New House Building, Blunder

Are you building a new home, or having one built? Congratulations. There will be some very rewarding experiences to come, and some that can be very trying. This article is being written to hopefully guide you in an area that commonly has a dramatic impact on final outcome. How many of you have seen what could be a gorgeous home but seemed to be missing that finishing touch. There is is a very real possibility that that missing element was the lighting. Here is a very common scenario that many a new home owner has fallen into. Along the process of construction money gets spent on little options hear and there or possibly even additions that seem not to affect the overall budget to much. Before you know it the construction is winding down and it is time to start picking out those finishing items, like lighting. You quickly realize that you are left with a just small amount of money to purchase one of the most important design elements of the new home. You get on-line to search for lights and come to the realization that the money you have available is only sufficient for the least expensive lighting on the market. You convince yourself that its okay because you can always just install the lighting you don't really like, and certainly is not your first choice, and then replace it down the road. You move into your dream house and start living. Unfortunately the uncertainties of life take over and before you know it 20 years have passed before you able to replace those hideous lights. Because the lights are functional, but ugly, they are put at the bottom of the priority list. You may laugh at this scenario, but ask friends, neighbors, and relatives if it sounds familiar, they will confirm what is being written.
So how do you avoid this pitfall? By doing some upfront planning. First step - follow this advise - Just as soon as you get the financing arranged for that new home, set aside in a separate account if possible, the funds needed to purchase your lighting. At the very least have it written into the construction agreement what those funds should be, and very important, make sure it is close to being correct as possible. That requires doing some homework. Because other problems associated with building a new home may seem more important this probably will not be at the top of your priority list, right? Well, it should be. Make it a priority, you won't be sorry.
Second step - the second you have the construction plans in your hand start planning. The goal here is not to start purchasing lights but rather to plan for what is needed and calculating the cost involved. By having the plans you should be able to figure out what lights are needed in each room. If you are good on the computer start a spread sheet, or do it by hand. Include in this spreed sheet such things as: the room, size of the room, decorating style of the room, type of light, quantity of lights, cost, color,size of light etc. Some home builders even go to the extent of making there own set of scaled drawings then draw in the lights. You may just show a circle representing the light (to the correct scale). On elevation drawings you can even put in the height of lights. Some areas you may not be sure about and that's okay, the important thing is to become aware of what is required. Some areas will be very certain, for example: a chandelier in the foyer, a chandelier in the dining room, bathroom lights above the vanities, porch entrance lights, exterior lights on the side of the garage, etc. Third step - Now that you have an idea of the quantity and type of lights required start shopping, again its not necessary to purchase right now, as a mater of fact most designers will tell you to wait at least until the sheet rock is in place. Having the sheet rock in place gives you a spacial relationship that can't be seen in drawings, or even when only the framing is done. Your goal at this stage is to find what styles, and possibly even what brands interest you, and the associated cost involved. Work up an estimated cost for each room, then calculate a total. you now know what needs to be left at the end of construction. If your budget will not cover your taste then you at least have some time to make adjustments. You may be able to save a little on the side, watch for sales, shop other brands, or even cut luxuries in other areas. At the very least you won,t be in a position where you feel that you have to rush to make a decision because the contractor is breathing down your neck to get an answer, remember that the contractor wants to get this job finished off so he can collect his money and move onto another job.
If this is your first home it may be hard to understand what an impact lighting can have on the presentation of your home. I have lived in the same home for 30 years and just recently replaced the lighting. We did not run out of money at the end of construction but rather under estimated the budget required for lighting. So we settled for what we could get and have begrudgingly lived with it ever sense. Do don't believe we ever had a visitor comment on our lights in 30 years. There is a Quoizel light we have admired for some time and were sure it belonged in our home. Since installing it we very seldom go a day without someone commenting on the beauty of that light. It has a striking appearance and is now the focal point of our home and welcomes all our visitors. This was not an expensive light nor very large but fit the space and style of our home perfectly. See Quoizel Lighting, Isabella Collection, part number IS5009IB.
The goal of this article was not to get your to go out and find the most expensive light and/or to convince you to increase your lighting budget, but rather to get you to plan ahead, know what funds you have to work with, don't compromise on those funds and short yourself in such an important design feature as lighting. I wish you the very best in building your dream house, it will be a great experience.