What It Really Takes To Build A House

Whether you want to buy a home or build it is a big decision to make. If you have the money and you have a detailed vision of your dream home, then building might be the only way to do it. But it’s not a process to take lightly. There are a lot of different steps to get into and a lot of ways to get it wrong. Here’s what you need to make your home build a reality.

Research the area

Finding a good plot of land to build on might seem like a lot of effort. However, thousands of people manage to do it every year with help from things like Landwatch’s list of lands for sale. Besides finding land that you can get permission to buy on, it’s a good idea to research the areas that catch your interest. Not just because of proximity to things like services and communities. You want to make sure there aren’t any obstacles to the build. Even something as seemingly odd as a colony of bats near the site could ruin your chances of being able to build your dream home there.

Permission

Your research is also going to involve finding out what permissions you can get and what kind of properties you can and cannot build there. Every state has its own application processes and many council planning schemes have their own regulations on the property that can be built in the area, from the size of the property to the materials that can be used in it.

A budget

When you have found the land you want, you might need to find a homebuilding mortgage if you don’t have the cash on hand. When you know how much you have to play with, you need to put a budget together. Beyond buying the land and building the home itself, you need to consider some of the hidden costs of a self-build. Soil tests, regulation compliance fees, the cost of developing the site, additions to the building like creating driveways and landscaping to finish off the property. Fail to accommodate for everything in the budget you could end up with an incomplete house after all the effort.

A firm idea of what you need

Paired hand in hand with the budget should be a proper prioritization of everything you want and need in the home. Note that those need to be listed in two separate categories. Numbers of bedrooms might constitute a need, whereas a more spacious bathroom might constitute a want. Look at everything you desire from your new home and split them into those two categories. You have to be prepared to downsize your expectations to fit the budget. Make that process easier by identifying what you would be willing to let go first and what you absolutely can’t let go.

A plan

There’s a good chance that the fit to all your wants and needs already exists. Instead of creating your own house plan from scratch, you should look at the plans already out there. Could Vision One Homes 3 bedroom home designs show you exactly the kind of home that you want? There are a plethora of different house plans out there for needs of different rooms and dimensions. It’s worth taking your time to look through some of the better providers before you decide to go and spend the money having your own plan drawn up. Of course, that is always an option if you can’t find what you want.

Land preparation

When you buy land, sometimes it is already ready to start building on right away. In most cases, however, you’re going to need to prepare the site. Some housebuilders will offer that amongst their services, but it could be cheaper if you get it done on your own first. Clearing the construction site in advance allows them to get to work all the sooner as well. Besides clearing trees and vegetation, you need to think about excavation for areas like a basement if you’re building one as well. There might some aspects of the land preparation that involve heavy machinery which you might need the team to help with. But if you know what you need in advance then it takes a lot less time getting it all in place.

The right team

Choosing a good team to take on the building project is going to make a big difference in how much you spend on it and how reliably the work gets done. Real Estate’s advice is to look out for the indicators of a team worth hiring. Indicators like a portfolio of past works and testimonials can serve as proof of the quality of their work, but you should see if they can help you get in contact with past clients as well. Fixed prices or at the very least transparent estimations should give you an idea of whether or not they might take your budget for an expensive ride, too. You should also look at whether they fit any niche considerations for your project. For instance, if you want an energy efficient home, then they should display a certain level of knowledge on how to build one.

A line to your suppliers

Some people might choose to leave it in the hands of the building team to secure all the supplies they need to complete the project. However, if you want to save money, it’s a better idea to find those suppliers yourself. You don’t know what deals your building team might have with suppliers that could have them choosing more expensive options, for one. If you find supplies yourself then you could make use of things like The Junk Map’s tips on where to find re-purposed building materials. So long as the materials are in good condition and fit your needs for the home, you shouldn’t turn your nose up at where it comes from.

There’s a lot of time, money, effort, and research that goes into building a home. But if you want one that you could truly be happy to live in for the rest of your life, then building your own is the only way to assure it.