If you are in the market for a new home in West Virginia but are overwhelmed by the options you have, then custom building a home at The Retreat might just be the one for you. Custom building a home isn’t just about getting everything you want, the way you want it. It is more about being efficient and getting yourself a home that fits your lifestyle.
To custom build or not?
As you shop for a home, you may realize that you actually have quite a lot of options to choose from—from spec homes to homes in development to condos. The options sometimes tend to get too overwhelming that choosing the one that will work best for you becomes harder than ever.
This is basically the reason why many homeowners nowadays prefer custom building their homes over buying an existing home. While there are several advantages that come with buying an existing home, this choice also has its own share of unique shortcomings. Here are some of them:
- They were not built to suit your particular taste.
- There’s a risk of finding out too late that the house actually has a long list of repair and maintenance issues.
- Unlike custom-built homes, existing homes do not come under warranty.
What are the benefits of having a custom-built home?
Finding yourself leaning more towards custom building your home is a good sign that you’re starting to believe in your power to customize literally every aspect of your future home. Custom builders are just there to help advise you on some of your choices if you ask, but ultimately, the finished product is something that is totally yours.
Imagine being able to decide what your dream home will look like, from the flooring options to the color of its exterior. The benefit of having a home that is completely your style is something you cannot find anywhere else but in a custom home. No matter how much time and effort you put into redecorating an old, existing home, no amount of redecoration will make it perfectly fit your unique style.
Take a look at the following benefits of having a custom home:
1. Lower maintenance costs
Buying an existing home is like gambling. When you buy a move-in-ready home, expect maintenance pitfalls that will not present themselves until months or years after you have completed the purchase.
When you opt for a custom home, you know that everything is new, so all the building materials used to build it, as well as the appliances and home furnishings you find in it, all come with warranties direct from their manufacturers.
It goes without saying that with a custom home, you do not need to worry about spending much for regular maintenance. Not having to think about the repairs and reconfigurations, as well as the initial outlay you shell out for a pre-existing home, means getting to save a considerable amount of money while getting the exact home you desire.
2. A future-proof home
One of the main reasons homeowners end up selling their homes is to accommodate their growing families. Having a custom home means having a future-proof home, where you afford yourself the opportunity to design a living space that does not only fit your needs today but also takes into account your family’s future.
Just because you are three in the family today doesn’t mean you’ll still be three 10 years from now. If you buy an existing home and your family happens to get bigger in the future, you will have to make major changes to your floor plan. That means having to knock certain walls down and invest a lot of time, money, and effort to get exactly the size your family requires. With a custom-built home, you won’t have to deal with any of those inconveniences.
3. Energy efficiency
When you custom build your home, you get to pick out all the appliances you’ll have in your home. Since these appliances are new, you can trust that they are significantly more energy efficient than older models.
With a custom-built home, you also get an even greater opportunity to dial in energy efficiency and substantially lower your monthly energy bills. Why? Because newly constructed homes nowadays offer improved heating and cooling systems that help bring down the energy bill. That’s different from buying an existing home and retrofitting them with modern, updated energy efficient fixtures.
4. Personalization
Imagine living in a home where you have a say in every detail of it. The only place you can achieve that is in a custom-built home.
One of the most significant advantages of having your own home custom-built is that you can live in a home that is a true expression of yourself. When you custom build your home, you have the chance to handpick everything, from the doorknobs to the light fixtures, down to the appliances. In short, custom building your home is your chance to achieve a cohesive living experience that is completely you.
If you buy an existing home, you may find it difficult to feel that the home is entirely yours. This is because with existing homes, it is almost impossible to get what exactly suits your needs and taste. You may come very close as you replace everything in the home with things that you desire, but the potential for complete satisfaction is still low compared with having a custom-built home where your freedom to personalize everything is limitless.
5. A floor plan that suits your lifestyle
Finding a home where you can comfortably entertain guests is hard, especially when you are on a budget. But since the ability to invite and accommodate friends into your home will significantly impact your quality of life, you can’t just take your home’s floor plan too lightly.
Building a custom home is your perfect opportunity to play up your hosting strengths. With a custom-built home, you are free to build a custom patio with a barbeque pit or an in-ground pool, where you can have a great time with your friends. You can also build your kitchen large enough to cook for your entire family.
6. Superior Quality
Custom building a home is all about choices, from what you want your home to look like down to whose hands you want to entrust the construction of your home. When you custom-build a home, you have the opportunity to choose your builder, as well as the materials that will be used to build your home.
