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My dad is a general contractor/remodeler (on a small scale), but he built the house I grew up in; as a homeowner, I can only speak from experience as a home buyer who, the next time, will go with a brand new home.
1) Think about materials and such in terms of how you live and operate within the home. For example, when thinking about flooring, countertops, etc., think about working out some combination between style and practicality. In other words, whether you want no-fuss flooring and countertops, whether you mind something that will require more upkeep.
2) Think about the size of your family, and whether that's something that will change in the next few years. The last thing you want is to build a house that is big enough for x number of people, then end up having to add on in a couple of years.
3) Keep your own spreadsheet of costs, so that you know where your money is going. Even the best contractor can let costs get away from them at times, and you'll want to know where your money is going anyway.
That's all I can think of now, but I'll re-post if I think of anything else.
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