Are you building a new home?
Building a custom new home can be one of the most rewarding experiences, but the process is also filled with pitfalls.
There are many questions you’ll need to ask yourself. What does your lifestyle look like in the future? Will your family be growing? Do you plan on selling or keeping your property for good?
Knowing what mistakes to avoid can help save you thousands of dollars, and more than a few headaches.
But if you’ve got a new build on the horizon, it can be tough to know where to focus your attention. Your goal is to strike a balance between time, cost and quality.
Avoiding the following 7 mistakes that people commonly make can mean the difference between living in your dream home or a disaster.
Here’s what you need to know…
Mistake #1 – You don’t budget properly
Be realistic when budgeting for a new home build.
There is nothing quite like under budgeting to halt a construction project in its tracks. Make sure you have room to manoeuvre and that you add a little extra for those unforeseen incidentals.
Quality is key when it comes to building so don’t undercut standards with a low budget that will give you a poor end result. Make sure that you trust your builder to stick to the budget as much as possible.
Mistake #2 – You don’t find the right builder
Choosing the right building contractor is perhaps the most important decision you can make.
After all, you will be trusting them with every aspect of the building process and ensuring that the project goes according to plan. You simply cannot do enough research into building contractors.
Compare quotes, ask for referrals and go online to find reviews. Reliability and a solid reputation are key, but you also want to choose someone who understands what you want and with whom you can communicate well.
Wondering what to ask your builder? Find out about the 5 most important questions to ask right here!
Mistake #3 – You don’t plan the ‘flow’
The location of each room of your home is of critical importance – you’ll want each space to ‘flow’ into one another.
Bedrooms are normally located away from the kitchen or living areas and closer to the bathrooms to allow for peace and quiet.
Dining rooms are normally placed close to the kitchen and living areas for easy access. However, the location of each room should be tailored to meet your requirements.
Mistake #4 – You don’t factor in lighting
First time builders often overlook the importance of lighting in a home.
It is important to take both natural and artificial light into consideration right from the planning phase. Glazier Mark Rogerson explains, “windows should be large enough to allow for sufficient light to enter during the day and artificial fixtures should be strategically placed to ensure enough light both indoors and outdoors once the sun sets”.
Not only can insufficient lighting result in a home that feels dark and uncomfortable, but it can also mean rewiring at a later date to make necessary adaptations, which can be very costly.
Mistake #5 – You don’t match your lifestyle to your home
You need to be conscious of your requirements for a home and how these will fit in with your lifestyle.
This will affect the total design of the home and may require some additions or subtractions. For example, you may want to remove a space that will not be used from the building plans or make room for future extensions if you are planning on starting a family.
It is best to spend more on the features that you truly need, rather than those you simply will not use.
On the contrary, if there’s a lifestyle feature you want, make sure to include it. Enjoy swimming? Get that dream pool. Love your outdoor space? Factor in a larger backyard.
Mistake #6 – You don’t factor in delays
The best laid plans can quickly go awry.
Rather than stress over this, expect it.
One of the most common stresses involved with building projects is delays that prevent deadlines from being met and the move-in dates changing constantly.
Although this can be frustrating, most delays are out of the builder’s hands and are a result of natural causes such inclement weather, especially in winter.
The roofing experts at Domain have experienced the delays that come with construction. They recommend preparing for delays and being surprised if they don’t eventuate.
They note “delays can also be caused by waiting for building materials or getting the permits necessary for work to start or continue. No matter how much you plan ahead for every eventuality, delays will likely occur, so don’t be surprised when they do.”
Mistake #7 – You don’t have a contract
Fail to plan and you plan to fail.
Planning ahead and ensuring that you make the best choices right from the start can see you moving into your dream home soon rather than having to endure a protracted nightmare.
Draw up a contract with your builder outlining the budget, the proposed timeline for the project and any other factors that are important to the build.
This contract will cover you in the event that anything goes wrong and provide your builder with an exact framework within which to work.
It is important to note that there are many more issues and mistakes that can arise when building a new home and the contract is there to provide for these. It is recommended to have a lawyer go over the contract before you and your builder or any other relevant parties sign it.
Avoiding the common mistakes made when building a new home should ensure that everything goes according to plan.
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Looking for help on your own custom home build? Chat to the expert team from Cunningham Constructions today!
