Are you planning a self-build in order to achieve your dream property? If so, it’s important that you’re aware of some potential problems that could cause your dream self-build home to become more like a nightmare.
Below, we provide a list of the best tips on how to ensure that your self-build goes as smoothly as possible and how you can avoid any potential disasters.
Make The Right Decisions From The Start
Before you consider deciding on a place to purchase, make sure you’ve done your homework first. If you plan to completely reconstruct or renovate a house, you’ll want to ensure the surrounding areas can support it. You don’t want to end up having the biggest or smallest house in the area.
The cost of your self-build home should be around the same amount as the value of the properties within the same area. Otherwise, your home may seem a little bit out of place, and you may not get the right value for it when you come to sell it.
When choosing an area, consider the resale value, the surrounding area, the schools in the area, and how close the home is to local amenities.
Focus on Planning
Even if you think you’ve found your perfect location in the perfect area for a great price, don’t jump in too quickly. Before you go ahead and put an offer on the place, you need to ensure that every single detail of your self-build house is properly planned out.
You will need to work out the costs of every part of your project, down to every last fixture and fitting. This will ensure that you are aware of exactly what your final cost will be so you know what to budget for.
The cost of building a house will typically run at around 20 – 50 per cent more than what people expect. This is usually down to poor planning. Only with proper pre-planning can you be certain that you can afford the project.
Get Some Contractors Lined Up
Once you know what you want to achieve, speak to some contractors. Talk with a range of contractors and find out as much as you can about them, including how they work. You’ll also want to ensure that your personalities match well, as you’ll be working with them for a while on a large project.
You may even be able to get the contractors to bid against each other to give you the best price for the work. Keep in mind that most contractors will be able to do all the same things. You need to look out for contractors that can complete your desired work at a high-quality rate for a good price. Customer service is also key when it comes to a big project like this.
Ask to see some of their previous work and find out as much as possible about each of the contractors before making your decision.
Be Persistent and Specific – But Always Realistic
When you finally decide on the right contractors for the job, be sure to review the contract properly. You want to make sure the contractors are aware of the exact specifications that you’re looking for in order to achieve your dream house.
Make sure you look at all the pricing to ensure that it is laid out correctly and there are no unexpected fees. It’s important to be as thorough as possible when checking through everything to ensure the build goes as smoothly as possible.
If something on the contract doesn’t look quite right to you or if there is anything that you don’t understand, bring this up with the contractors. It’s essential that everyone is on the same page before going ahead with the build.
It’s also important to remember to remain fair and patient. Don’t go mad at every little thing, as some things simply can’t be helped. Be pleasant enough to work with, and your contractor will be more likely to want to complete a good job for you.