***Collaborative post***
As anyone who has ever searched for a home can attest – it’s nearly impossible to find a property already on the market that ticks every single item of your checklist. While this sometimes means that you need to make certain allowances (Goodbye games room), it also presents you with a unique opportunity to throw caution to the wind and build your own home.
Yes, you read that right. It’s entirely possible to build your own home – meaning that you can take the vision that currently exists within your head and build it up one brick at a time. However, it goes without saying that this is a huge task – and will set you moving plans back considerably. Nevertheless, it is a worthwhile investment toward achieving your dreams and creating the perfect family home that will be the envy of all your friends!
With that in mind, here are some top tips you can use if you’re considering building your family home from the ground up!
- Try to find a way to put your vision down on paper. Whether that means you draw a series of sketches or write down an in-depth description of the space. This means that you’ll be able to communicate clearly with any of your construction team – be that an architect or builder – and ensure you are working towards the same finishing point.
- Understand that this project is going to cost you a considerable bit of money. While you can reduce some of the costs by using DIY to stay on budget, you must have a clear idea of how much you can spend overall and how that money will be divided throughout the project (i.e. what areas of development will cost you the most).
- Ensure that you have planning permission and other legalities covered from the start – as you don’t want to land yourself in a difficult decision further down the line. For example, you could work with companies such as Arbtech Consulting to ensure that you obtain planning permission ahead of time, ensuring that your project is completed much quicker and without unnecessary interference.
- Get in touch with a variety of construction companies, paying close attention to any online reviews. This can help you decide whether or not you want to work with a specific company and provide you with an insight into what to expect when working with them.
- Remember that the hard work doesn’t stop when you’ve finished the building’s exterior – as you still need to find a way to make a house into a home. As a result, you need to put just as much effort into the interior decorating portion of the project. However, this stage is often the most fun – as you get to buy new furniture, experiment with bold colours and can get the whole family involved in the process!
While you shouldn’t necessarily buy the cheapest available materials (as they may not always be the best quality), keep an eye out for online deals and discounts that can save you considerable amounts of money in the long run.
