Building a new home in Southwest Louisiana is a massive undertaking, and it’s easy to get swept away in a mix of excitement, Pinterest boards, and a few “oops” moments. At VT Contracting, your trusted home builders located right here in Lake Charles, we’ve seen it all, and we’ve helped guide plenty of customers away from making more than one glaring mistake during the building process. To help you get started on the right foot, here are the most common mistakes we see custom home buyers make, and how you can avoid them.
1. Thinking the “Sticker Price” is the Final Price
The biggest shock for first timers usually happens in their wallet. Many buyers look at the cost per square foot and think, “Perfect, I can afford that!”
- The Problem: Not considering the “hidden” costs of construction, like site preparation (clearing trees, leveling land, drainage), utility hookups, landscaping, and those inevitable upgrades you’ll fall in love with halfway through the build.
- The Fix: Build a 10–15% contingency buffer into your home building budget. If you don’t use it, you’ve got a head start on your furniture and decor fund!
2. Choosing a Lot Before a Builder
It’s tempting to buy that beautiful piece of land the moment you see it. But, without a builder’s eye, that “perfect” lot might have issues like restrictive zoning or poor soil conditions that will eat up your foundation budget before we even frame a wall.
- The Fix: Bring your builder along before you close on the land. We can spot red flags on the property that a real estate agent might miss.
3. Designing for the “Now,” Not the “Later”
It’s easy to get caught up in what you need today. Maybe you don’t need a home office right now, or you think a smaller laundry room is just fine. But what about next year? Five years from now?
- The Problem: Building a custom home and then outgrowing it in a few years. Adding an extra room or expanding a kitchen is significantly more expensive once the house is finished.
- The Fix: Think about your life five, ten, and fifteen years down the road. High ceilings and open layouts are great, but don’t sacrifice functional storage and flexible spaces for trendy design elements that can go out of style.
4. Making Changes “On the Fly”
We get it. Sometimes, you see a new tile pattern or a cool lighting fixture mid-construction and want to swap. In the industry, we call these change orders, and they’re one of the fastest ways to blow your budget and your timeline. Every “small” change requires new materials, scheduling adjustments for subcontractors, and sometimes even re-doing work that was already finished.
- The Fix: Spend extra time in the pre-planning phase! Think of your blueprints as the “eraser” phase. It’s much easier (and cheaper) to swap out the kitchen island or move a doorway with a click of a mouse than with a sledgehammer. Nailing down the details now means fewer mid-build pivots that can stall your move-in date.
5. Prioritizing Aesthetics Over Infrastructure
It’s fun to pick out countertops, drawer pulls, and fancy faucets, but it’s much less fun to talk about HVAC systems, insulation, and moisture barriers…
- The Problem: Spending the whole budget on the “pretty stuff” and settling for a cheap roof or inefficient windows. In South Louisiana’s humid climate, skipping out on high-quality weatherproofing and energy efficiency can cost you thousands in utility bills and repairs down the road.
- The Fix: Invest in the “bones” of the house first. You can always upgrade a faucet later, but you can’t easily upgrade your wall insulation or add hurricane straps once construction is complete.
Ready to Build it Right the First Time?
Building a custom home should be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, not a cautionary tale. At VT Contracting, we’re your local guides through the entire complex process of construction. We know Southwest Louisiana, we know the land, and we know how to turn your must-haves into a reality without the headaches. Don’t leave your dream home to chance!
Whether you’ve got a full set of blueprints or just a napkin sketch, let’s talk about how to build your legacy with precision and transparency. Contact VT Contracting to schedule your initial consultation today!
