Building a custom home on your own land is something so many of us dream of doing. While this is such an exciting opportunity to have, it can also be a daunting task. 

To add to that, building trends are definitely changing - fortunately, many for the better! Incorporating cost-effective and sustainable building practices into your dream home, along with modern and eco-friendly features, is now easier than ever. This current trend in real estate is only expected to grow.

We are here to help you usher your beautiful Timber Ridge abode into this modern era. Let’s get started on taking a fresh approach to building your dream home!

Cost-Effective Building Techniques

Many folks are now seeking to utilize cost-effective building techniques when building their new home, so what exactly does that mean?

First of all, cost-effectiveness does not and should not mean something is built cheaply or with poor quality. What would be cost-effective about building something that is going to simply cause issues down the road, leading to further costs?

The goal of cost-effective building is to achieve a balance between the functionality, aesthetics, and affordability of your new home.

Ultimately, the materials, energy, and labor required to create a home are optimized in order to minimize waste and ownership costs over the life of a home. All this while still meeting the needs and desires of the owner.

To boost the cost-effectiveness of your new home, here are some areas to consider:

Design

Many design firms already have wonderful stock plans in their arsenal. Rather than paying an architect to design your home from scratch, ask about designs they already have on hand. This is a much more cost-effective approach.

Not only that, but you can opt for a simple design. A simple and basic rectangular or square home is easier to build than something complicated with all types of curves, nooks, and crannies.

Along with simplicity, choose designs that have a “timeless” quality. This will only add to the value of your home for years to come.

If a simple design sounds too boring, add some tasteful and striking, less-costly features to the outside.

This is a lovely way to add more personality to your home. Consider eye-catching shutters, doors, landscaping, and lighting. In the long run, these solutions cost less and provide great aesthetic touches and a more personalized and welcoming feel to your home.

Pro tip! Two-story homes are generally less expensive to build than sprawling one-story homes. So think about building up rather than out.

Speaking of going up…roof design can also add surprising costs, with simpler roofs also being less expensive. Really it comes down to whether or not you have any pitch to the roof, as generally flatter is cheaper.

That being said, there are advantages to pitches when it comes to water. The last thing you want is more headaches and costs down the line. Make sure to discuss roof and weather factors with your builder.

Size Matters

Before even meeting with a builder, think about what is non-negotiable when it comes to your home. What do you absolutely need in your home? How many bedrooms and bathrooms are absolutely necessary? 

Also, ask yourself about where you spend the most time and with the most people. If cooking and eating are an important part of your lifestyle, keep more space for the kitchen area. If having a place to relax, chat, play games, and watch TV is where your heart is at, the living room should be the larger area. 

Basically, opt for the smallest footprint you will be satisfied with. A huge benefit to a smaller home is that it cuts down on maintenance, maintenance cost, and energy consumption, all of which translates to being more cost-effective.

Materials

There are numerous, perhaps even overwhelming, choices when it comes to building materials. Most importantly, you want your materials to be sturdy and long-lasting. That being said, you can find both attributes in reclaimed materials

Not only is reusing items like old barn doors, wood flooring, windows, and even decorative items trendy, but it’s also very smart when it comes to saving on cost. Craigslist, vintage flea markets, antique shops, and Facebook Marketplace are all places to check for items.

Prefabricated panels are another cost-effective solution. These panels are actually custom-built in a factory and then shipped to the construction site. This leads to less labor time on framing and drywalling, which means less cost with just as beautiful results.

Similarly, precast concrete can also be used. Concrete is poured into molds, cured indoors, and then shipped to the construction site. This cuts down on on-site labor costs and weather delays.

A final note on materials, builders purchase materials at a discounted price, so don’t purchase anything yourself unless you are certain he or she cannot get it for less! Communication with your builder on such matters is key!

Energy-Efficient Homes

Not only is energy efficiency better for the environment, but it can also benefit your pocketbook. The use of energy-efficient items and materials in your home such as certain appliances, high-efficiency windows, better insulation, and solar panels, often comes with tax breaks and rebates. Check EnergyStar to find out if you qualify at the local, state, or federal level.

Hire an Experienced Builder

This cannot be stressed enough. An experienced builder already knows many ways to improve the cost-effectiveness of your new home. Experienced builders know where to spend more and where to save when it comes to your dream home. Make sure to ask for references, and visit some of their past builds as well. 

Pro Tip: Don’t just visit their newest builds, but ask to see those that are five, ten, or twenty years old to see how they’ve aged.

We know many builders in the area and can connect you with several to speak to.

Sustainable Building Practices

Let’s talk a little bit about sustainable building practices. We at Timber Ridge are outdoor adventurers, and we absolutely love the beauty of Southeastern Oklahoma and our location in the Potato Hills. We are so fortunate to be environmental stewards of the area.

With that in mind, one way to contribute to helping the environment out here is through utilizing sustainable building (also called green building) practices. 

These practices generally involve using renewable and reusable materials in a building to decrease energy consumption and waste.

Not all of these will appeal to everyone, but if you’re interested in incorporating some “green” into your dream home, here are a few ideas.

First of all, we’ve already talked a little above about green materials and a small house footprint as those options are both economically and environmentally friendly, here are a few other things to consider when thinking about modern and eco-friendly features for your home.

Modern and Eco-Friendly Features

Are you ready to incorporate some modern and eco-friendly features into your dream home?

Positioning of Your Home

Orient your home to take advantage of the warmth and natural light of the sun through your windows. Spend time on your property at different times of the day to help decide the best placement for your home.

Go Solar

With the sun in mind, consider going solar. Solar panels can be put on roofs or the ground. New technology is making them cheaper and more efficient all the time.

Lighting

Install energy-efficient lighting using LED bulbs.

Appliances

Purchase and install energy and water-efficient appliances.

Water Sources

Think about utilizing rain barrels and greywater sources for any irrigation or gardening needs.

Insulation

Hire a builder who will properly air-seal and insulate your home.

Ductwork

Have your ductwork properly sized and sealed for efficiency.

Smart Technology

Take advantage of the wonders of modern technology! Having a smart home means reducing energy consumption with very little effort, right from your phone.

Smart thermostats can regulate your home’s temperature based on your daily routine - you can even turn the heat off and on from anywhere. Smart lighting works similarly, you can turn lights on and off from anywhere.

So many of these sustainable building practices boost the cost-effectiveness of your new home as well! Win-win!

A Smart Investment

There is truly nothing like owning your own piece of land on which you get to build your custom dream home! Especially in a place as beautiful as Timber Ridge Estates, it truly is a little slice of Heaven.

Owning property never goes out of style and continues to be one of the best investments you can make. Not only that, your property investment will benefit your family both now and in the future. 

By creating a sustainable and eco-friendly home for you and your loved ones, you are guaranteeing them a place to go that gets them back in touch with nature.

Here you are surrounded by refreshing mountain air, the clear waters of Lake Sardis, and beautiful foliage for years to come. 

Real estate trends are showing that more and more people are seeking cost-effective and sustainable homes with modern and eco-friendly features.

This trend shows no sign of stopping and is only growing. Now could be the time for you to invest in your own “green” home in the mountains!

Explore Timber Ridge Estates and schedule your private tour today!