How to Build Your Dream Home from Scratch
Almost all of us, at some point in our lives, have imagined how our perfect homes would look like. Buying a new home is wonderful, but it can’t compare with tailoring a house according to your needs and wishes. However, although very rewarding, house construction can be extremely expensive, complicated and time-consuming. By the time you finish half of work, you’ll regret the day you started this project. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you manage to plan and organize everything, you just might keep your sanity. Here are some tips that will help you with that.
Determine Your Budget
The primary cause of most of your headaches during the house construction process is the budget, so don’t take this thing lightly. First determine the approximate sum that you can afford, and then consult with your constructors to see what the realistic price is and what you can get for the money you have. Have your architect inform you about your options and explain how real-time expenses are established. Regardless of the sum your architect advises you to plan, you should still have a sizeable contingency fund in case anything goes wrong.
Choose Your Team
Of course, if you want to trust the architect and constructors with your money, you will have to select them carefully. Besides the architect, builder and his team, you should also have a lawyer to deal with the legal side. A landscape architect and an interior designer are also welcome. The people in your team should be knowledgeable and good listeners, so that you can always be engaged and in the loop. It is up to you to attend meetings, ask questions and participate in important decisions.
Decide About the Type of Home
However, if you decide to invest in a previously designed home you won’t need the architect after all. Standard project homes are the best option for new homeowners who know what they want and, in addition to that, they’re much more affordable. However, there are plenty of different designs that can be personalized up to a point. The advantage of an architect-designed house is obviously in entirely personalized floor plan.
Be Realistic
It doesn’t matter if you are working with an architect or you chose a project home, you should know that not everything that you’ve imagined is possible to build. Of course, the house must meet all your realistic needs such as enough rooms for your kids, more than one bathroom and spacious kitchen.
Be Patient
If you are a fan of HGTV’s shows, you probably think that your house can be built in a matter of days, and that you will be able to move in in a week. Sorry, we have to break it to you: Property Brothers are not something you see in everyday construction. The average construction time is measured in months instead of days. Even when your builder gives you a timeline before the construction starts, you should be prepared for several delays and setbacks.
Plan the Change
Do you know where you’re going to be while you wait for your dream home to be finished? If you are renting a place, negotiate a deal with your landlord, so that if things don’t go according to plan, they don’t find new tenants before you are able to move into your new home. If you are selling your old house, make a similar arrangement with the home buyers. Also, you should count in the time you’ll need to move all the things in your new home.
When your home is finished, and all the interiors are prepared, you’ll be itching to move into your dream home. Although you should definitely enjoy the fruits of your labor, make sure you check all the practicalities, such as permits and certificates, once more.
