10 Resources for Planning Your New Home Build

Build With Confidence When You Utilize These 10 Essential Resources for Designing Your Custom Home in Columbia, MO

Do you know everything about building a custom home? Unless you’re a certified general contractor, probably not. Luckily, Rave Homes is here to share all the resources a homeowner could need when planning a new build in Columbia, MO. Let’s get started

Take Your Custom Home Construction From Inspiration to Actualization With These Hot Home Building Tips From Rave Homes

Get Inspired: The Architectural Digest magazine & website is a great place to start finding inspiration for your custom home build

Architectural Digest has been the resource for builders, designers, and homeowners for over 100 years! That’s a long time to build influence and dig into the trends, whether good or bad, in custom home construction. Their magazine is published monthly and isn’t just a great resource for design inspiration and education, it is also a beautiful centerpiece for any coffee table. Stay subscribed even after your build is complete to have a gorgeous high-end print magazine that can adorn your home surfaces. 

Need inspiration now? Check out their website! Not only is it full of design inspiration from celebrities, builders, and interior designers, but it also has a directory for home design services, curated shopping lists for your new home, lifestyle guides, and so much more. Go beyond home design and embrace a brand new you in your custom-built home in Columbia, MO.

Get Inspired: Discover paint colors, fabrics, furniture & more on Pinterest, every homeowner’s favorite mood board 

If you’re not already, get on Pinterest! Make a shared board with your partner and pin your favorite images, shoppable items, and so much more! This isn’t just a great place to curate your ideas, but it’s also something you can share with your custom home builder. When they see your vision in an easily accessible app or web browser, they can keep your dream at the top of mind no matter where you are in the process. 

Pinterest is also a great way to figure out what you don’t like! Try making an anti-mood board to share with your partner and builder. When they know what you DON’T want from a build, they can make sure to leave that out. This is perfect if you’re going for a very certain aesthetic that might not be trendy now but is experiencing a comeback. No one wants modern cabinets in their traditional revival. Keep your design style straight between every party with a Pinterest board.

Get Inspired: Watch home tours & building guides on YouTube

If you love to be entertained while also finding home inspo, get on YouTube! Thousands of accounts focus exclusively on home design, so there are sure to be some favorites for you. We recommend starting with Architectural Digest or Vogue’s YouTube channels. Both cover celebrity and tastemaker homes with stunning detail. Find inspiration from your favorite actors, athletes, and leaders all in one place. 

This is also a great way to follow trends and discover something new. Homes featured on Architectural Digest or Vogue’s home tour videos are often at the forefront of modern design. You’ll be on top of incoming trends and learn what may be on its way out.

Get Inspired: Get local resources for your custom home construction project with the Columbia HBA

The Columbia, MO Home Builders Association isn’t just for home contractors and vendors in the area. It’s also a valuable resource for homeowners who are building in the area. Their members' directory includes local custom home builders, like Rave Homes, as well as subcontractors and vendors who provide endlessly valuable services for your build and beyond. 

While you’re browsing through their site, don’t forget to check out the Columbia HBA’s resources. You’ll find information about trends in mid-Missouri and beyond. When you have questions about the homebuilding process before you commit to a contractor, contact the Columbia HBA for a valuable resource in local custom home construction.

During the Build: Find the perfect lot for sale in Columbia, MO with Rave Homes

Your dream home can only be built on the right style of lot, so make sure you get the perfect lot when purchasing property in Columbia, MO. The first step to choosing a lot is to know if you want a walk-out basement or not. You can get a basement on a flat lot, but it may cost more, and if you want a walkout basement to access your backyard, you’ll need to choose a sloped lot. Families who don’t need a basement would be perfect with a slab home on a flat lot. Next, you’ll want to consider how far you want your home to sit back from the street. Some lots might be wide, but not long enough to make your home feel secluded. Talk to the team at Rave Homes to discuss our lots for sale in Columbia, MO.

During the Build: Ask your builder for a list of local vendors in Columbia, MO they trust who can supply everything from materials to furniture

The vendors you choose to supply materials for your build matter just as much as the contractor you select. While your contractor will manage things like base building materials, you will take control of finishes like lighting, countertops, cabinet colors and handles, flooring, and more. You’re building a custom home. It should be designed to your specifications. 

Ask your builder about vendors they recommend in your area. Shopping local not only means supporting your community, but you also have your suppliers close at hand. If things are delayed in shipping or you need to make a quick decision about an overhead light, having a vendor just a short drive away will save you time and stress! Rave Homes is connected with all of Columbia, MO’s top home construction and design companies, so ask us about who we love to work with.

During the Build: Make monitoring your budget easy with a budgeting app you can access from anywhere

If you’re building a custom home, you’re probably pretty good with a budget. However, introducing this new expense into your budget may be difficult. If you’re paying your builder and interior designer, plus purchasing furniture and decor, using a budgeting app can help you track it all in one place. Find an app that allows you to separate your regular expenses (existing mortgage, utility bills, groceries, etc.) from your new construction expenses. Stay on budget and better monitor your money with a great budgeting app.

During the Build: Plan how you’ll place your furniture so you can make moving in easy

Another app you’ll want to download during the build is a spatial design app. Apps like these let you add your room dimension, which you can find in your blueprints, and plan out how your furniture will be arranged. This is especially helpful if you’re keeping a lot of your old furniture or purchasing new furniture online. When it’s finally time to move in, you’ll know exactly where everything needs to go. You and your movers will appreciate your forward thinking.

Post-Construction Resources: Work with the local post office to ensure your address has been updated & your mail is being forwarded 

One thing you shouldn’t forget is to change your address and have your mail forwarded! Your builder will register your new construction home with the local emergency services and post office, but it’s your job to have your address updated and your mail forwarded. USPS lets you do this easily online! This is also a good time to change your voter registration. Finally, don’t forget to update any subscriptions, bank and credit card billing addresses, and other secure information with your new address. Mail forwarding through the post office works well but it’s never foolproof!

Post-Construction Resources: Find local home service contractors you can trust to take care of all your home needs 

Once you’re happily settled into your new home, it’s time to make sure you have a list of home service providers ready. You never know when you’ll need a lawn care service, landscaper, pest control professional, plumber, or electrician, so being prepared with a list of pre-vetted service providers can save you time, especially in an emergency! If you don’t already have a service provider you trust, ask your builder who they could recommend. They are likely very familiar with many of the community's most trusted and reliable home service providers, so don’t hesitate to ask who they would recommend. 

Be prepared for every step of your custom home construction when you plan ahead with these trusted home-building resources from Rave Homes in Columbia, MO