Building your own home is likely a dream come true. You probably have ideas about everything from how you’re going to design your bedroom closet to the decor scheme you’re going to be using in the kitchen. However, it’s important to start with a few key steps in the building process to ensure that your home will last a lifetime.

Pick a Well-Respected General Contractor

When it comes to building a home, the team you choose means the difference between one that will last and one that you’ll have to remodel in just a few years. You should take some time to research general contractors in your area. You want a general contractor that regularly works with constructing the type of house that you’re looking to build. These contractors will have the best connections to sub-contractors in your area. You can expect your general contractor to only work with high-quality sub-contractors as their own reputation is on the line.

Everything Starts with the Foundation

Building a home that lasts the test of time requires a solid foundation. The first step when it comes to your lot is soil stabilization. This helps to create a solid base that your home’s foundation can be poured into. Then you’ll see the builders construct a temporary wood frame and pour concrete into it to create your foundation. Once the foundation is cured, the wood is removed and a waterproof membrane is applied to the concrete.

Choosing the Proper Drainage System

One of the quickest ways to reduce the life of your home is to have improper drainage. This results in water damage than causes structural issues down in the foundation that can make the home unstable. To avoid this problem, drainage needs to be thought about ahead of time. For the most part, there are four different types of drainage systems that can be installed for your home. These are a surface drainage system, subsurface drainage system, downspout and gutter system, and a slope drainage system.

Inspect the Frame Thoroughly

Once the foundation is poured, the frame of your home is built with wood. The frame is going to be the basic structure of your home where the drywall and other features are affixed. Inspecting the frame is imperative as any imperfection in the frame will result in imperfections throughout the other layers of your home. Your general contractors should be doing this for you. However, you can ask to physically inspect the frame as well to look for things like bowed studs.

Use Low-E Windows

Low emissivity windows have been on the market for a long time, but they are not standard practice yet for builders. Using low-e windows allows for more filtering of ultraviolet light from the sun. This low emissivity coating is applied to one of the layers of glass in your windows. Its whole function is to make your windows more insulated to save on energy costs.

Making a home that will last you a long time requires some forethought. The above are five basic areas that you should be paying attention to when constructing your dream home. Realize many factors will need to be considered to make the perfect home for your family.