We live in a world of customization where people personalize everything from custom-made car paints, to phone covers with personal pictures, to engraved wallets and cufflinks. So, why should houses be an exception? The trend of personalization has also shown its effect on the housing market, where instead of buying a home built by someone else, more people are constructing their own houses.
This trend is supported by the fact the last decade has seen an increase of 80% in new homes registered to be built per annum. Additionally, 1.4 million new homes have been registered to be built over the last decade, and 2019 saw the highest number of new home registrations in 12 years.
Building your own house might be your best option if you are unable to find your dream home in the market or build a home that is as unique as you. The thought of building your own home can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time, but if you are aware of the right steps to take, you are ready to build your dream home. These preparatory steps are discussed below.
Set goals and establish a budget
Before you do anything else, you need to ask yourself some questions and then answer them. This process is called goal setting and will give you a path and direction to follow.
The goals you set should be both practical and emotional, as both will ensure that the end-product is your ideal dream home. The questions you should ask should be on the lines of: What is it that you want to achieve? Where is it that you want to be? What will be the cost of achieving this? How feasible is the plan? Is it achievable?
As important as setting goals is establishing a budget. Establishing a budget will help you figure out what you can afford and how your house’s estimated cost will affect the other financial plans you have for the future. The most common charges that you need to consider are:
- Site preparation costs: A flat lot will not add additional costs, but if you have to clear trees, haul away dirt, or move large rocks, that will cost extra
- Permit fees: Depending upon the nature of your construction, you might need permits, some which can be pricey
- Time of construction: Cost can also depend on the time of year you build your house, as the labor can be in demand in certain months, and thus the cost of labor can be expensive.
- Unexpected costs: Sometimes, you can deviate from your original plans and choose more expensive finishing items such as high-end floors and intricate landscaping. Thus, it is better to factor in these unexpected costs into the budget and add 10% as unforeseen costs.
Find the right piece of land
Location is one of the most important factors of building a house, and the decision about choosing the right site should be influenced by the goals you should set. Many factors will affect the decision of choosing the right spot of land, including your economic conditions, the proximity of facilities such as education and health, public transport nearby, and other factors.
The land should be chosen carefully as it contributes to about 20-25 % of the total cost of building a new house. It would help if you considered some factors before finalizing the land, such as zoning, soil condition, drainage, and building codes of the region.
Get your hands on the right house plan
A good house plan will prevent you from getting into delays, conflicts, and confusion as the house’s construction gets underway. You can either use a stock plan or a custom plan to build your home, depending on your budget, choice, and requirements.
A stock plan is a cheaper option if you are short on funds and want to build a relatively simple and practical house. A stock plan can be modified slightly according to the situation by a home designer in terms of the window styles, room sizes, and other such details.
A custom plan, on the other hand, will require you to attain the services of a professional and a licensed architect. A custom plan will cost you more than a stock house plan, but this plan will be made around the requirements of the family that will live in the house, and the plot the house will be built upon.
Assemble the right team
After the planning, location, and budget have been finalized, and the next step is to take action. To do this, you need the right people. No matter how good the house looks on paper, if it is not appropriately executed on the ground, the results can seem lacking.
The key people you need in your team are a builder, an architect, a surveyor, and an excavator. A builder (contactor) is an essential part of the team and can also be described as the team leader.
Most times, a builder will provide you with all the other people you need on the team. You can find most of the people required by searching for builder job leads online, which will give you an idea of the costs associated with getting these people on your team. Choosing the right builder is a vital part of building the house. Thus you need to search and choose the right one after due diligence.
Be flexible
Not everything will always go to plan, and challenges will come up that will have to be dealt with on-site. Thus it is better to be mentally prepared that the grand scheme you have in your mind might not be followed 100%, and you might have to go with the flow and make some improvisations.
Conclusion
Building your own house is a significant and exciting part of your life, but if you lack planning and are not mentally prepared for the task, it can be difficult, confusing, and stressful. Half of the process of building a new house is completed without laying even a single brick on the ground. The steps discussed in this article will provide you with the necessary preparation steps you need to take before you build your new home.