No two custom-built homes are the same – that’s the whole point of custom!
By building your own home, you get to customize the design to fit your specific needs. However, while no two homes might be the same, there are some common mistakes that do plague custom home builders. We may not all want the same home, but many of us will encounter the following mistakes if we don’t plan our homes accordingly.
Maykus Homes shares some common home design mistakes we’ve seen over the years of building custom homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With a little planning, you can avoid these mistakes and build an amazing, functional custom home.
1. Accessibility
Accessibility is often overlooked, but it is a crucial component of the custom home building process. You may not have a need for a downstairs bedroom, accessible showers, and railings at this moment, but you or someone in your family could in the future. Additionally, you also might have a guest who could benefit from these features. These features can add a bit of cost to the overall budget of the home, but they are sometimes necessary. Life happens. Ankles are sprained, health worsens, and family members with different needs will visit, and you’ll be thankful you incorporated these elements into your home when that day comes.
If you want to build an accessible home in Dallas-Fort Worth, consider adding:
- Wide Doorways
- Handles & Grab Bars Where Sensible
- First-Floor Bedroom(s)
- Non-Slip Floors
- Higher Toilets
2. Failure To Think of the Weather
Local weather is a critical component to factor into your design. Take the infamous Texas sunshine. Access to sunlight can add great natural light within the home, but it can also cause issues. For instance, east-facing bay windows in any of the bedrooms are likely a poor choice – unless you want to be awakened by the sun each morning.
Additionally, a patio without a sunroof or covering might sound like a great idea, but you likely won’t get much use out of it during the summer in Dallas-Fort Worth. This is one outdoor example, but there are others to consider as well.
Incorporating a lot of greenery around the home can leave you vulnerable to drought and high utility bills for maintenance. Building at the bottom of a hill will likely increase your risk of flooding. Take the time to chat with your builder about the specifics of your lot and see what their recommendation is. With a little planning, you can likely adjust your initial design to mitigate these risks and optimize your use of the home.
3. Maintenance Issues
You may not think about maintenance when building a custom home, but you will likely consider it after the build is complete. And if your home isn’t properly laid out, you may find performing essential maintenance tasks to be both difficult and time-consuming.
For instance, including multiple levels within your home typically makes maintenance more complicated from the outset, so it’s something to consider when choosing the overall layout of your house. However, maintenance problems can arise from many different design choices. Brick and stucco can crack, wood can rot, and metal siding can rust if not properly maintained.
As always, most of these issues can be mitigated with a little input from your builder. Their attention to detail and commitment to craftsmanship instill confidence in the installation of these high-maintenance elements and usually reduce the risk of any long-term problems. Still, be sure to discuss your design with your home builder and see what their thoughts are.
Build With Maykus Homes
If you’re looking to build a custom home in DFW, call Maykus Homes today. As one of the longest-standing custom home builders in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, we have deep roots in the area and deeper expertise. We’ve built phenomenal homes in a variety of different styles and floor plans across DFW’s top neighborhoods and are here to do the same for you.
By partnering with an expert custom home builder, you dramatically reduce the risk of going over budget or a delayed project, two issues that many other custom home builders can’t mitigate. If you’re looking to build a custom home, contact Maykus Homes today to schedule your consultation!