Building a new home can be incredibly exciting, especially when it’s the culmination of years of dreaming and planning and imagining exactly what you want. Or maybe you never planned or expected to build your own home, but circumstances make it the best option financially—or simply the best way to get what you really want.

When you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to start looking and start building! Follow these tips to make your home-building adventure a great one.

1. Choose The Right Home Builder.

Make sure you look around at all your choices to find the builder that will meet your needs and that you feel you can work well with, because they’re going to be a big part of your life for a while. Your personalities don’t need to be a perfect match, but you should feel comfortable telling them what you want or don’t want in your future home.

You definitely want a builder with a proven record of good customer service. Do some research and ask around to learn what builders in the area have the best reputation. Drive by homes or communities they’ve built, and if possible, visit models. And look carefully at what floor plans different builders are offering. Even if a building company has great customer relations, you don’t want to settle for a home that just isn’t the style you want.

Plus, if you have specific customizations in mind that aren’t in a builder’s floor plans, like built-in shelving, extra windows, or a fireplace, find out whether they’re willing or able to accommodate those requests—or if you should look elsewhere.

2. Be Specific And Upfront About What You Want.

Knowing what you want goes a long way in improving the process of building a home. But contractors aren’t mind readers, and if they don’t know you want something, it simply won’t happen.

So be as specific as possible when communicating with your builder. It’s the surest way to make sure everyone is on the same page, and it will help everyone avoid unwelcome surprises or even costly changes. And don’t forget even small details like making sure there are outlets where you’ll need them. It’s your home, and it should match your vision as closely as possible.

3. Get Regular Updates On Home Building Process.

Let your project manager know if you want them to contact you with updates and how often. And of course you should visit the site to see for yourself how things are coming along—with all the excitement that comes with building a home, it can be hard to stay away!

4. Be Ready For Hiccups.

Home building is a large and complex undertaking, and even the best builders can’t control everything. Talk in advance about what procedure will be if something goes wrong to make sure there aren’t any surprises. Having a plan in place and knowing what to expect will make everything move more smoothly.

But don’t let small frustrations ruin your experience. Focus on the excitement of knowing you’ll soon have a brand new home of your very own.