Nothing says that you've made it like designing your own custom home. Working with architects and contractors to design a home from the ground up allows you to build a house to your exact specifications, getting all the features you want and nothing that you don't. Of course, the process can also be complicated, and first-time custom home buyers often make some mistakes along the way.

These issues can cause everything from minor construction delays to major budget overruns. While working with a professional design and construction team can help you stay out of trouble, it's still important to understand some of the easiest oversights to avoid. If you're embarking on this journey for the first time, watch out for these three common pitfalls.

1. Ignoring Lot Costs

Your new home will only be as good as its foundation, and that foundation depends heavily on the lot you purchase. There's a substantial difference between buying a lot prepared for residential development and untouched, undeveloped land. In the latter case, you may face high costs when dealing with grading, water drainage, and other issues.

The best way to avoid these issues is to start working with your design team before purchasing a property for your new home. Experienced builders can help you plan site inspections, recognize potential issues, and estimate costs. These extra steps take time, but they can save you from going well over budget later in your project.

2. Undersizing Functional Spaces

Every home has a handful of spaces that serve functional and aesthetic roles. While your living room, bedrooms, and other parts of your home have their roles, they don't have the same functional needs as spaces such as your kitchen or laundry room. Since you spend so much time in these leisure or resting areas, it's easier to overlook the functional parts of your home.

In particular, it can be tempting to undersize these spaces. If you need to add a few feet to a living room, you might want to "steal" that space from your laundry room or pantry. Before making these decisions, ensure you're not leaving yourself with too little space to accomplish your day-to-day chores comfortably.

3. Saving Improvements for Later

Building your dream home should mean getting the house you want "out of the box." However, if budget is a concern, you may be tempted to delay projects such as finishing your basement or installing an irrigation system. While this approach can save you money now, it's almost guaranteed to cost you more in the long run.

Costs are usually lower for these projects during construction because crews and materials are already on-site. Bringing in contractors to finish parts of your home later will often mean spending more money while leaving you with a house that doesn't fit your vision. It's almost always better to complete these goals now rather than leave them for future renovations.

Contact a contractor to learn more about custom home design.