2020 Fall Home Improvement

2020 FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT Lincoln Daily News September 24, 2020 Page 27 National Electrical Code, and the 2014 State of Illinois Plumbing Code.” So, there are three separate sets of codes in addition to the local codes. Your contractor spends time with all of these and should be familiar with what must be done for a solid construction in your area. The question is, are you? Do you want to take a chance that you will try to do it yourself and miss something that is very, very important? Even with a contractor, you will still be very involved in your home build. You are going to be putting a lot of effort into choosing the floor plan, selecting floor covering, cabinetry, countertops, sinks, bathroom fixtures, finishes and much more. To start, make a wish list of what you would want in your perfect house. A large kitchen might outweigh a formal dining room, gigantic family room, or a separate media room. When you become serious about building, bear in mind what you want, but also be reasonable. Think about the things on your list that are extravagant because those are the costs that will add up quickly. Yes, a faucet over the stove for filling the spaghetti pot is super cool, but how often will you actually use it? That one faucet is going to require extra hardware and plumbing, which will equate to extra dollars. Whatever is on your list is probably attainable, depending on your budget of course, and the creativity of your contractor. When you are ready, the first thing you will want to do is set your budget. How much money can you put into a home? And, be all inclusive, from your land costs, to furniture, window treatments to landscaping and all points between. Also set aside a portion of that budget for unexpected expenses. Local builder/seller realtor Seth Goodman has built and sold homes in the Lincoln area on multiple occasions. He suggests that you set aside 10 to 15 percent of your total budget for the costs associated with unexpected complications. In an article written in ‘The Week’ on February 22, 2015 – 7 steps to building your dream home ( https://theweek.com/ articles/539635/7-steps-buildingyour-dream- home ), the author suggests that before you do anything else, start an excel spreadsheet and put down all the costs that will be associated with your build. Set your price at the top of Continued n