Mountain Building, What you should know

Choosing your Smoky Mountain or Blue Ridge lot is only the beginning in planning for your new mountain home. Mountain building has different challenges than building in lower elevations. Often times you may look at a lot in the Smoky or Blue Ridge Mountains and wonder, “how on earth could you build on house on that”? An experienced contractor will explain to you that building in the mountains are often referred to a “slice and dice”. In a steep slope of a lot the contractor often has to “slice” into the side of the mountain and remove (dice) or move the mountain land to establish a building site. A steeper slope on a lot can often times indicate higher building costs. Choose your builder carefully and make sure they have had plenty of experience working in your chosen area and elevation. Now that you have your lot you have many things to consider.

The following information is provided as a basic outline of the steps needed when you decide to build your Mountain home.

• Budget
• Land considerations
• Design - deciding what you need, how it will work and what it will look like
• Financing - finding both mortgage and construction money
• Construction - do yourself, be your own general contractor, or hire a GC Budget

The first step in basic research is to determine what you can afford, and the average cost per square foot for custom homes in the Blue Ridge area where you plan to build. Since building costs vary due to mountain regions and land topography, it is wise to consult several custom homebuilders - particularly if there are two or three experienced mountain builders in your area. That average cost gives you a guideline as to the size home you can afford.

There are a number of ways to cut costs, balancing your wish list with reality. Open floor plans with fewer hallways provide more usable living space; a simplified design with fewer corners also reduces cost. Careful consideration of utilities - having bathrooms stacked one above another, or back-to-back, reduces plumbing costs. If you already own the land, one creative way to save is to clear the land yourself, saving rocks, timber, and other natural materials for landscaping. Land Considerations
It is advisable to use a professional Realtor, so that hidden problems can be uncovered in advance. Further you'll want to ask:

• Is land buildable?
• Septic permit, percolation or soil evaluation tests, well or water source
• Ingress and egress; encroachments and easements
• Covenants or restrictions on size, building materials, style, etc.
• Planned or proposed construction around property
• View, privacy, convenience, location, etc.

Land should represent 15%-20% of total budget in most cases; mortgage companies tend to prefer smaller tracts over large acreage when the land will be financed with the home. Design Considerations

When envisioning a Blue Ridge Mountain dream home, most see the outside. But we live inside. Therefore, the residence should be designed, first of all, to function the way we want - to get the proper flow and to meet the needs of our family and lifestyle. That means designing from the inside out!

To begin, make a prioritized list of the following:

• Actual needs: Number of bedrooms, baths, floors, etc.
• Priorities: Master suite, big kitchen, dining room, family room, porches, etc.
• Foundation: slab, crawl space, basement, walk-out (adjust to site)
• Placement of rooms: Children's bedrooms in relation to master, utilities
• Amenities: garage, spa, mud room, etc.
• Assign room sizes and space requirements for each room
• Make sure the plan fits your lot, or that the lot fits your plan.

Before You Build Your Dream Home<
Unfortunately, improvisations & homebuilding are not happy partners. Here is a quick reference list of what needs to be accomplished before you “break ground.”

• Locate your land-be sure the property will perk for septic!
• Have water meter installed, or well dug.
• Finalize your house design & blueprints.
• Collect your product information & literature. (i.e.: appliances, fixtures, custom features, etc.)
• Interview your prospective builder & talk to past clients.
• Select your builder. Be sure to verify Contractor’s License & Status of Limitations.
• Finalize contract with General Contractor.
• Review blueprint package. Make any needed changes & finalize product & material specifications.
• Ensure the construction documents include all necessary information, specs, stamps, etc. required by the local building department.
• Establish & agree upon a date of completion.
• Shop for financing & finalize financing package
• Make sure your insurance company provides adequate builder’s risk coverage for fire & weather related damages during the construction process.
• Retrieve all necessary building permits. (Builders who work as general contractors usually take responsibility for this.)
• Invite friends to a ground breaking party and prepare yourself for months of challenge, excitement, impatience and most of all, great happiness and fulfilled expectations of your Blue Ridge Mountain home.