A growing number of people are choosing to build their own home. There’s a lot to be said for buying a brand new home, but if you’re up for a challenge, building a home can also offer a host of advantages. Of course, it’s not as straightforward as signing a contract, collecting the keys and moving straight in. With a building project, there’s a lot of work and forward planning involved. If you’re on the verge of starting a big build or you’re on the lookout for the perfect plot, here are some priority jobs to get sorted before you start choosing carpet colors or kitchen tiles.
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Planning, planning, planning If you’re a fan of TV makeover shows, you may have a rose-tinted vision of home renovation and building projects. The reality is that these programs often use huge teams of people and clever editing to make jobs look a lot easier than they are. In truth, it can take a long time to turn a plot of land into a beautiful new home, and the first thing you need to do is make plans. If you’ve got ideas floating around in your mind or you’ve seen images you love in magazines or online, note everything down, and meet with some building firms and architects. You’ll need to make sure that everything you do meets safety regulations and complies with planning restrictions. It’s wise to do this before you invest more money in the venture. Take your time choosing contractors, and compare quotes and ideas. Have a look at portfolios to see examples of completed projects.
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Work to a budget It’s a lot easier to budget for a move when you buy a new house, which doesn’t need any work. If you’re building a new home from scratch, it can be difficult to cost the project, especially at the beginning. Before you dive head first into the renovation plans, work out what you can afford to spend on the build, having taken the purchase price of the land into account. If you’ve got a budget in mind, you can start thinking about how you want to use your money. It’s always beneficial to have a backup plan and some emergency funds you can keep back, just in case things don’t run as smoothly as you hoped.
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Structural work The first step of the building work is laying foundations and establishing the basic structure of the house. Liaise with your builders to determine the timeframe, and make sure you’ve planned where you want to add doors, internal walls, and windows before you begin. Once you’ve got a basic shell, you can focus on ordering customized window installations, adding doors, and getting the roof sorted. Although you may want to muck in and get your hands dirty, it’s best to leave structural work of any kind to the professionals.
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Plastering and flooring Once the building work is complete and you’ve got a secure structure to work with, you can start taking steps towards finishing off the project and injecting your creative flair. Order floor tiles, boards or carpets and arrange for plasterers to visit and prepare the walls for painting or papering.
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Priority rooms If you’re in a hurry to relocate, and you’re not going to have the house completely finished when you move in, make sure the most important rooms in the house are ready. Most people prioritize the kitchen and bathrooms. Once these rooms are done, you can tackle any remaining jobs when you get in, and you’re settled. Leave rooms like guestrooms and studies until last, unless you work from home. If you’re ordering new furniture, a kitchen or a bathroom suite, it’s wise to do this in advance, as it can take weeks or even months for orders to be processed and delivered. Once you’ve got the essentials sorted, you can turn your hand to decorating and start taking steps to make your house more homely.
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Taking on a building project is incredibly exciting, but there is a lot of work involved. It can take a long time, and blood, sweat, and tears to turn a vision into reality. If you’re considering building your own home, it’s always good to have plans in place. You need to know what is happening at every stage of the build and ensure that you cover priority jobs first. Although it’s tempting to spend your time thinking about styles and themes for your brand new bedrooms and bathrooms, there are countless jobs that need completing before you get to this stage. Seek professional advice, keep a close eye on the project, and make sure you consider your budget at all times.
Thank you for the amazing tips which is a sort of advice for those who might want to build their own house. Planning is the most exciting part of the project. But there are plenty of things to get done including the design, budget and many more.
Great blog and very informative post. Proper planning and execution is vital to this task.