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Anyone have experience with buying land and building a home? We are waiting to move to Mass from CT, but inventory is so low in the towns we are focusing on. We have been patiently waiting for a listing that meets our needs in Westford and Acton, but to no avail. Very frustrating! Things just seem to trickle on in those towns in our price range (700-$750k).
Perhaps, going the new construction way might get us what we want in the town we want. We like the idea of living in a new development, with lots of neighbors and families. I guess I'm just looking for anyone's experience with building a home from square one.
Are you talking about buying some land yourself and hiring someone to build a house for you or are you talking about finding an empty lot in a new development and working with the builder on creating your new home? These are two very different scenarios.
Either way, building a house from the ground up is a lot of work. You have to pick every little thing that goes into the house from the tile on the bathroom floor to the knobs on the kitchen cabinets. It's a full time job.
I like the idea of finding an empty lot in a new development and working with the builder to create a new home. Are there developments like this is Westford and Acton?
Westford has a few 1 to 3 home "subdivisions" where you can work with a small-time builder to customize your new home, but it won't have the subdivision/neighborhood feel that you seek.
Are you talking about buying some land yourself and hiring someone to build a house for you or are you talking about finding an empty lot in a new development and working with the builder on creating your new home? These are two very different scenarios.
Either way, building a house from the ground up is a lot of work. You have to pick every little thing that goes into the house from the tile on the bathroom floor to the knobs on the kitchen cabinets. It's a full time job.
We basically rebuilt our home.
Picking out AND agreeing on everything is very stressful.
It is a full time job especially working with the contractor.
He said he's seen divorces happen over choices.
"If you don't let me put mahogany on the door frame i am going to leave you and the kids" - Said no one ever.
Maybe something like:
Man - I want that room over the garage to be my ManCave
Woman - No way, that's where my mom stays when she visits (mother-in-law suite).
Man - Then just tell her not to come every year
Woman - Over my dead body. I'd rather leave you than not see my own mother.
Man - Fine. You said it. I've always known you want out of this marriage......
If you are not an experienced construction industry type, I have one word for you regarding building a house: Don't. There are plenty of homes for sale and why do something you know nothing about?
If you are not an experienced construction industry type, I have one word for you regarding building a house: Don't. There are plenty of homes for sale and why do something you know nothing about?
It's really easy to pick out what you want in a new home community in other parts of the country, but it usually works a little differently in the Boston area since we build new homes on a much smaller scale. My parents built a new home in PA from a large homebuilder. All they had to do was check off which options they wanted on a pre-populated form provided by the homebuilder. There were about 5 floor plans they could choose from, then choose options like full basement or crawl space, laminate counters vs. granite, white or stained wood trim, deck or no deck, 2-door or double-door garage, etc.
I know quite a few people who have done that. Most recently, my brother did- he builds commercial buildings. Even though he is in the trades, he hired a GC. He could not be there everyday so he wanted somebody that could. That being said, he was a second set of eyes and ears and questioned things- for instance a discrepancy in the cost of concrete for his foundation vs what he knew it should cost based on the number of yards. He was able to find savings through his connections but also was able to make good construction decisions.
Witnessing first hand, the stress he and his wife went through was tough. There were cost overruns, time issues and all the while they were crammed into a small, dated apartment after being accustomed to living in a modern, spacious home. It was hard to watch and as MMKY said in a similar- a conversation about something as simple as tile suddenly was about the the cost of fondant on their wedding cake 12 years ago. It was just stress talking but.... :-) They laugh about it now.
They were finding, like you, a lack of inventory and then, homes in their price range (and I think it was close to yours) were just too big for their needs. The homes they could buy and remodel either did not have the lot size or it would end up being living in a construction zone and paying the cost for something they were being forced to "make work" vs getting exactly what they wanted.
When all was said and done, they are thrilled they did it and really got the house they wanted. They focused on energy efficiency, upgrades and aesthetics like large windows with transoms, sustainable wood floors and custom cabinetry throughout.
For some, it is worth the stress. Good luck!
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