yourself, is this what I really want? Is there anything I think I might want to change? It is more cost-effective to ask these questions now rather than later when the construction is in progress. If you decide to make changes to your project, you should take the time to review the revised project.
Find a Qualified Licensed Builder. Call your local building association to find a licensed qualified builder in your area. The National Association of Home Builders has an excellent web site which will lead you to state builders. They will, in turn, lead you to builders in your area. We have the link for the Builders Association of Minnesota BAM. After you have the names of several builders, contact them. Ask for references, their license number, and for recent projects they have done which you would be able to view from the road. A good builder will gladly comply. Check all the information you have been given. Some people want to get quotes from several contractors. Do not be surprised if there is a fee for this service. To accurately compare prices from different contractors, you need to compare all the labor and materials (item by item) that are quoted. This ensures an "apples to apples" comparison. Personality compatibility is an important factor when choosing a contractor. Depending on the size of your project, it will feel like you are "living with the builders" anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
Good Luck on Your Project!
