Your Guide to Building a Custom Home in Springfield, MO

From lush forests, clean lakes, and rivers to affordable land costs, custom home builders in Springfield MO are busier than ever, helping people build their dream homes in the burgeoning city of Springfield. The city is unique in that it offers you the opportunity to live in nature’s abundance near the Ozarks while also providing the amenities of a vibrant metropolis.

Building a custom home in Springfield requires knowledge of local by-laws, zoning, and other ordinances, however, local home builders can help you navigate all of that. Up next, we’re going to give you a guide on how to have a successful custom home build in Springfield MO so you can create your perfect home with ease.

Set a Budget for Your Custom Home in Springfield, MO

While building a custom home in Springfield MO is a lot less expensive than building one in a large swath of the United States, you still need to set a budget. Decide on the maximum amount of dollars you can spend on purchasing the land and building on it. This number will make it easier for you to make other decisions such as how much you want to spend on a land lot.

Fortunately, In Springfield, you have the opportunity to get a great piece of land at a far lower price than you would in other cities across the United States. While there are a lot of different factors that affect the cost of a plot of land, the average cost according to landsearch.com is approximately $12,139 for an acre. You’ll find pricing above that and below that based upon how close to the city center the land is located and how developed it is.

Purchasing the land is just one part of building a custom home in Springfield MO. The second is the cost of actually building the home. Those costs will be dependent on the size of your home, the materials you want to use, and more. Be realistic about how much you can spend based on the type of home and outdoor living space that you want when creating your budget.

Things to consider

Create a Needs Vs Wants List for Your Custom Home

When trying to create affordable homes built on your land, you’re going to have all sorts of ideas about what you could include. However, based on your budget, you will need to reign in all of the ideas. A great way to reign in the ideas is creating a needs vs. wants list.

On the needs list, put down all of the things that are absolutely essential for your new custom home. On the wants list, write down the things that you would like if your budget allows. You can always use remodeling contractors or home addition contractors in the future to add the things on your wants list.

Keep your needs list at the forefront to bring the home that you need to life. Use the wants list only if your budget allows.

Things to consider

Decide on Home Size and Outdoor Living Spaces

The size of the home you want to build will affect the size of land you decide to purchase and will affect the cost of your custom home build. Springfield MO has plots for sale ranging from 0.20 of an acre to a few dozen acres so you can go as big or as small as you want on your home and outdoor living area and find the perfect piece of land for your build.

You can use $250 per square foot as a minimum guide when you are deciding on the size of your custom home in Springfield MO. Just note that this number is just a guide as costs can go up or down based on a variety of factors. It is also a good idea to create a list of needs vs wants. The things you must absolutely have should sit in the needs list and the wants can be things you would like, but if the budget isn’t sufficient, you can go without. It’s important to remember that with custom homes and renovations, a cost/square foot model may not apply.

Things to consider

Where to Build in Springfield

Once you’ve decided on your budget, and the size of interior living space and outdoor living space you need, you can get into finding the perfect lot before looking for custom home builders to build your home. Springfield covers a land area of 216.8 km2, which means you can go from one end of the city to the other within about 30 minutes by car.

That also means you’re not too far away from any of the city’s amenities no matter where you build.

However, Springfield is made up of numerous neighborhoods with their own characters and offerings. Most lots don’t sit within existing central communities, however, you can choose to purchase a lot closer to a community that is right for you. For example, if you are someone with a young family, you may prefer to build closer to neighborhoods with highly-rated elementary schools and high schools. Schools in the southern parts of Springfield are often rated higher than those in the northern parts of the city.

Other considerations can include access to golf clubs, parks, lakes, rivers, hiking paths, and biking paths as well as ease of access to grocery stores and shopping. The best way to figure out where to start looking for the perfect piece of property is to decide on your minimum lot size and then make a list of things you want to be able to access close to your home. Both of those things should help you narrow down the perfect area in Springfield Mo to build your perfect house.

Things to Consider

Choose an Architect/Custom Home Builder in Springfield

First off, when you are choosing your custom home building team, it’s important that this team is familiar with custom home building in Springfield MO. Each city in the US has its laws and regulations that builders have to abide by. An organization that has experience working in any particular area will already be familiar with what the needs are so you don’t run into any trouble in the future.

Additionally, a local professional will understand all of the nuances of working in a particular area such as the best materials to use on your home for the local weather. They will also already have relationships with local suppliers and will be able to set more realistic timelines for each stage of the custom home-building process.

While some build-on-your-lot builders require you to hire your own architect, others work with architect partners so you don’t need to take the trouble of that extra step. Regardless of which way you choose to go, be sure to explore your options before settling on a team. The team you choose will be a part of your life for up to a year, so choosing one that is professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with can make the custom home building experience much more pleasant, efficient, and give you the results you envisioned.

Things to Consider

How to Get the Custom Design You Want

When you are building a custom home, all of the decisions rest on you. That means you need to have a clear idea of the design you want to see in your home. Design choices can include layouts, fixtures, lighting, colors, features, and more.

Most people building custom homes are not designers or builders themselves, so a great way to figure out what you want is to do your research. Go to home shows, visit builder showrooms, peruse home and architectural magazines, and visit websites like Pinterest for inspiration.

Get clear on your vision for your home so your custom home builder can create it for you. Additionally, you can ask your architect for ideas if you have an idea but aren’t sure exactly what it takes to bring it to life.

How to Get Ready to Design Your Custom Home Build

Communicating with Your Custom Home Builder in Springfield MO

Staying in contact with your custom home builder throughout the process is always a good idea. Your home builder will have to apply for building permits and coordinate with the city throughout the building process to ensure the build is abiding by local laws and restrictions, at times this will require input from you.

Additionally, you should make sure to stay in contact with your custom home builder to keep abreast of developments, setbacks, timeline changes, and more. Great home builders will keep you in the loop of what is happening and will appreciate feedback throughout the stages.

How to Best Be a Part of the Custom Build Process

Building a Custom Home in Springfield MO Wrap-Up

Once you have a lot, hire your team, determine your space and design, get ready to move to the next stage of a custom home build – a lot of decision-making. One of the most difficult things in building a custom home in Springfield MO, and anywhere else for that matter, is all of the decisions you will need to make. When you have references like your budget, a needs-and-wants list, and a design folder, you can make all of the decisions more easily.

Be prepared for your build to take at least 9 months to over a year, based upon size and requirements. However, when working with a great team, and having your budget in order, before you know it, you’ll be exploring the trails, lakes, and rivers in Springfield, Missouri from your doorstep.You’ll also find yourself in a wholesome community that values good neighbors, nature’s adventures, and living the American dream.

Alair Homes Springfield is a proud member of the Springfield community and has helped design and build stunning forever homes in the city. Please reach out to us if you have a question or need a free consultation.

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