(as seen in the Beach Triton)
Many people never thought they would be going through the process of building a new home and yet here they are. The key to anything successful is dependent on the effort that one applies to their goal. No matter what you do the time, energy, imagination, and information that you apply to your project will usually have a direct effect on its outcome. Of course this isn't always the case and sometimes you can be fortunate enough to have it all work out without much effort. With that being said, I will be writing a series of articles on how to go about insuring the success of the building of a new beach home. Including the site selection, design, floor plan, amenities, selection of trades, construction process, pricing, timing, unexpected cost, how to negotiate, communication, products, green alternatives, and many other aspects as we get into it.
If you already have a lot or your wanting to purchase one, finding out what utility's are available, what city or county codes apply, and deed restrictions all can have an overall effect on the outcome of your project. This is one of the easier parts of the total process. Having city/county sewer is about the same price in most cases as a septic system but without the long term expense. Also knowing what your neighbors are building around you should be a consideration when deciding what direction your going to go with your project. Making sure that you stay within the basic size of the homes around you is important to consider as this home is an investment that if you decide to cash in on you want to make sure you get the most return on your money. Deciding if your property is going to be a rental, weekend getaway, or residence is important as well as its use should also effect the location of the home. Consulting a Realtor that deals in both sales and rentals is always a good idea before any movement is taken towards the project beginning. We all know that the closer you are to the beach the more desirable your property will be.
Determining the square footage of your beach home is a difficult one but affects every aspect of your project. From the size of lot to the total footprint that your home will take over is key to determining what all you will be able to fit within the four walls. A typical bedroom is 150 sq.ft. , 100 sq.ft for a kitchen, 400 sq.ft. for a living area, 50 sq.ft. for a bath. As you can see it does not take much to be at 1000 sq. ft. fairly quickly. Utilizing everything under the roof is the key when building as hallways and dead space cost the same amount to build as livable square footage. Working with an experienced designer will help to lay out your home with the maximum return. Knowing what the usage for the home will be vital information when laying out the floor plan. This process should be considered at length and many factors looked over. Furniture lay out, views, high traffic areas, and how many people you want to have be comfortable within the space all make a difference.
Knowing a budget for your build is also vital information to have determined before the process begins. Cost for building home to a quality standard has several variables that I will discuss at length over the next several articles. Keep in mind that the structure of the home is the most important thing and that maintenance is a close second on the list of priorities. Structure with the strength to withstand long term is not something you can or should even consider sacrificing. Slightly overbuilding even to the current code is never a waste of money. As well as making the home last as long as possible between needed repairs should be another important consideration. The best products are not necessarily the most expensive especially when considering the long term cost to maintain the home. You will not be able to save money by doing things twice in any case so its always better to do things right the first time.
Be prepared to take your time in the planning stage and you will be rewarded with an investment that you can enjoy as well as be proud of for years to come!
Jeph (J.B.) Burnett
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