Building a new home, as opposed to buying a new home comes with numerous advantages. You get to choose the size of your new place, the layout, and how the house will be furnished. Although the full list of benefits is long, there are at least 6 things you have to pay attention to in order to build a home to match your lifestyle.
Hiring the right contractor
If there is one decision that is a bit more important than others, then it’s choosing the right contractor. You should start the search by asking your friends and family whether they can recommend someone they have worked within the past.
Once you narrow down the potential candidates, visit their website or a Facebook page to have a look at their portfolio. You need contractors who have experience in erecting residential structures. If a potential builder has an excellent record of industrial buildings, then they are not the right choice.
When you ultimately decide to contact them, see if they have a person in charge of customer relations, as that’s the greatest sign of their dedication to clients and their wishes. After all, you aren’t going to commission many homes in your lifetime, so you want them to get things right the first time.
Your dream home won’t turn out perfect
Building a brand new home is a chance to finally turn your dreams into reality. If you approach the contractors with realistic demands and plans, they are sure to deliver but the project won’t go without a hitch.
It’s virtually impossible to get 100% of the amenities you want, so be prepared that your dream home will turn just short of pure perfection.
The ceiling in the bedroom might have to be slightly vaulted or there will a gap in the kitchen once you throw in all the appliances but this is a small price to pay for finally owning a home you have about for decades.
Take expert advice
We have no doubt that you have envisioned your new home from shiny bathroom fixtures, all the way to a cozy reading corner in the attic. However, engineers you hire will have to alter some of your plans, so be sure to take their advice.
The last thing you want is to jeopardize the statics of the building because you desperately want a room over the garage, for example. Likewise, don’t let the contractor change the blueprint too much because it conveniences them so.
Think outside the box
Have you ever noticed how all the cars or houses look pretty much the same? If you have, don’t be caught in the snare of mediocrity and try to make your home exciting. For instance, instead of a boring fixed patio roof, go for a stainless steel retractable roof that would be ideal for a backyard barbecue in summer.
If you want your new home to be unique, you need to think outside the box and add amenities seldom found in other residential structures, such as a backyard swimming pool or an underground garage.
Excellent communication is key!
We’ve mentioned earlier that your designated contractor should have a liaison person. This means that you should always have a number you can call and ask them a question about the build. Contractors often try to perform this role on their own but they are swamped with work.
When you visit the construction site, there should at least be a foreman to greet you and show you firsthand how the build is progressing. If a construction agency is communicative, that’s a good sign they will honor everything you agreed on in the contract.
A bowl of cookies will get you far
It’s perfectly normal for clients to visit the construction site often and even lend a helping hand. That’s why you shouldn’t treat craftsmen building your house as menial laborers but as magicians helping you turn your dream into a reality.
Turning up at the construction site with a bowl of fresh cookies and a jug of milk will be much appreciated. You might think of this tradition as old-fashioned but trust us, winning over the hearts and minds of builders will get you far.
Building a new home isn’t an easy process. From selecting the right contractor to overseeing the build, you need to take an active role in the projects, even if you’re not building the structure yourself.
