Published by Programme B
If you’ve started looking into building your own house, there are certain factors that you need to consider. It’s not as simple as bringing in a team and hammering a structure together. There are countless plans and procedures that you need to be aware of.
Plan for more than you think you need
Extra is always better than just enough. If you think you need two power points, install another two more just in case. It’s better than scrambling for urgent electricity and power connections at the very last minute. Make room for appliances – heating systems, kitchen hoods, refrigerators, air conditioners all require a permanent supply of power. There’s no reason to unplug your kitchen hood in order to blend something, and don’t even think about unplugging the refrigerator just so you can vacuum the floor.
How to pick the right builder?
While this could be an article all on its own, there are a few tips on helping you select the best builder for the job. Your first instinct might be to hire the first builder that impresses you with their portfolio. While an impressive portfolio is definitely a plus, it is only one of four criterias your builder should meet.
- Credentials
Perhaps the very first thing you should do is vet all potential builders by their credentials. If they aren’t licensed or adequately insured, there’s a good chance that you might run into trouble down the line. While you’re at it, you should also make sure that your builder is a part of Master Builders or the Housing Industry Association (HIA).
- Past work
As mentioned above, looking at your prospective builder’s past work can give you a better idea of the quality of their work and whether or not they are suitable for the project you have in mind. Look up reviews on the development projects that they’ve done and listen to past buyers.
- Style
Much like when you’re looking for a tattoo artist, you want to make sure that their style suits what you are looking for. A calligraphy-specialist tattoo artist is not going to do a bang-up job on a portrait and vice versa. If you’re hoping to get someone who does minimalist art to tattoo maori designs, you’re going to be extremely disappointed with the result. Similarly, when it comes to selecting a builder, you want to look at their style instead of honing in on quality. Don’t expect that your Victorian design house with EcoTech windows will be executed flawlessly by a builder that’s only experienced in modern homes.
- Personality
If you can’t click with a particular builder, it’s much better to part ways in order to have conflicts down the road because builders can be costly to replace. If you find that you aren’t able to communicate well with him or he just doesn’t “get” your vision, find someone else who will.
Ensure you’re ready to move in
Building a house doesn’t mean you dodge the moving process. It can be easier as you’ve built the property yourself, so you’re not worrying about waiting for a seller to vacate the premises. This means the ball is in your court and you can choose a moving date to suit your needs. Partner with a good moving company to get things in order – and to help pack and transport everything from your old place to the new one.
If you’re selling your old home, it’s probably wise to begin this when your new home is nearly built. It prevents instances when your old home sells very quickly and your house hasn’t been built yet! Try to hold out until the work is close to being complete so you can move out right before a new buyer wants to move into your old home.
Clearly, your builder is going to be a big part of your home-building process and therefore it is crucial that you find one that can talk to you like a friend, as well as help you bring your ideas to life in a practical and efficient manner.