Building a new home can be a fun and exciting adventure, creating a beautiful space for friends and family to enjoy for years to come.

Here are a few things to consider, ensuring an enjoyable and successful build.

1. Finding a Lot or Vacant Land Suitable for Building

a. In the Coulee Region, we have some unique challenges when it comes to our topography and suitable building sites. A flat building site is cheaper to build on than a sloped lot. A flat lot saves money on excavation costs, retaining walls, bringing in fill, etc. A flat lot is ideal, but not always possible. If your lot has a significant slope to it, then you may want to consider designing your home around the lot, e.g., a walkout basement. 

b. When considering purchasing a lot, make sure to reach out to the local and county zoning authorities to make sure that the lot is buildable and that it doesn’t have any deed or zoning restrictions that would prohibit you from building. Also, check to see what utilities are available and talk to neighbors or ask a contractor or realtor what potential cost may be for the well, septic, and power. 

c. City/development lots that offer sewer or water can save you on your overall building costs, but the price of the lot will typically be more than that of an undeveloped lot. Having to install a well, septic system, and or trench for power long distances can be expensive. A developed versus an undeveloped lot has different pros/cons that should be evaluated when you are considering purchasing.

2. Plan Far in Advance for Utilities, Septic Systems, Wells

a. If you plan to build on a vacant or rural lot, make sure to reach out to a contractor or licensed sanity professional early on, and schedule to have a soil test. This will help to determine what type of septic system is needed, as well as make sure that the soil will be able to accommodate a septic system. If a lot is in a wetland or low-lying area, a septic system may not be able to be installed.

b. In order to receive a building permit, you will need a sanitary permit. Receiving a sanitary permit can be a lengthy process and should be started at least 3 to 6 months before you plan to break ground.

c. Drilling a well. If you do not have access to a shared well or public utilities, it is important to contact a well pump and drilling company months before you need water. The Coulee region has some high building sites that may require drilling hundreds of feet to reach adequate water.

d. Power, natural gas, propane: reach out to the local power/utility company to get an estimate to bring power, gas/LP to the build site. 

3. Designing Your Dream Home

a. Before meeting with a Builder, Architect, or Draftsman, it is good to have a list of the must-haves. Number of bedrooms, bathrooms, garage spaces, design ideas, etc.

b. Once you have your lot and plans, reach out to a local trusted contractor to get an estimate on your project. A contractor should be able to put a competent and detailed estimate together for your new home.

c. When designing/planning, have a good idea of what your budget is and factor in a 5 to 10% contingency on top of your budget. This will alleviate stress if any unforeseen costs come up during the build process.

d. Kitchens, bathrooms, cabinet areas: when designing spaces with a lot of cabinets, it can be very helpful to sit down with a Designer who offers 3D design of your kitchen/bathroom/cabinet spaces. This ensures that you can see and visualize what the space will look like and ensure that your dream becomes a reality.

4. Building Your Dream Home

a. Once you have a lot to build on, Construction Plans, and lined up a local trusted contractor, it is time to start the building process.

b. A licensed and insured builder should be able to manage and walk you through all the preconstruction details needed before you break ground. Such details include permitting, utilities, temporary power, site layout/design, finalizing selections/fixtures with the client, material ordering, and scheduling with all subcontractors involved, etc.

c. The preconstruction process can be lengthy; take this into consideration if you have a specific date that you would like to start building. For example, if you would like to start in the spring, then you should have a General Contractor lined up 6 to 12 months in advance. This will ensure that any of the preconstruction details are taken care of before you break ground.

d. Breaking ground: it is an exciting day once excavators/equipment are mobilized, and the excavation process has started. The overall build process, from breaking ground to moving in, depends on the size/complexity of the home but typically lasts 6 to 10 months.

e. During the building process, your contractor should have consistent and open communication. Construction management software that provides daily/weekly updates is a must-have tool. Construction software keeps the client up to date as the project progresses, as well as keeping all schedules, invoices, and photos in one convenient location.

f. Weather delays: weather is unpredictable and something to keep in mind when planning to build. There are advantages/disadvantages to every season, but typically it is best to break ground in the summer or fall months. This season tends to have less rain and snow delays while excavation and concrete are being installed. However, you can build year-round.

g. Once you have built your dream home and moved in, it is important to realize that there still may be more work to be completed. Depending on when you move in, you may still need to wait for the following season to finish exterior flat work, concrete, and landscaping/hardscaping, etc. Keep this in mind from a scheduling and budgeting standpoint.

Olson Construction Inc. would love to talk or meet with you to discuss any questions you have about building your dream home. And remember, if you want to build next year, the process starts now.