Building a House Checklist
Table of Contents
Finances
If you haven't started saving, do so now!
Review your current financial situation.
Get a credit report.
Research your mortgage and finance options.
Meet with a financial advisor to discuss your options.
Reduce or eliminate outstanding debt, consider rolling your debt into your mortgage.
If you are a first time home owner, investigate government grants and financial aid.
Set a budget.
Get homeowner's insurance if you don't already have it.
Location
Determine several areas you'd like to live in.
Decide if you will buy an empty plot of land or one that is occupied and will need clearing.
Research various neighborhoods
Research city council, schools, crime rates, parks and public spaces, transportation, shops, banks, leisure and cultural activities, nightlife, etc.
Research site locations
Review newspapers, websites, real estate publications, making visits and discussing with friends and family.
Find a real estate agent to help you search for properties.
Make appointments to view land.
Buy the land.
Construction
Brainstorm, make plans and blueprints.
Be sure that you are compliant with local planning and building laws.
Get a planning permit.
Get a building permit.
Find a surveyor.
Arrange for several required inspections throughout the building process.
Research your service providers before signing contracts
Find builders and tradesmen you can trust and are comfortable with.
Read all documents carefully before signing
Keep all papers in a secure location.
Read architecture and design magazines and websites to gain inspiration.
Visit a home show to get ideas for style, design, floor plans, etc.
Make your new home energy efficient.
Go green!
Find an architect.
Find a carpenter.
Find a plumber.
Find an electrician.
Find painters.
Buy appliances.
Create a timetable for when tasks need to be completed.
Find utility companies (gas, electric, water).
Acquire telephone, cable and/or internet services.
Find a landscaping company or gardener.
Get a security/alarm system.
Once construction is complete and you have a certificate of occupancy, do a final walk through with your builder for careful inspection.
Misc.
Be flexible and understanding if things dont go according to plan, but also firm in your objectives, budget and timelines.
Find a moving company to help you transition to your new home.
See our 'Moving' checklist for related tasks and deadlines.
Hire a professional cleaning company before you move in.
Hire an interior decorator.
Buy new furniture.
Once you are settled in your new home, have a housewarming party!
Download or Print this Building a House Checklist
Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.
Presented by:
Nicole Nichols-West
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Views: 172
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Tasks: 50
Introduction
Who it's for
This Building a House Checklist is for teams that want consistent execution, less rework, and clear ownership.
- Standardize quality - run the same Building a House steps every time, regardless of who executes
- Save time - reuse a proven Building a House workflow instead of rebuilding processes from scratch
- Improve accountability - assign owners and see what's done vs. what's pending
- Onboard faster - use the Building a House checklist as the SOP and training guide
- Coordinate across roles - handoffs are clear and everyone works from the same source of truth
How to use it
How to use this Building a House Checklist:
- Start by saving it - save as a Template if you'll reuse it, or as a Checklist if it's a one-off project.
- Customize it once for your workflow - remove what doesn't apply and add your team-specific steps.
- Assign ownership and execute - set owners/due dates where needed and track completion as work happens.
- Reuse without rebuilding - when Building a House comes up again, start from your saved version and run it with clear ownership.