If you’ve decided to take the plunge and build a home for your family, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of choices you’ll have to make. Here are five tips to help you get the home design process off to a great start from the builders at Homes by Brill, who have built over 500 homes in the Des Moines metro area.
1. Decide where to build your home.
Des Moines has a lot of great neighborhoods, each of which has its own unique features and amenities. There are also a ton of wonderful small towns and suburban communities outside the city limits, including Johnston, Waukee, Ankeny, Altoona, and Urbandale, all of which offer close-knit residential communities, excellent school systems, and easy access to Des Moines’ city center. Whether you’re moving to the Des Moines metro area for the first time or exploring ways to make your money go farther, looking at all your area options makes good sense. You should choose a location for your home based on the surrounding neighborhood, available amenities, distance to work or school, and culture, as well as consider what kind of house you can afford to build on the available land. Some areas, including Mitchellville, Bondurant, Polk City, Granger, Adel, Desoto, Van Meter, Winterset, Indianola, Carlisle and Runnells, are eligible for home financing assistance through the U.S. Federal Lending Program, which can enable you to receive monthly payment assistance on a no-down-payment mortgage loan.
2. Decide what style & layout you want.
One of the first things to decide once you choose a location is whether to build a ranch-style home or multi-story home. Think about where you’ve chosen to build and the size of the footprint that will work best for the community and the land you’ve selected. If your home is radically different in style or size than the other homes in your neighborhood, it can have a lower resale value or potential. A multi-story home can reduce big-ticket building costs like the roof and foundation and may save you money on energy costs. Consider who is going to live in your home—their ages, mobility levels, lifestyles, and desires for privacy—when planning your design footprint and layout. A good house design will meet your family’s needs and allow your family to easily and comfortably use your space. Figure out your priorities for your home’s layout, whether that’s a luxurious master suite with spa features or a “man cave” for hobbies or entertainment (or both)!
3. Think about how to situate your home on your land.
Your home design should maximize your property’s assets and take advantage of the conditions of the land. This allows you to capitalize on the best views, make your home as energy efficient as possible, and situate your home for maximum aesthetic appeal. You should consider having a professional analyze your build site to determine legal considerations such as easements, setbacks, and property lines as well as practical considerations like sun angles, prevailing winds, topography, trees, and other natural elements. The natural slope of the land can influence whether it’s more practical to design a home with a walk-out basement, taking advantage of what could be an otherwise significant expense to level the grade for a single-story home. You can get more home on a smaller lot size by building a multi-level home, so if your lot is small or if you want to preserve as much open space as possible for an incredible yard or outdoor living space, that may be the winning choice. Finally, consider which way you want your garage (and driveway) to face if you have a choice; you may be able to choose how to access your home from a variety of roads, which can impact your home’s value and safety. An experienced builder will be able to discuss the pros and cons of each option.
4. Think about how you want your home to look from the outside.
Sometimes it’s possible to design a home that looks remarkably different on the inside than the outside style would suggest. If you love the curb appeal of a traditional colonial, for example, but would prefer a ranch with soaring ceilings, it may be possible to design a creative interior plan to satisfy both desires. However, not every interior floor plan can work with every exterior home design, so it’s important to consider how you want to use your home before committing to an exterior style. While you’re considering the exterior look of your home, think about the roof, too. The shape and style of your roof can make a big difference in how energy efficient your home is, not to mention how easy it is to maintain. For example, a roof designed with large overhangs can help shade your windows in summer and keep cooling costs down, and steeper-sloped roofs can help prevent buildup of snow and ice.
5. Allow yourself enough time.
The time it takes to build your own custom-designed home can be as little as six months from the beginning of the design process to the day you move in. But if you want to take more time to make decisions, that’s fine, too! Designing your own home gives you the opportunity to incorporate universal design elements that make life easier for all ages and abilities (allowing you to age in place in your home), features you’ve wanted for years (like an awesome garage), and brand new trends or styles (like reclaimed wood). You can even design a home that easily does double duty as a home office or home business headquarters!
If you’re ready to start making decisions for your own custom home, contact Homes by Brill in Des Moines, Iowa. Browse through some of the many unique home designs in our gallery for inspiration, then contact us to get started on building your dream home.
Learn more about our custom building process in our free, downloadable eBook! Click the link below to get your copy now.
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