Looking at Building a New Home in Greater Grand Forks? Here are 7 Things you NEED to know!

So, You're Building a New House...

Congratulations! Building a new home is an incredibly exciting time. There are so many things to think about and decide on - it's easy to get overwhelmed. But don't worry, we're here to help. In this blog post, we'll go over 7 things you need to know when building a new home. By the time you're done reading this, you'll be an expert on all things new home construction! 

1. Location, Location, Location
The first thing you need to think about when building a new home is where you want it to be located. Do you want to be in the city? The country? In a particular school district? There are pros and cons to each option, so it's important to do your research and find the location that's right for you. 

2. Pick Your Lot Size Carefully
Once you've decided on a location, it's time to pick your lot size. This can be tricky - you don't want to pick a lot that's too small and cramped, but you also don't want one that's too big and expensive (One thing to consider is specials. There is nothing special about our special assessments!). The best thing to do is sit down with us and builder to figure out what size lot will work best for the type of home you want to build. 

3. Get Familiar with the Building Process
If you've never built a home before, it's important to get familiar with the building process before breaking ground. There are a lot of different steps and people involved, from getting permits to actually constructing the house. Once you have a good understanding of how everything works, you'll be able to make informed decisions throughout the process. 

4. Hire a Reputable Builder 
Speaking of builders...this is probably one of the most important decisions you'll make when constructing a new home. A good builder will help make your dream home a reality, while a bad one will cause nothing but headaches (and probably cost overruns). Do your homework and only work with someone who has a proven track record of building quality homes. If you would like a list of local builders in Grand Forks, reach out to us as we have many contacts that can help!

5. Make Sure Your Plans are Up to Code 
Before any construction can begin, any custom plans must be approved by Grand Forks or East Grand Forks city or county's building department. They will make sure that everything complies with local building codes and regulations. This step is critical - if your plans aren't approved, we could end up having to completely redo them (or worse). If you are looking for a more turnkey option, local spec home plans are always a great option that already meet our local codes and are being used frequently. If we choose the right builder, we can make tweaks to their plans, helping save you money, and get the finished product you still love.

6. Stay Within Your Budget...ish 
Building a new home is expensive - there's no two ways about it. But that doesn't mean you should blow your entire budget on fancy upgrades and finishes. It's important to stay within your means and only splurge on things that are truly important to you (and that will add value to your home). That being said, it's also important to test your comfort zone - sometimes taking risks can really pay off in the end (just ask anyone who's ever renovated a fixer-upper!). 

7. Have Realistic Expectations

Building a new home is an exciting process , but it's important to have realistic expectations . Construction can be unpredictable, so it's important to be willing to accept delays or other issues that may arise . If something does go wrong, try to stay calm and we will work together with the contractor to resolve the issue and keep moving forward.

Building a new home is one of the most exciting things you'll ever do - enjoy every minute of it! Just remember these 7 things and everything will come together perfectly in the end. Trust us, we know what we're talking about 😃