Are you looking to build a new coastal home? Well, in 2016, Sea Island Builders was voted the #1 Custom Home Builder in the Charleston area. Much of our success has been due to the happiness of our clients, so we wanted to share with you some tips to get you started. Follow our 5 tips for building a new coastal home, and we are confident that you will have an enjoyable experience.

#1 - Hire the right team. Sounds easy, right? Believe it or not, this beginning stage is where most people go wrong. When building a new home, hiring a trustworthy contractor is absolutely essential to the success of your project. Check their references, visit their job sites, read their reviews, and interview them extensively. You really can't bug them enough!
Do your personalities match? Do they understand your goals? Are they conscious of your budget? Do you trust them? These are important questions that you need answered prior to building a new home. Having experience specifically in building coastal homes is a MUST if building along the Charleston coast! Believe us, you don't want to be the guinea pig for an inexperienced contractor.

 

 

#2 - Get the entire team involved early on. Having your team assembled and involved when buying a property and in the early stages of designing a new coastal home will pay huge dividends. A qualified design-build contractor should take the lead to help you maximize the potential of your lot and take advantage of its greatest assets. Where does the sun rise and set? How do you see your family living there on a daily basis? Where are the best views? Your contractor will also provide invaluable costing information to aid in the decision-making process. How much should you put into a new coastal home given the current real estate trends? Are there any building constraints on the site or soil conditions that would affect structural design and construction? You can help eliminate potential mistakes and the chances of incurring rework and redesign later on by getting the team involved early.

 

 

#3 - When building a new coastal home, the design should be timeless. People change and so do stylistic trends. Have your design-build team design a home that will stand the test of time and not only look good now, but one that will still wow you 20 years from now. New homes that have timeless design offer greater long-term value to the homeowner, both emotionally and from a perspective of return on investment (ROI). Another thing to keep in mind is that the materials used on coastal homes are just as important as style, given the extreme conditions the home will be exposed to in Charleston's coastal climate.

 

 

#4 - If you want to splurge on the design elements of a few rooms, we recommend the kitchen, the master bathroom, and the laundry room. These are the three areas that a potential buyer will focus on if or when you decide to sell your home. A bright, spacious, and clean kitchen, stunning master bathroom, and a functional laundry room will make your home shine above the rest.

 

 

#5 Have regular site meetings with your project team. Site meetings allow for more communication between you and your team, which helps keep everyone accountable for their role in the project. Proper and constant communication from the subcontractor level through the contractor and with the ownership will ensure that there are no schedule surprises or budget surprises, and will generally lead to a more positive building experience for everyone. Just like with any relationship, the more time and energy you invest in it the more fruitful it will be. When building a new home, suggest regular site meetings, a general project schedule, and budget update meetings on at least a monthly basis. Communication is CRITICAL to a project's success!

Sea Island Builders has implemented many quality controls, including extensive plan review checklists and procedures that ensure every design is build-ready BEFORE construction even begins. This includes full HVAC design and implementation into the structural plans. Figuring out problems ahead of time on paper always saves valuable time and money over figuring it out in the field. Being prepared by planning ahead is just another aspect that sets Sea Island Builders apart and makes us the Best Custom Home Builder in Charleston.

There you have it! After many years of building some of the finest homes in the Charleston area, we believe these 5 tips will help you achieve great success when building your new coastal home.

Best of luck!

 

Article written by Jason Fowler on behalf of Sea Island Builders. See original at seaislandbuilders.com. Call Sea Island Builders today at 843-883-7430 for a consultation about your custom home build or renovation OR visit them online at seaislandbuilders.com.