Thinking of building a home in the Evergreen State? We’ve got you covered. NewHomeSource has compiled this homebuilding guide to make your northwest dreams come true! Washington is a stunning state with many different regions and cities to choose from. Ranging from bustling cities to rolling hills, you can have whatever lifestyle you want in Washington, including life in a modular home.
There are many popular, affordable, and safe cities in Washington. The choice is up to you!
Step by step process to build a house in Washington
Before you decide to build your dream home in Washington, there are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Budgeting
Building the home of your dreams is so exciting, but first, you need to check out the total costs before you get knee-deep into the building process. In Washington, a 2000 square foot new home (the average home size) costs about $201,000 to $310,000.
There are lots of things that can contribute to the overall cost, such as square footage, lot size, and location. Here are some of the costs you should expect to see when building your Washington home.
Land Costs
The lot you build on and the location of that lot are a huge part of the overall cost. For example, prices are dramatically different building in Seattle versus rural Washington. The cost of the lot will also determine how big of a home you can build.
Before you start your land search in Washington, it’s important to get financing approval. In almost all instances when you make an offer on land, you will be asked for financing approval, so go ahead and get this step out of the way.
Some homeowners in Washington have also opted to build tiny homes in more popular areas to significantly reduce the costs, since Washington is very tiny house-friendly.
Closing Costs
Homeowners in Washington can expect to pay between 1 percent and 3 percent of the property’s total purchase price for their closing costs. In Washington, these closing costs will include half of the escrow fees, document preparation fees, fees related to the mortgage loan, lender title insurance fees, and more.
Permits and Fees
Some costs of building a home that are often overlooked are the permits and fees required. Once your design is approved, you can start working with a local contractor to discuss the budget and timeline for construction.
Labor and Materials
Not surprisingly, the cost of the materials and labor to build your home accounts for about 40 percent of the total cost of your home. Lumber, for example, can cost anywhere from $25,000 to $65,000; and a roofer may charge between $5,000 and $10,000 for a completed job.
2. Hiring a home builder
Next up is hiring a home builder. You can technically choose not to hire a builder, but builders are experts and will know exactly how to get your home built efficiently. This price will also vary depending on if you are building a custom home or a production home.
To see if you can afford to hire a builder, get a construction mortgage preapproval by a mortgage lender before you seek out builders. This will not only tell you where you are financially but will show builders your financial credibility.
When considering builders, use resources like TrustBuilder that show reviews and ratings from actual homeowners who have worked with different builders.
3. Purchase a lot and complete selections
In Washington, there are a few things to consider before buying your lot. Wetlands, for example, have been receiving increased protection because of their environmental benefits, but this might make buying some properties more difficult. To help, look at your county maps to understand any wetland issues that could inhibit building. Also, take note of any trees that need to be removed, proximity to roads, and local water services.
Selection time will vary if you are building a fully custom home or if you are building a production home. If it is fully custom, you can pick out every single detail of your home. If it is a production home, you will be offered the home and land as a package and a range of house plans, giving you time and energy to focus on the rest of the build.
4. Prepare the lot and build the house
The construction process will begin by preparing the lot. This is when any necessary trees will be torn down and the ground will be leveled to prepare the foundation of your home. Once all the preemptive steps are complete, they can break ground and actually begin the home building process.
Next, the house will be rough framed, plywood or oriented strand board sheathing (OSB) will be installed, and a protective house wrap will be placed to protect the home from the elements.
Once these steps are complete, things start to speed up! Plumbing, electricity, and HVAC will be installed, then comes insulation, drywall, interior fixtures, and exterior fixtures. After all of these are installed, interior trim, exterior walkways, driveway, flooring, countertops, and exterior grading are completed.
The final touches like mechanical trims and bathroom, fixtures will be completed, and there will be a final run-through to make sure everything is perfect before closing!
5. Timeline for Construction
Time for construction depends on a variety of factors like the size of your home, if it is custom or production, how long your builder takes, bad weather, and more. To ensure this process goes by quickly, make sure you have all your permits and paperwork completed early so that there are few delays.
Building your Washington home
After your home is built, you’ll complete a final walkthrough with your builder. They’ll explain how everything operates and the upkeep needs, and it is also an opportunity to see anything that needs to be corrected or adjusted. This will also be when you pay closing costs, finalize loan details, and make sure you have any and all documents prepared for closing day. After that, get ready for moving day–your new Washington home will officially be completed!
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