Before the pandemic, we decided to sell our home and buy a ranch. We enjoyed the freedom of having our land and knew we wanted to build our dream farmhouse. Then covid happened and we had to get creative to stay within our budget and get what we wanted! My husband nor I lost our jobs during covid, fortunately, our income didn’t suffer due to Covid, but the cost to build doubled!
Here are a few things I learned about building during covid:
Make sure you have exactly what you want on the plans. Most of the extra money made during home building is from the changes made after the building starts.
Find a contractor you trust. Not just someone who gives you the cheapest quote. We had a great quote. Then entered the contractors’ phone numbers in Google and found a ton of complaints and bad reviews. Check them out not only by name! Because they change company names often.
Ask for a complete breakdown of when each draw will be due. We receive upfront a step-by-step guide of when each payment is due and what will be completed. This helps with knowing what to expect.
Lastly, if you don’t like the options for things such as the garage door. Then ask to upgrade and pay the difference right then. Don’t settle for something you aren’t 100% happy with.
These tips helped us have a smooth building experience and enjoy it.