Building a new home is as exciting as it is overwhelming and as wonderful as it is stressful. You probably see the big picture–that luxurious dream home you’ve wanted for as long as you can remember. You know how it’s going to look, what you find appealing and what’s essential – but how far into the details have you gone?
Putting the major parts of your ideas together is easy. But considering the hundreds of other details in between can be daunting, and the decisions that “must be” made add up very quickly. There are few things in life that are as rewarding and as intimidating as building your own home. Check out the essentials you’ll need to consider along the way and why it’s so important to get the planning right.
You’d be surprised how many homeowners look at few house plans and settle for something that’s not quite right for them. The most important thing to do when choosing a plan is to prioritise your needs. It’s easy to be swayed by the possibilities, so start by making a list of essential features that fit your budget, lifestyle and lot size. You can create a second list for the “nice to haves” or additional renovations down the track.
The decisions you make in the initial home-building planning stages will have important consequences down the line, so you want them to be as positive as possible! Carefully check the design and size of each room. The kitchen, master bedroom and ensuite are common rooms where mistakes are made. Because they’re the most lived-in spaces, you want to ensure they are big enough for their purpose. Opt for a more casual and open floor plan if you’re still unsure. This way, you’ll have more freedom to customise your home. Don’t forget every floor plan you come across will have pros and cons, so make sure you understand what these are and learn what you can and can’t live without. Your overall decision should be based on the layout of your new home, not the finishes, as these can be easily changed down the track.
A building plan cannot be put into action without a budget and timeline in place. Poorly designed plans will almost always result in the budget and timeline being blown out. Whilst building your own home will always come with the unexpected, causing some building delays, the right planning can ensure you take these things into consideration and budget for them.
A good budget will include everything – not just the cost to build your luxury home, but those that are overlooked, including the site costs. How much will it cost to establish your land and build on it? You’ll want to create a comprehensive checklist to help avoid a cost blowout. Your builder will be able to help with these and point out other things you haven’t considered. Any variations during the building process – whether in layout, materials or design will come with a cost, too. Thus, it’s crucial you plan as much as you can in advance and then set a budget and timeline to account for it. Having a clear strategy and a timeline and budget that you review every week is a great way to stay on track and monitor the progress of your new home. Above anything, make sure you’re realistic with your budget.
Before you start the building stages, you’ll need to arrange a site inspection for your block of land. This will help to determine any potential advantages and disadvantages your site may have and is crucial to identifying any hidden costs. Ideally, you’ll want to get a thorough site inspection done before you purchase the land. This way, you’ll know the exact boundary measurements.
Land surveyors will be familiar with the building regulations, zoning and wetland regulations, which are all essential before the building process. Any required permits can be sought out in this stage, and headaches and additional costs will more likely be avoided down the track. One of the biggest excitements of building your own home is watching its progression as the hard work starts to pay off. You’ll have many opportunities to do this and join in pre-arranged onsite inspections with the construction managed to ensure the project is on track. These inspections should take place throughout the whole process to ensure every stage is being done properly. This includes the building of the foundation, the framing and the house wrap.
Communication is the key to ensuring your dream home is being built the way you want it to be – after all, you’re putting a lot of money into the project! From the very early stages, when you’re working with the architect and designer to put your house plan together, right through to the construction phase, the doors of communication need to be open and clear at all times.
At a minimum, you’ll want to communicate with your builder on a week-to-week basis. This will provide you with status updates and the perfect opportunity to ask any questions you’ll come across along the way. If there is any part of the project that has come to a standstill, these open lines of communication on both sides will ensure valuable time and money are not wasted.
Reputable building companies have super strict processes in place for a reason – to make sure your new home is built as efficiently as possible. Thus, for full quality assurance, it’s essential you have the patience and understanding to know good things can take time.
Check with your builder to ensure there are quality assurance measurements in place. This can take the form of regular inspections and various professionals addressing any defects immediately. The sooner quality assurance is in place, which should be from the very beginning, the sooner any problems can be addressed.
It’s no secret that building your home takes more effort, but rest assured, it pays off in the end. Fitting in with time and budget restraints, you’ll have the freedom to build exactly what you want whilst adding those unique personal touches along the way. By investing in what’s important to you, you can save costs and design a home that truly fits your lifestyle and needs.
About the Author:
Jayde Ferguson writes for Cambuild – Perth’s luxury custom home builders.