Ready to build your own house here at Timber Ridge Estates? Building a custom home on your own land is what many dream of doing. Creating your luxury new build home means you have the opportunity to design the perfect space for you and your loved ones.

The home construction process can be overwhelming, but we have lots of experience. Here are some tips and tricks for building your dream getaway in our new home community.

Planning and Designing Your Dream Home - Tips and Tricks

When thinking about your custom house, there are several aspects to take into consideration. Some of the most important things to consider are your family’s needs, budget, lifestyle, personal style and the placement of your home on the lot.

Having an idea about each of these areas will help you prepare for finding the right contractor and/or architect to work with.

Finding the right professional to assist you in the final design and creation of your dream home will make the process all the more enjoyable, and we know several talented folks in the area who can help. Let’s dive in.

Your Family’s Needs Take Center Stage

Your dream home is being built so that you get to live life to the fullest with those you love most. For many, the house you're building at Timber Ridge Estates is your second home, a vacation home. For others, this will become your permanent home. Either way, there are several questions to ask yourself and things to consider when designing your new home.

We suggest making a list of what you like about your current home. Reflecting upon what you appreciate most about your current home is important so that you can be sure to bring at least some of these elements to your new home. Ask yourself questions such as: What do I love about my home? What rooms and spaces do I most enjoy? Where do we spend most of our time?

Of course, another tip we have for a more personalized design is to also make a list of what you dislike about your current home. Learn from where you're living now so that you don’t replicate any of the same mistakes in your new build.

Ask yourself questions such as: What is missing from my home? What is not needed?

Read our top 10 essentials to include in your new home build.

Vacation home ownership means always having the perfect place to spend time with your loved ones. Make sure to include all of your family members in this part of the process by asking them about their wants and needs.

Your family might be just two of you, it might include kids or it might be mainly you and close friends enjoying the new home. Input from whoever will be using the home the most is important because all of you will be spending time there together.

Additionally, there are certain aspects others think of, or feel certain ways about, that you did not realize.

Finally, think about how your family is going to change over the years. Contemplate questions such as: Could there be future grandchildren? Does this affect the number of bedrooms, and what about child-proofing and safety? Should mobility issues be considered since aging is inevitable? What about the possibility of future pets?

Know Your Finances

You don’t even have to say anything, we completely agree that this is the least fun part of the process. The cost to build a home on your own land can indeed be overwhelming. That being said, having a clear and honest assessment of your finances for your dream home is absolutely essential.

Ultimately, your budget will determine every part of your build.

Expenses do add up quickly. One thing we suggest is to have a list of those things that are non-negotiable and absolutely essential for your new home. Use what you learned from the above exercise, putting your family’s needs at the forefront, to help you create this list.

A home is made of many parts, so make sure that you keep in mind the many costs that go into designing and building a home. Some of the line items include architect fees, building permit fees, inspections, site work, foundation, framing, interior and exterior finishes, HVAC, plumbing, electric, driveway and any outdoor feature such as a deck, porch or walkway.

A good contractor will not sugar coat construction costs. Working with someone who is upfront and honest about cost is important. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. In that same vein, set aside some of your budget for unforeseen expenses or problems. Building a home is a complicated process, and it’s best to be ready for the unexpected.

Your Lifestyle

Another important aspect to consider is how your family wants to live in and utilize the space. Take advantage of one of the best parts of a custom built home, you are in no way obligated to adhere to expectations or traditional layouts. Now is the time to make sure your home’s design reflects your family’s lifestyle.

Think about the home size you desire. How many bedrooms do you need to make it the most comfortable for everyone? What about the number of bathrooms? Would you prefer a smaller home with larger outdoor spaces, or vice-versa? Don’t forget to consider the amount and size of furniture you’ll be bringing into spaces as well.

Consider what part of the home your family spends most of their time. Are you a family who cooks together and eats meals around a table? Do you prefer more living room space? Will you be spending more time outdoors? What about ensuring there are some cozy and quiet spaces?

Don’t forget the all important storage! What other closets do you desire aside from in the bedrooms? What about a mudroom? Does your family have hobbies and interests that require a lot of storage space? What about storage space in the garage? Our own model home was built with an ATV garage that we absolutely love!

Rules and Regulations

At Timber Ridge, we wanted to provide all the benefits of owning your own rural land, with the peace of mind, safety and structure that comes from a developed community. We are outside the city limits, meaning fewer restrictions. Our HOA funds community amenities and maintenance of our roads, while our design standards ensure your investment is protected.

What this means for our property owners is that yes - when you build at Timber Ridge, you can bring your own builder and build on your timeline - but you have to adhere to the standards of the community. This ensures that properties are well maintained and a cohesive look and feel that blends with the natural environment is achieved.

We’re here to help every step of the way - from design reviews to making sure you know how to get permits and approvals as needed.

Placement

Not every square inch of land is conducive to building a cabin. In fact, building on the wrong spot can lead to flooding and irreparable foundation damage!

This is why we have walked every lot, and put a driveway into the perfect build site to make sure each homesite gives you the best views with the structural integrity you need.

Once the right homesite is chosen, it’s up to you and your build team to determine the right foundation for building on a slope in the Oklahoma wilderness.

Our own model home was built with a steel pier and beam foundation - but there are other options. You can read more about those here.

The Right Contractor

Getting the right team in place is crucial to creating your dream cabin. The wrong team can lead to costly mistakes. We recommend consulting with a licensed architect, high-quality builder and a licensed structural engineer. This team should review and use the design guidelines to ensure compliance and design integrity.

The right team will:

Work with you to execute your vision
Come with knowledge and expertise and understand the specific challenges and characteristics of the land
Provide cost-effective building techniques
Understand sustainable building practices
Know the ins and outs of permitting and regulations
Warranty their work

Ultimately, a good contractor and team of experts will help streamline the building process, ensure quality and provide the right guidance for a successful project.

Conclusion

Designing your dream cabin is equal parts fun and overwhelming. Hopefully, we’ve helped you wrap your head around the big six considerations. We’ve done this ourselves, and are helping several of our property owners through this process. Feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule your private tour!

Craft Your Dream Home: Your Ultimate Guide to Building on Your Own Land