If you're thinking about building a new home, chances are you've already started thinking about the number. What can we afford? What are we approved for? And what can we actually build for that amount?
Here's our two cents after decades of building homes in Southern Maine: just because you're approved for a certain amount doesn't mean you need to spend it all.
We're home builders, not financial advisors. But we've worked with enough Maine families over the years to know that the goal shouldn't be to build the most house you can possibly afford. It should be to build a home that works for your family and your life, both now and a few years down the road.
Start With the Monthly Number
A big approval number can be hard to put into perspective. Sometimes it's more helpful to bring it back down to what it means month to month.
What would you actually be comfortable spending on your home every month? And what else needs to fit alongside it?
Think beyond what your expenses look like today. Maybe childcare is in your future. Maybe you'll need a new vehicle in a few years. You may want to travel, continue building your savings, help your kids through college or simply have enough breathing room that an unexpected expense doesn't throw everything off.
Your approval tells you what you can borrow. Your own budget tells you what makes sense for your life.
If spending less than you're approved for gives your family more flexibility every month, that's worth considering before you start designing the house.
Build the House You'll Actually Use
Once you know what you're comfortable spending, we can start talking about what you actually want to build.
And this is where building custom gets fun.
Maybe you need more square footage for a growing family. Maybe you've always wanted a big garage. Maybe everyone ends up in the kitchen anyway, so that's where you'd rather put more of the budget.
On the other hand, you might realize you don't need another 500 square feet if we can make the floor plan work harder for you. A good mudroom might be worth its weight in gold after one Maine winter. And if you're never going to use a formal dining room, we'd rather put that space somewhere you will use it.
You don't need every upgrade or every extra square foot just because there's room for it in the budget.
This is your house. Our job is to help you get the most out of the number you've decided makes sense.
Don't Forget About the Land
If you haven't bought land yet, give us a call before you do.
We'd much rather walk a piece of property with you before you buy it than have you call us afterward and find out there's more involved in building there than you expected.
We're looking at the slope, driveway access, drainage, utilities, potential home placement and the site work that may be needed. Here in Southern Maine, those things can vary quite a bit from one lot to the next.
Sometimes a tricky-looking property gives us an opportunity to do something really interesting with the home. Other times, there are costs you'll want to know about before you commit.
Either way, we'd rather help you know upfront.
Put the Money Where It Matters
There are a lot of decisions between an empty lot and a finished home.
Some things are worth investing in during the build. Other things can be changed or added five years from now.
That's why being upfront about your budget and priorities matters. If we know what's important to you, we can help you think through where your money will make the biggest difference.
Maybe that means investing in something that's difficult to change later and keeping a finish simple for now. Maybe there's a smarter layout that gets you what you need without adding square footage.
That's the benefit of working with a builder from the beginning.
Build a Home That Makes Sense for You
Fortin Construction has been a family-owned Maine business since 1990, and we've built more than a thousand homes along the way.
One thing we've learned is that the best home isn't necessarily the biggest or most expensive one you can build. It's the one that works for your family when you move in and continues to work for you years later.
So know your numbers. Look at what they mean month to month. Think about where life might take you next. Then decide what you're actually comfortable putting toward your new home.
After that, let's figure out what we can build with it.
If you're thinking about building a custom home in Southern Maine, get in touch with the Fortin Construction team. Even if you're still looking for land or figuring out what you want to build, we're happy to start the conversation.