Building your forever home is exciting! From planning your ideal layout and choosing the number of bedrooms and bathrooms to selecting your fixtures and dreaming of the great parties and cups of morning coffee you’ll enjoy on the patio, there is a lot to look forward to! There are also a lot of decisions to be made. And timelines to juggle. And budgetary items to calculate. And then some more decisions. Let’s face it: stress during custom home builds is real! But you can fight it. Here are a few tips to help. 

You Got This! Lowering Custom Home Building Stress

1. Start at the Beginning

The single biggest step you can take to relieve worry and anxiety is to hire the right builder. To do this, let your fingers do the walking, as the old saying goes. Today, it means hit Google and do some research! Look into builders’ websites and third-party reviews, check into trade or industry association memberships, ask for referrals, and thoroughly interview prospective builders.  

It pays off. When you trust your builder, you know that your timeline and budget will be honored, and, if there is any unexpected bumps along the road, they will be handled proactively and with open communication. 

2. Be Proactive and Make Decisions Early

Making decisions can be a major source of stress: start early. As you’re thinking about your dream house, create vision boards on Pinterest or with printouts and cutouts from magazines that showcase the elements that you want in your home. When you find a builder you can trust, have a conversation about your wants and needs. They can guide you through the process and help you make the right calls. This saves you from time- and cost-consuming change orders down the line.

3. Communicate – All the Time!

Being able to reach your builder and discuss concerns and questions is essential – and it helps relieve quite a bit of stress! When searching for your builder, make sure you select one who will provide you with a single point of contact. This is your go-to. You should be able to get in touch with this person whenever you have issues to discuss. 

At G&G Custom Homes, our team is available by phone or email whenever you have questions. We also offer a client portal through BuilderTrend, where you can track your project and follow up with us on specific aspects of your home build.  

4. You Can’t Move In Yet… But You Can Visit!

Visiting the jobsite can also help alleviate worries. Call your point person and schedule a walk-through: you can ask any question that pops into mind. Or stop by: your project site should be bustling. If your builder and team is busy, great! That’s often enough in itself to set your mind at ease. (But your project manager shouldn’t be too busy to take a moment to speak to you or give you a rundown of what they’re working on.)

5. Know What to Expect

The best stress prevention is knowledge. Ask your builder for a realistic timeline and factor in issues like bad weather that can cause slight delays. Know that these things happen. If you build in a little wiggle room in your mind, you won’t start tearing your hair out on a rainy day! Understanding the process is essential so you can prepare yourself mentally and emotionally.  

And remember: breathe! Look towards the future. In a few months’ time, you will be moving into a gorgeous house. A bit of short-term tumult is worth it for a home that’s built for life.