If you really want your dream home, with no ifs and or buts, then you have to build it yourself. That way, everything is your own choice, providing you have the budget, from the layout to the materials to the exteriors. However, it should be no surprise that having a house built is far from simple. You need to lay the right foundation and make sure everything’s good to go before you commence your knock down rebuild or home building project.
The budget comes first
It should come as no surprise that building your house can be very expensive indeed. Construction projects can quickly spiral out of control so it’s important to have your budget laid out well in advance, working with your chosen contractor to make sure that you’re considering all the different potential costs. You should also consider leaving a little money aside in case of emergencies, too. Costs can add up quickly, especially when something unexpected comes your way. Once you’ve put together the budget, then you need to figure out how you’re going to finance it, as well. Do you have the money available or will you need to find the right loan provider? Either way, it’s too early to start making any concrete plans until the financing is complete.
Know what your priorities are
Once you have the cash together and the budget ready, you might be itching to start looking at plans, contractors and locations, but you should think about your priorities for the home first. In particular, think about creating a checklist pitting your needs against your wants. Your needs should include the most important things such as minimum number of rooms, accessibility, certain utilities and the like, while your wants should be something that you would love to have, but isn’t going to ruin the home if you can’t have it, such as a bigger bathroom or a lavish bathroom. Though you want all of them in a best case scenario, it’s important to know which ones you will be willing to cut out if you have to save some money.
Finding the right team to handle it for you
While self-builds are becoming more common, and can see you save some money, you need to make sure you have expertise and experience to get it right, unless you’re willing to accept the risks of building a home as an amateur. No, in most cases, you’re going to want to learn how to hire a general contractor. It’s important to find someone you can trust, and ensure that they have done the kind of project you have planned, are licensed, insured, and trusted in the community.
Finding the land to build on
Unless you’re able to demolish property you own on land you own, you’re going to have to find good land to build your home on. Choosing a location that’s suitable, close enough to everything you need, including work, schools, and so on, is important. But you also need to make sure that the land is stable to build on before you buy it. Either way, there are websites you can find land to buy, but it’s also important to get in touch with real estate agents and construction firms, as they are often the first to hear about land that’s about to go up for sale or is just up for sale before it’s widely advertised.
Finding the right plan
How important is designing your own home from scratch? Do you have needs so particular that you’re certain no-one has built a property to match them before? If not, you might be able to find a premade building plan. Besides the fact that it’s more convenient to simply but a plan, it’s also much cheaper, which can help you find some room in that budget. However, many contractors will also offer the services of working with you to design plans to meet your every specification. If you’re willing to pay more and you want to be fully confident you new home will meet all of your needs, then make sure you’re choosing a general contractor that can find or work as a house designer as well.
Cross your is, dot your ts
Even with the right land, the right plans, and the money to make it all happen, you shouldn’t start constructing it until you’re certain that you’re legally good to go. This means that you have to apply for all the right legal permissions. Your general contractor may have the experience to do this for you, but you shouldn’t be prepared to rely entirely on them until they confirm they can help. It’s also wise to get the ball rolling on the planning permission process as soon as you can, too, as it can take a very long time. Waiting for too long will inevitably mean delays for the project. You should also look into any zoning policies for the area you want to build on, too.
Finding wiggle room in your budget
Given that it can be highly expensive, it’s only natural that many home builders are going to be looking for ways to cut the costs of their home. While leaving some space in your budget to deal with emergencies is important, you should also be ready to find flexibility elsewhere in your budget. For one, by finding spare materials or finding reclaimed materials, you can lower one of the major costs of building. As mentioned, you should also consider looking at ways you can cut costs in your garden, or by reducing the size of certain rooms. This is why it’s important to prioritize your wants and needs in the first place.
It’s only a good idea to assume that you’re ready to go ahead with building your own home once you’ve laid all the foundations mentioned above. Find the right land, the right team, the right plans, and get your budget all put together.
