Making people’s home-building dreams come true in Central Oregon is something we at Arbor Builders have been doing for years. We know how to work with our clients to make sure they get every feature they want. We’ve built relationships with the best subcontractors in town so we can make sure everything is done right the first time.
And, we understand how quickly the costs of a custom home building project can add up and easily blow someone’s budget. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips you might want to follow so you can save money when building a home in Central Oregon. Call one of our agents today to show you even more ways to make your custom build budget stretch further.
- Do your homework — Making sure you know what you’re doing has to be the easiest way to save money when building a home in Central Oregon. Find out if the super cheap lot in your subdivision has any rocks that may require blasting or some expensive grading work. And, don’t be afraid to have another home-building professional review your home’s plans before you sign off on them. Every square foot of negative, unlivable space that you trim from your new home’s floorplan could save you $155.
- Keep it small — We’ve all seen television shows like “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” or “Cribs” that take you on tours of the 12-bedroom, five-bath mansions celebrities like to call home. But really, do they use all of that space? Do they watch television in that home theater, or do they watch in bed like the rest of us? And, the same holds for you. Write down a list of every feature you want in your new home and see if you can do without it or put it in the same location as something else. Don’t forget to think about building up — i.e., putting the second and third bedrooms on a second floor — instead of out.
- Keep it simple — While we would never suggest you use substandard construction materials, we recommend using vinyl plank for your bathroom floor instead of tile if you want to save money. Make a list of all the design add-ons you want to include in your new home’s construction. Figure out which ones you need to do right now, which ones you can do later, and which ones you might be able to do for yourself.
- Focus on efficiency — Don’t forget you’re going to have to pay for the electricity, water, and natural gas that you use when living in your home after you’ve built it. That’s why it’s important to make sure you incorporate energy-efficient building materials and techniques into the design and construction of your new home. Make sure the rooms you plan to use a lot have south-facing windows that let in the sun’s warmth and light throughout the day. Spend the extra cash to put good insulation in your walls and make sure every appliance in your kitchen is Energy-Star Certified.
- Try new things — Finally, don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone and try new things when building your house. This includes using an open floor plan for your home’s main living spaces, hanging your guest’s coats on a rack instead of inside a foyer closet, and swapping your two-car garage for a carport that you could use as a covered patio during the summer. Keep an open mind and ask your builders and designers if they have any other creative suggestions for saving money while building a house in Central Oregon.
Our final tip for saving money when you build a house in Central Oregon is to know what you want. Like most custom build contractors, we’re happy to work with our clients if they realize they want a darker finish on their hardwood floors or a dolomite kitchen countertop instead of a granite one.
It’s important to note, though, that every change you make to your home’s design once construction has started leaves us with extra building materials we might not be able to reuse and hours of labor that have gone to waste. The cost of these change orders, even the tiniest ones, can add up quickly and undo any steps you’ve taken to save money while building a house in Central Oregon.
That’s why we’re happy to help you figure out every detail before our shovels even break the ground. Call one of our agents today so we can help you build your next house in Central Oregon while making sure everything is done right and under budget.
