5 Things to Do Before You Start Constructing a New Home

Constructing a new house requires a lot of planning and preparation and doesn’t just begin with laying the foundation. It starts from a pre-construction phase. This stage equips you with the insights and data you need to make informed decisions during the project’s cycle.

Besides fostering collaboration among stakeholders, pre-construction planning also offers a roadmap for your project’s completion. Understanding what to consider before beginning a construction project can help ensure success. Outlined below are five things to do before you start constructing a new home.

1. Prioritize soil compaction

Soil compaction densifies loose soil by minimizing the space between soil pores and eliminating the voids in soil particles, strengthening the soil. The process stabilizes the ground in readiness for construction to ensure the longevity of your new home’s foundation. Compacting soil before starting your construction project offers multiple benefits, including:

• Supporting buildings: If you build your new house on soil that hasn’t been compacted well, it may eventually collapse. Compaction densifies the soil enough to bear the construction project’s weight
• Preventing soil erosion: Compacting soil ensures it doesn’t slide, preventing water from passing underneath the foundation’s surface. This helps avoid erosion damage
• Controlling permeability: Soil compaction controls water drainage, reducing the possibility of erosion and flooding

With the help of an expert geotechnical engineer, such as this Florida geotechnical engineer, you can ensure accurate compaction testing that guarantees your building’s longevity.

2. Get a good foundation plan

A good foundation plan is crucial when building a new house. It illustrates your structure’s foundation dimensions, specifications, and layout. A reliable foundation plan consists of details like:

• Foundation type
• Reinforcement details
• Footing dimensions plus
• Other relevant details crucial for building a solid, stable foundation

Since foundations are the backbone of any house, ensuring your foundation plan is designed correctly guarantees that your home is adequately supported, eliminating the risk of structural failures like cracking and settlement. A good foundation plan also reduces the possibility of errors and ascertains that the foundation is constructed as per the architect’s specifications.

3. Plan your construction budget

Constructing your dream home requires deliberate financial planning. With a well-prepared budget for building your new home, you can ensure the project remains on track and avoid overspending. It allows you to organize your expenses and apportion funds accordingly. A home construction budget lets you plan ahead and consider any contingencies that may crop up during construction. To make a precise construction budget, learn the different construction stages and their contribution to the overall building cost.

4. Acquire the necessary building permits

Building permits are authorizations from local governments required before starting a construction project. They aim to ensure projects adhere to construction laws and safe construction practices. If you partner with a contractor, they’ll get the building permit on your behalf. Building permits aren’t free, so ensure they’re included in your construction budget.

5. Hire a custom home builder

A custom home builder offers the best construction services for those seeking to build unique houses tailored to their preferences and lifestyles. These experts specialize in planning and building homes personalized to your needs. Custom home builders’ expertise helps ensure your house is constructed to the highest craftsmanship and quality standards. A good custom builder has strong connections with suppliers, which helps secure the best prices for quality construction materials. Leveraging their experience helps ensure the best outcome for your project.

Endnote

What you do before building your new house significantly impacts the project’s success. Familiarize yourself with the things to do before starting constructing a new home.