Because you have all the freedom to customize your home from the ground up, you are more likely to end up with a home that meets your standards. This rarely happens when buying a home developed and constructed by someone else, where chances of substandard construction are high. With a custom-built home, you can be assured that your home is able to hold its value for the years to come, so you won’t have a hard time selling it in case you need to sell it down the road.
7. A location you prefer
There’s a lot of power in custom-building a home, and that includes the power to choose where you want your home to be built. Once you decide to go for a custom-built home, you can start looking for a location where you know you will be happy to stay for the rest of your life.
If you have children, choose a location that has easy access to good schools. If you are a nature lover, find a lot that lets you enjoy scenic views.
How to Custom Build a Home
Have you already made up your mind about custom building your future home? Then the next thing you need to know is how to actually custom build a home.
Making the plunge to customize a home is not as hard at it seems, although there’s always the worry that your savings might not be enough, or that you’re not yet ready. With careful planning and preparation, however, you will realize that getting your custom home project underway is actually fun and exciting!
Here are a few tips to get started with your custom home project:
1. Decide where you want to live
If you are serious about custom building your home, the first thing you need to consider is its location. It’s easy to skip this step because the most enjoyable part of custom home building is designing, but remember that before you even get to design your home, you must first have someplace to live.
In choosing the location of your future custom home, consider what your family wants and needs. It is also a matter of financial consideration because there are certain locations where you can buy a lot for less compared with other locations.
2. Know how much budget you will need for your home.
Once you’ve decided where to build your custom home, the next thing to do is to set your actual budget for the construction of your home. Do not forget to take into account all the materials needed to build the home, as well as the appliances and fixtures you will purchase once it’s built.
Sometimes, custom-built homes tend to turn out a bit more expensive than initially planned. If you want your home to be constructed without a hitch until you move in, make sure you add a little bit of breathing room to your budget for any unexpected expenses.
3. Look for a lot.
So you have already decided where you want to live and have set a budget for your custom home. Now, you can start looking for a lot where you want to see your future home on.
Remember, however, that you cannot make a final decision until you have spoken with a builder. There are times when people find their dream lot, only to realize that their dream home can’t fit on it. Remember that your home design should flow and work well with the lot you purchase.
4. Plan your design.
Once you have a lot for your future home, it’s time to get serious about the planning. Ask yourself how you want your home to turn out. It helps coming up with a list of everything you want to see in your custom home, from its exterior and interior design down to the more specific aspects.
The best thing about a custom-built home is that you have a say in everything. Take advantage of that freedom. The earlier you perfect your design, the easier it will be to execute everything down the road.
5. Work with the right builder
Probably the most important aspect of the building process is finding a good builder. The builder of your home can make or break your custom home, so you need to take time to find someone who has an excellent reputation for building the type of home that you want.
Once you’ve found a good builder, talk to him and be very clear about what you want. Keep your communication lines open if you want your home to come out exactly how you want it. If you want something a certain way, let them know.
6. Be patient.
Just like any building projects, building a custom home takes a while. As the owner, you might sometimes find it stressful obtaining permits, drawing up design plans and actually breaking ground. Remember though that as long as you are patient and have carefully planned your home, the finished product will certainly be worth your wait.
Why Build Your Custom Home at The Retreat WV?
If you are looking to build your custom home in West Virginia, The Retreat at the White Rock Mountain in Caldwell, WV is the perfect location for you. This luxury gated community is a master planned community that offers not just privacy but spacious home sites, all underground utilities and magnificent views.
Owning a property at The Retreat means giving yourself the opportunity to get closer to nature, as it boasts of hundreds of acres of mature hardwood forest designated as nature preserves. Located on top of the highest peaks of the Allegheny Mountains, The Retreat offers show-stopping views of the Allegheny mountain ranges and the Greenbrier Valley.
When you custom build your home at The Retreat, expect to experience the best that nature has to offer, merged with the amenities and conveniences of modern living. The community also features miles of hiking and biking trails, allowing residents to bike along the 78 miles of the Greenbrier River Trail system while basking in the stunning views of the area.
The Retreat has three phases and more than a hundred homesites and offers a mountaintop clubhouse that residents can enjoy. The community also provides easy access to acclaimed golf courses, as well as creeks, rivers, and lakes for residents who want to go boating, kayaking, rafting or fishing. The Retreat is only 15 minutes away to downtown Historic Lewisburg and 15 minutes from the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, where you will have plenty of dining and shopping options.
Buy lots for sale at The Retreat WV and custom build your own home in this beautiful gem in West Virginia! Call me, Rebecca Gaujot, at 304-520-2133 today!
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