Building a vacation home sounds like a dream, but it may be more of a reality than you think. Investing in a second home comes with many benefits, and custom home design allows for complete personalization.
As someone who’s had the privilege of helping many bring their vision to life, I’ll guide you through both the why and how of building a vacation home you’ll absolutely love. Here’s what we’ll cover in the sections ahead:
- Why build a vacation home?
- Vacation home benefits
- Building vs. buying
- How to design a vacation home you’ll love
Why Build a Vacation Home?
The idea of building a vacation home is exciting. The chance to branch out and spend the year in two different houses you own can be freeing and provide opportunities that your first house does not.
Read along as we uncover the benefits of vacation homes as well as the difference between buying and building from the ground up.
Vacation Home Benefits
There are plenty of benefits of building a vacation home past enjoying a few months on the lake. Owning a second property brings you advantages that range from rental income to long-term savings. Let’s explore them.
- Investment Opportunity: A vacation home is a smart investment. Properties on popular vacation spots tend to appreciate over time. Plus, when you’re not using it, you can rent it out. This can be a great way to generate extra income and even cover some of the home’s maintenance costs.
- Personal Retreat: Owning a single home is a privilege, but more often than not, the homes we live in are not the ones we want to vacation in. Owning a second property allows you to switch up the scenery but enjoy the comforts of a home away from home.
- Customization & Personalization: Within custom home design, you get the make choices that truly suit your needs. Want a large kitchen for family dinners? Or a balcony facing the sunset? This is your chance to incorporate those elements from the start.
- Long-Term Savings: While there’s an upfront cost of building a vacation home, you’ll still save money in certain ways. For example, you won’t need to pay for a timeshare, hotel, or Airbnb when you want to visit your favourite vacation spot.
Building vs. Buying a Vacation Home
If you’re considering investing in a vacation home, why build rather than buy? Ultimately, it comes down to your preferences and what you value most.
Buying a vacation house means:
- Viewing pre-built properties
- Inspecting and appraising the property
- Purchasing and (possibly) negotiating property price
- Optional: Renovating to fit your needs
- Enjoying the property sooner (in some cases)
Designing and building a vacation house entails:
- Viewing available lots
- Appraising the land
- Purchasing and (possibly) negotiating land price
- Custom design and planning
- Building the home
- Interior design
- Enjoying a completely personal home
Buying a prebuilt house typically involves less work, and if you already love the property, you can likely enjoy it sooner than if you build it from the ground up.
However, the beauty of custom home design means getting a property that’s designed 100% for you, to your liking and needs, with you, your family, and your future in mind.
How to Design a Vacation Home You Love
Love the idea of a custom-made home? Then custom home design is the right option for you. The process is similar to if you were to design your year-round home, though there are slight variations. Here’s how we recommend going about it.
1) Choose Your Favourite Location
The location you choose will influence the enjoyment of your home and its design. For example, if you’re designing a mountain lodge, you may want to include large windows to bring the outdoors in. For beach homes, elevated decks can give you a better view of the lake or ocean.
2) Incorporate Local Architecture & Style
This isn’t a must, but something to think about. Every area has its charm, and reflecting that in your home can make it feel truly special. Using local materials can also help support the community you build in and help your home blend in beautifully with its surroundings.
3) Design for Comfort & Functionality
Ideally, you want your vacation home to be a place of ease. Considering open layouts perfect for gatherings can be a good idea, while large windows can capture the best views. Additionally, easy-to-maintain surfaces make cleanup easy after a long weekend or before you get ready to head back to the city.
4) Choose Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Practices
Opting for sustainable practices is good for the planet and cost-effective for you. Solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and native garden plants can help bring down year-round utility fees by conserving electricity and water.
5) Integrate Technolgy
Smart home systems can make your vacation home safe and easy to manage—even from afar. Smart thermostats, security systems, and lighting can all be controlled from your smartphone, giving you peace of mind.
6) Maximize Outdoor Living Spaces
Whether it’s sipping coffee on a cozy porch or hosting a barbecue on the deck, great outdoor spaces are essential in vacation homes. Design yours for year-round use with features like fire pits and covered seating areas.
Make Your Vacation Home a Reality with Ellergodt Design
Designing and building your own vacation home is an exciting journey—but where do you start? Get in touch with Ellergodt Design. Our team of talented home designers will help you make your dream vacation home a reality. Plus, we can connect you with trusted builders we know and trust.
Use the contact form or call (587)803-3715 today to discuss the possibilities.
FAQ
What should I consider before building a vacation home?
You should consider the location of the property, your budget, the purpose of the home, local regulations and zoning, design preferences, long-term maintenance, environmental impact, and resale value before building a vacation home.
How can I make money from a vacation property?
If you plan to rent out your vacation home throughout the year, you can list it on short-term rental sites such as Airbnb, VRBO, or local equivalents. You can also consider long-term rentals instead, event hosting, seasonal activities (like boat rentals for lakeside properties), and tax benefits.