For many people, the idea of building their own home and getting it built to their exact specifications and needs is a pipe dream. Not only do you need to find a good piece of land to purchase, but you also need to figure out just what you want your house to look like and make sure you have enough money to cover it – plus a little extra for those unexpected costs.
If you do not get it right, you could end up spending a lot of time and money, as well as being trapped in a nightmare house rather than your dream home. We will look at a few pitfalls to avoid while designing your own home in this post.
Not choosing the right contractor
Few people can create their own home without the assistance of experts, and before you employ anyone, you must do extensive research on them. As much as it would be nice to believe that everyone is trustworthy and professional, there are unfortunately a few shady contractors out there who will do a poor job or cause you problems. Reduce the chances of this occurring by conducting research. Look for one that does not cut corners, whether that is on the build of your home or the safety of their team. They need to think about things such as how they will remove debris, edge protection and making sure everyone is up to date with health and safety regulations.
Not making the best out of the space that you have
One of the greatest aspects of building your own house, and one of the key reasons why so many people want to do so, is that you have full control over the layout. Unfortunately, though being able to do this sounds like a lot of fun, many people have no idea how to plan and use the room that they have efficiently. Before you begin, consider everything you do in your home – sleeping, eating, bathing, relaxing, socialising, and so on – and ensure that you have allocated spaces for each of these activities. You must also remember the amount of storage space available. Every room in the house requires storage, which can be built-in and unnoticeable if done correctly.
Not thinking about the small details
It is easy to get caught up in the big details when planning and constructing your own house, but it is the little things that can cause the most problems if they are not prepared for and dealt with properly. Consider where you want to place electrical outlets – do you want them near your bed, for example?
Not having an overflow budget
The chances of you sticking to your initial budget are very low – it is inevitable that something will not quite go to plan and end up costing you more than you expected, or you decide you want something done a little differently or to a higher spec. It is important, therefore, that you have an overflow budget ready to pay for these.
