If you’ve been dreaming of your ideal home then you may want to consider building. Building a home allows you to bring your dream to fruition as you start from scratch and custom design every nook and cranny. While it may be challenging, building your dream house will also end up being the most satisfying jobs of your life once you’ve moved in. Planning and research is definitely required and may take time, but it’s worth every minute.
We’ve put together some of the top questions you want to ask yourself before starting your build. The more information and knowledge you have, the smoother the process will be.
Do I have enough funds?
While building and land costs are high, it will most likely end up less expensive than buying. BUT this all depends on what your dream entails. You can dream big, but you should also be prepared to compromise and find alternatives. Assuming this is going to be your dwelling for years to come, you can work on things slowly until you have the funds to build further. Now is the time to make financial sacrifices and save up those dollars, but know that there are plenty of ways to save. For example, do some of the build on your own or pick up recycled materials.
Where is the best place to build?
Location is everything! It may boil down to your budget, but you’ll want to set up roots somewhere you can envision long term and grow your family. Think about your needs here. More and more people are venturing further out to save money, but will you really save if you’re stuck having to drive long distances every day for life’s necessities? It’s also not worth getting a plot of land unless you are sure you’ll get the permission to build.
Can I get planning permission?
This is obviously a very important question because all builds will require planning permission. As long as you do your research before committing to a plot, you should be fine. Always check to see if any previous planning applications were submitted for a site and what the outcome was.
Who’s going to build?
Of course you want to work with a highly reputable builder – this is after all the biggest investment in your life. Be sure to do your homework and ask around for recommendations. If you or anyone in your family can be a part of the build, go for it – it will save you costs & will make the project a bit more fun.
How long will this take?
Timing is really dependent on the complexity of your build and the availability of your contractors. It’s recommended to start in spring as poor weather conditions could affect your build with delays & damages. While you may have a completion date planned, always keep this flexible to prevent disappointment & challenges due to unforeseen circumstances.
Once you have a good idea of what your plan is, we recommend seeking legal advice to help you along the process especially with the paperwork. Keep in mind what we mentioned already – despite the challenge, building a home is extremely rewarding.