Checklist for Building a House

A question we frequently hear is, “How long does it take to build a house?” While there’s no hard-and-fast answer, Homes by Taber’s rule of thumb is about 6 months from the date you approve and sign your final floor plan approval. Let’s put that in perspective by going through the home buying process, step by step, and giving you a checklist for building a house.

Select the homesite.

What type of property do you want? A cul-de-sac? A lot with a wooded tree line in the backyard? If you’re looking at a community that offers amenities, like a playground and swimming pool, do you want to live within walking distance of those places? Some neighborhoods also include a pond or lake, so if you want a lot with a view, tell the builder about your preference so they can help you select the lot that is perfect for you. Keep in mind that some of these lots may come with a premium and the builder representative can help you narrow down your options while staying in your preferred new home budget.

Choose the floor plan.

You probably have some ideas about the home you want to build. If you’ve researched floor plans, share them with the builder. Talk about the features that matter—an open floor plan, a big kitchen with an island and lots of cabinets for storage, bedrooms for the kids that are close to the master suite, a flex room, or perhaps all of the above. 

Look through the floor plans and envision the flow of the home. Use the virtual tour feature to get a feel for the home. Professional builders will have online tools to virtually tour the home and see what the floor plan looks like before you build it.  Once you’ve narrowed your choices, take a tour through models that have been built to the floor plans you’re considering. We’ve had home buyers purchase their homes from as far away as Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, and Germany, so we gave them video tours for a better view. 

Our list of included features is pretty extensive—like a storm shelter in the garage, jetted tub in the master bath, wood-burning fireplace on the patio, wood look tile in the living room, dining room, kitchen, entry, and hallways, Rinnai tankless water heater for endless hot water, choice of granite or quartz countertops, smart home automation, security system, air filtration system, ceiling fans in all bedrooms and living areas, gas fireplace in the living room, and fully sodded front and back yards with a sprinkler system that can be controlled from an app. Some builders might offer these as an upgrade at this point in the planning process, but our “Proudly Overbuilt” promise considers them “standard”. There’s no additional cost.

After you’ve selected the floor plan, our in-house draftsman draws up the plans that reflect all your choices. You review and finalize the plans for your new house and move on to the next step. To make it easier on you, you can even go through our interactive online floor plans to see what modifications, if any, you want to make to your plan by finding your floor plan and selecting Personalize This Plan. You can click around and see how much the various options cost while doing it so you always stay within budget. 

Make design selections.

This is possibly the most enjoyable part of building a house. You get to make the design selections to personalize your home. Choose the colors for the exterior—siding, shutters, brick, trim, and doors. Next, go through all the interior details, like the countertops, cabinet style paint colors and hardware, interior door style, plumbing and lighting fixtures, wall colors, and flooring. 

Homes by Taber has a team of professional designers in our in-house Design Center who will show you all of your options, provide guidance, and answers to all your questions. New homeowners are encouraged to browse other Taber homes under construction as well as create Pinterest boards with new home designs to bring to their appointments so their style is captured by our designers.

Enjoy the progress.

With a Homes by Taber choice, the Community Sales Manager provides you with weekly updates and is always available to answer your questions and provide photos. You’ll probably want to stop by and watch construction, but remember, it’s a worksite, so it’s great to schedule your visits with the community sales manager in the neighborhood so you get the full update and tour of the progress.
As the home is being constructed, some homeowners like to write notes to themselves on the walls, whether it be a time capsule memento or a bible verse to bless this home. Watching your home come together is for so many the most memorable part of the home building process. This should not be a stressful time, but a time for anticipation and excitement. See what some of our real homeowners have to say about their homebuying experience. 

Walk through your new home.

Your home is almost complete. It’s time for the walk-through with our in-house Customer Care team. You’ll be oriented on how every system works, from how often to change your home’s air filters in the air filtration system to which switch operates the lights, fireplace, disposal, and other electrical items. During the walk-through, you’ll make a list of any touch-ups, if any, you want to be made before closing on your new home.

Before the closing, you’ll walk through your home again, making sure everything meets with your total satisfaction.

Close on your home.

Prior to your scheduled closing date, your lender will provide you with a list of the funds and what you need to bring to the closing. Homes by Taber customers who work with Great Plains Bank, our preferred lender, receive $2,000 in closing cost credits.

On closing day, you’ll sign the paperwork and be handed the keys to your new home. Take a picture to remember this positive life-changing moment! 

Congratulations! You’re a homeowner!

The process of building a house is an exciting experience when you choose the right builder AND lender. It’s a team effort. Active communication is essential. It’s YOUR home and you need to stay informed, to have someone readily available to answer your questions. 

One of the advantages of choosing a floor plan from your builder’s portfolio is that they have vast experience building this home. They know it’s accurate, which means there are no surprises along the way that lead to delays and added costs. 

You probably have more questions about the process of building a new house. We’re ready to help! Start by talking with Frankie Lewis, the best resource for everything you need to know about buying and building a home in the OKC metro area.