Buying used has its advantages, but there’s nothing like getting something brand-new. The principle extends to houses—buying one is fine but building one new gives you tons of latitude on design. Like planning a wedding, though, building is a worthwhile project that is much more complicated and exhausting than you expect. For a lifeline, read these three design tips for first-time home builders.
Study the Home-Building Craft
To cut down on the chaos, work towards a PhD in home building. Not really, but you should get a grasp of various aspects of your new home so that you can answer questions confidently. There are countless decisions to make (all the way down to grout color) and understanding the basics prevents mistakes.
Better yet, after talking with contractors and friends with experience, you can use your knowledge to fuel your creativity. For instance, when you wrap your head around the key considerations when building your staircase, you can do the homework on installing custom spiral stairs.
Budget Smartly, Prioritize Certain Projects
Second, count your costs early on and as the project progresses. Maintaining a tight budget is imperative as so many details shift around you. Don’t fall prey to endless upgrading that ends up costing you big when they all add up.
That said, it’s likely even the best budget plans fail at some point. Avoid going over your budget by knowing your priorities beforehand. If you care about using detailed moulding, finials, and other wood features, splurge there and don’t go overboard elsewhere.
Be On Site To Observe
Our final design tip for first-time home builders: visit the build site often to observe. This will help you learn and make you available for contractor questions. In the event they’re about to make a big mistake, you’re there to say something.
That said, refrain from hovering and providing too much feedback. Giving workers space to do their job is important; plus, making a bunch of changes really slows them down. This further emphasizes the importance of thorough instructions and clear communication before building starts, too.
