Article 6 Vital Tips For The First-Time House Builder, Read Now

Building a house is at the top of many people’s bucket list. It’s a chance to create your dream home and take control of your living space. It’s a life-affirming task, and you’ll feel a flood of achievement when you put that final brick in place. It’s also a comparably cost-effective process. If you stick to the right budget, it can work out cheaper than buying a house of similar specification. Of course, building your unique home isn’t without its complications. It’s an emotionally and physically draining challenge. With that in mind, we asked experienced home builders for their expert tips. Here’s what they had to say.

1. Stick to your budget

In practice, this is much easier said than done! Building a house inherently creeps over budget. It’s an unpredictable process, and emergencies can crop up at any time. Additional fees can hit without warning. Weather can delay the build and cause increased payments. There are numerous things to go wrong here. With that in mind, add 5%-10% on top of your budget to cover emergencies.

2. Take your time planning

Many first-time builders rush through the planning stages hoping to get to the fun part! It’s crucial that you slow down and take the planning stage seriously. Meet with your architect and trust their wisdom. Make sensible amends and changes to your design.

3. Consider custom home building

A custom home builder will help you simplify the process. You’ll have a say in designing and creating your bespoke home, but the rest is taken care of. For first-timers, it’s a good way to get an introduction to the house-building world. You’ll be involved in decision making, but watch the process from the sidelines.

4. Go green

Building your own house is the perfect chance to install green solutions. You can eliminate your energy bills by incorporating solar panels, wind turbines, and biomass heating. Take advantage of your clean slate to plan these additional features. It will cut your running costs in the future allowing you to save money.

5. Hire a project manager

Many home builders like to take on the role of project manager themselves. They think it will save money and give them hands-on involvement with the build. Unfortunately, it can have disastrous consequences if you’re not experienced. Keeping a build on time and on budget is like walking a tight-rope. You’ll save time and money by hiring a professional here.

6. Put practicality and function at the heart of everything

First-time builders have a tendency to get carried away with creative designs and fantastical concepts. It takes an experienced hand to add practicality and function to those creative ideas. It’s vital that you listen to your architect and project manager in this case. Remember, once the house is built, it must be practical and functional to live in.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to build a house, congratulations! You’re in for an exciting ride.