It is the dream of so many people not only to become a homeowner but to build their property from scratch. For most of those people, it remains just that – a dream. Yet, if you are in the position to take things further, you will quickly find there is a lot to consider.
When the full scale of what you are taking on sinks in, you might even get cold feet and decide that it wasn’t such a good idea after all. You might think there is far too much to do, but by doing the right things in the right order, you can be more confident that everything will go as planned, and that you can start to turn your dream into a reality.
Create Your Site Plan
One of the major steps will be planning everything out and ensuring you can fit all the buildings and features you want into your available plot. This can bring the whole thing to life and help you see what does and doesn’t work before construction begins. This is not to be confused with floor plans, which just show room sizes with no context to the plot.
A key part of this process is finding the best software for site plans. You ideally want one that can put both 2D and 3D plans in from of you on the screen, showing the entire plot, as well as the interior layout, so you can see, for instance, what the view from your desk in your home office is likely to be like.
Define Your Budget
After your initial purchase of the plot, you need to define the budget for your build costs. Unless you are in a very fortunate position to be financing this from savings, your will need to use borrowing of one type or another. Construction loans exist (which you then re-finance more conventionally when the build is complete) and some mortgages release funds in stages as you complete parts of the build.
Whichever option you go for, you will have an idea of what funds you have available. You can then decide which features and finish you want, and other factors, such as the bathroom, kitchen, and flooring (more on that later).
Find the Right Contractors
The next piece of the puzzle is to find the right major contractor to carry out the work for you. You will find that if you don’t want to be that hands-on yourself, you can find a project manager to run the day-to-day operations of the build. You need to define early on which types of decisions they will be making, and at what point they need to involve you.
Your project manager will most likely be finding the contractors for the various stages of the build from the main construction to the fixing of electrics, plumbing, and drywall. You need to ensure these fit within your budget, and that the quality of their previous work meets your standards. These contractors will be involved to the point where you can decide on interior features
Interior Features
This is where, for many self-builders, the fun begins. You need to put your stamp on the property by deciding what happens in the interior of the house, particularly in three main areas.
The Kitchen
Many call this the heart of the home, so you will want to make yours look spectacular. A luxury kitchen might be your dream, but the price might make you think twice. However, by buying standard carcasses for the units, and becoming inventive with the doors and handles, you can get a memorable look, without the hefty price tag. You can also make the area look more luxurious by having a feature item such as a top-end refrigerator, and on viewing this, visitors are likely to assume the rest of the kitchen is of the same standard.
Bathrooms
Your home is likely to have more than one bathroom, but that doesn’t mean you need a radically different design for each. By opting for a similar suite for both, you might be able to do a deal with the retailer. You could even choose a relatively cheap standard suite and give the room a more individual look with the tiles, taps, and shower. This can save you a huge chunk of your budget, and still give you a look you’ll be proud of.
Hardwood Flooring
This is one area that might cost more, but you are likely to be making a good investment here. This is because hardwood flooring throughout gives a flow from one room to another, making the whole place feel bigger. It is also easier to clean and very likely to outlive any carpet you could have put down as an alternative. You can also change the whole look of a room without replacing it, with just the strategic use of some finishing touches.
Finishing Touches
You then have to decide on the color of your walls, and whether to stay neutral or go for something more individual. The same applies to any rugs or drapes, and whether to opt for brand new furniture for your new home or see which pieces from your old home fit in with the new look. There is so much to decide on here, and you should start considering this last stage from the very start, by compiling dream boards of how you want each room to look.
This way, everybody will know how the finished product will look from day one, and any awkward conversations you need to have with your partner can be gotten out of the way early while stress levels are still relatively low.
Final Thoughts
Building your own home is an ambitious project, but by getting the important things right, it can be made a reality. This includes site plans, so you can see where everything fits in, and contractors who will put it all together for you. If the budget is tight, you can make decisions in your kitchen and bathroom design that could put things back on track. Finally, you can round things off with the finishing touches and start looking forward to your life in your new home.
