Learn if you should buy land before or after choosing a custom home builder.
When building a custom home, two of your most important decisions include choosing a builder and choosing a lot. Many homeowners ask the question of what to do first- buy the land, or hire a builder? While there isn’t necessarily one correct answer for everyone, a great home builder can be extremely helpful in choosing the best lot for your home. Continue reading to learn which option is the best decision for you!
Buying Land First
Sometimes, people find the perfect lot for their custom home before they have hired a home builder. If you find a lot that has everything you are looking for, but you aren’t quite ready to build your house, you may be able to secure the location by paying cash or buying it with a loan. If you can purchase it, be sure to bring your custom home builder to the site as soon as possible after hiring them. The builder must be able to see the lot in person to incorporate critical aspects of the land into your home design.
If you do buy a lot before talking to a builder (which is not recommended in any area with protected segments like forestation, waterfront, small lots, etc.), you should at the very least hire a surveyor to see where it is acceptable to build. However, the smarter practice is to make an offer on land with a due diligence period. This due diligence time can be used for a builder review, and most builders, including T&G Builders, will do this without a contract.
At T&G Builders, our initial consultation can take place on the lot you have purchased so we can discuss site conditions, local building codes, house size, and more. Also, our team always takes precautions to determine if the house plan will fit on the lot before the design process begins. This involves researching HOA or permit restrictions on items such as height, size requirements, lot coverage restrictions, and more.
Hiring A Custom Home Builder First
The other option is to hire your custom home builder before looking for a location. This choice has many benefits, as the home building process is often more cost-effective if you hire the builder first. Professional home builders will help you find the perfect lot, as they may have locations available where they have configured improvement costs so they can give you one final price. The only possible downside is the chance that you may not find a lot that has everything you are looking for, but it is worth it to have more control over the cost of the overall project!
T&G Builders is a very unique company, as we have in-house realty capabilities to help our customers find the perfect location for their custom home. If you choose T&G Builders, you will work with an experienced and knowledgeable local realtor from Shamrock Realty Group. Shamrock Realty Group offers a wide selection of properties for sale, including lots and homes available at numerous price points, to ensure you find the best location for your dream home!
Build Your Dream Custom Home With T&G Builders
T&G Builders, located in Berlin, MD, has been a premier waterfront custom home builder and home improvement contractor serving Worcester and Sussex Counties for over 25 years. We are a locally owned and operated business known for our uncompromising commitment to quality, our passion for using innovative technology and premium materials to complete projects, and our exceptional attention to detail. In addition to building custom homes, we also specialize in remodeling your current house into your dream home! Our skilled team can assess your needs, determine the right design for your addition or improvement, and complete the entire construction process.
To see what your dream home could look like and receive a free home design, contact us today! Don’t forget to follow T&G Builders on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Houzz.