So, you want to build a custom home. And what better place than Nashville, TN? Nashville is the most populated city in Tennessee, as well as the state’s capital. Forbes ranked Nashville as the number one metro area for business and professional service jobs in the US thanks to the city’s major music recording and production center and very large healthcare sector. 

So, if you’re looking to build a custom home somewhere, Nashville is a great place to do it. But why a custom home?

Building a custom home allows you to get exactly what you’re looking for out of a home. Rather than exhausting yourself scouring the market for a home that will maybe meet your criteria, custom home builds can give you exactly what you’re looking for.

So, if you’re considering building a custom home in Nashville, here are five questions you should be asking:

  1. How Much Will it Cost?
  2. How to Search for Vacant Land
  3. How to Find the Right Community 
  4. What are the Main Features You Need?
  5. When Is the Right Time to Purchase?

How Much Will it Cost?

It’s difficult to say for certain what the cost of a custom home in Nashville will be, as there are many factors that play into the cost. Forbes reported in July 2022 that the average cost for homebuilding in Tennessee is approximately $130.97 per square foot. So for a 2000-sq ft home, this would round out to be about $262,000. But of course factors such as location, home size, build specifications and other specific features play into the final cost. 

So what actually makes up the cost of a custom home build? There are both hard costs and soft costs of building a home. These include architectural fees, construction fees, design fees, permit fees, architectural fees, land costs and extra amenities, such as outdoor living, custom cabinets, etc., and they all play into the final cost of building a home in Nashville.

Soft Costs

Soft costs don’t directly relate to the actual building of the home. These include the fees associated with building, such as permits, land, etc. Factors such as property size and location can play into the final soft costs. 

Hard Costs

Hard costs do relate to the actual building of the home. The roof, plumbing, kitchen detail and any other building related cost is what makes up this hard cost. So the final hard cost completely depends on how you plan on building your home and what custom features you plan on adding.

Since the price of building a home can vary, it’s important to do thorough research beforehand in order to determine what works best with your budget. Talk to professional home builders in Nashville to get a more thorough estimate of what your custom home build will cost. 

How to Search for Vacant Land

There are six things you should keep in mind when searching for vacant land in Nashville to build your home on:

  • Buildable Lot
  • Location
  • Unrestricted Subdivision vs Restricted Subdivision
  • Zoning & Utilities
  • Potential Environmental Hazards
  • High-Growth Areas

Check out our article here for more info on these six important criteria for buying land.

How to Find the Right Community

The great thing about building a custom home is that you not only get to choose what your home looks like, you have a choice in where your home resides. Which is why finding the right community is especially important.

It might take research to find a community that matches your specific needs. We recommend making a list of criteria that you want for your property location. This could include schools, nearby attractions, population size, etc. Having a list that you can refer to when searching for a location to build your custom home will make the process simpler. 

What are the Main Features You Need?

When building a custom home, you have complete control over what features your home will have. Consider what features are most important to you and speak to your residential contractors about your needs. Your Nashville residential contractors will be able to help make a plan on how to bring your home vision to life. 

When Is the Right Time to Purchase?

When purchasing land for a custom home build, you may be wondering: Is there a good time to purchase land? There is no right time of year to purchase land. Just be sure to do your research before making a purchase and talk to the proper channels to ensure that the land is buildable. 

Build Your Custom Home With Donnelly Timmons

Ready to get started on your custom home build in Nashville? Donnelly Timmons is here to help!

From planning to execution, our team of experts will be with you every step of the way to deliver your custom luxury home on-time and on budget. Contact us today and let’s get started making your dream home a reality!