As Flower Mound custom home builders, we know how costly it can be to build the home of your dreams – but we also know there are ways to cut some of those costs, without sacrificing the beautiful home you’ve dreamed of. We have a few “secrets” we want to share with you that will help cut some of the expense, along with some of the stress.
You may want a 3,500 square foot home, but would 3,000 work just as well? In many cases, yes. It’s obvious that fewer square feet result in a reduced cost, and redundancy can cost you. Do you really need a breakfast nook, dining room, AND room for four or five stools at the kitchen counter? In most cases, homeowners can scale down by thinking about what they REALLY need. For instance, you could probably do without a living room, family room, and a study. A casual family room and formal living room is fine, but there are only so many areas in a home that you’ll really sit in.
Where should you be a bit more extravagant, and where is it okay to go with the basics? Of course you want the bathroom that guests will use to be nice – granite countertops, crown molding, maybe solid brass faucets, but do the kids really care if their bathroom is that fancy? The same goes for flooring and carpets; put the “good stuff” in the areas your family and guests spend the most time in, such as the family room and dining room/kitchen.
Spending more initially on quality building components will save you in the long run. This is an area where you don’t want to skimp. Cheap windows, siding, or roofing might save you money in the beginning, but it will cost you in the long run because you’ll face repairs or replacement much sooner.
Good design will result in fewer wasted materials. We all know that lumber comes as 2 by 4, 2 by 6, etc. and that plywood and sheets of drywall are typically 4 feet wide and 8 feet tall. When designing your home and the layout of rooms, try to avoid the dining room that’s 9 1/2 feet wide and 15 feet long. Lots of material scraps will end up in the dumpster!
Of course you want to include energy efficient features such as windows, insulation, appliances, HVAC system, etc. to save you money over the years. However, it’s also important to consider the design of your home in relation to site and climate. For instance, you wouldn’t want to face a wall full of huge windows toward the west where hot afternoon sun in summer months would bear down, causing your home to feel too warm – and the A/C to run more because of it.
At Bud Bartley Family of Builders, we understand that regardless of how much money you have, it’s nice to save as much as possible when building your custom home in North Texas. You can cut costs, and enjoy a high quality, upscale home! Trust our family of builders to deliver beyond your expectations.
