10 Tips for Building in the Florida Keys
The time has come, you have secured your parcel in the Florida Keys; you have your building allocation; you paid for your permit and impact fees. Finally, you are ready to move on to the next adventure of building a home in the Florida Keys!
Here are some tips to help make that journey less hectic.
Tip 1 –
Get at-least 3 quotes from each type of contractors. I promise you, they will all come in at different prices. Also, negotiate with them. Ask for a little bit better price and see what they say. Or you can tell them – “ABC Contracting said they would do for $X.XX, but I like you better will you match their price?”
TIP 2 –
Know what you need at Home Depot! There is not a Home Depot on every island, so having a well thought out list can save you time and money. Also, stock up on things you know you will use. It is the worse feeling when all you need is one more roll of painters tape to get the job done and now you have to drive 30 minutes to the store. Did I mention Home Depot has a great return policy? If you don’t use it, just return it!
TIP 4 –
Plan ahead for the NEW FLOOD maps that are coming out. With the new flood maps there is about a foot and a half difference in elevation. If you are planning to build a home on the ground but above flood make sure you plan for the extra 18 inches in elevation. The extra fill to bring the home up will be a bit costly. To check out what your new Flood Zone and elevation will be follow this link.
TIP 5 –
Building within the designated set-backs. If your property extends beyond the setbacks, you will have to ask for a variance, which could cost time and money. If you do have to ask for a variance, make sure to have a good standing with the neighbors and commission.
Tip 6 –
Order your materials as soon as you can. With Covid and supply chain issues, some items can take a while to come in. For example, we wanted solid doors for our home; the estimated time to get them was 6 months!
Tip 7 –
To save money on dumpsters, don’t just throw everything in there all chaotic. It takes a little extra time, but if you can stack the garbage in some kind of order you will get more in the dumpster.
Tip 8 –
Don’t over build. It’s easy to go over board with finishes. Make sure you pick out what you like, but don’t spend so much that you over build and your costs are too much.
Tip 9 –
Have a good window plan. Everyone likes natural light. Make sure there are windows in every room and as large as possible. Also, plan ahead where the TV will go.
Tip 10 –
Anticipate the unanticipated. This is the Florida Keys and getting anything done takes time. Have a back-up plan just in case. Remember, there are no problems, only solutions.
