Some prefer to live in properties and units that have already been built beforehand, like apartments and condos. Other people, however, prefer to have a house built from scratch. If you are looking for a rough guide on what steps to take note of when having your own house built, then this blog is for you!
Steps on Build Your House
1. List down what aspects of the house take priority.
The first step in the home-building process is to make sure to have a list of non-negotiables or a set of priorities on what you want your house to be like. If you’re building a house to live with other people, like a family, make sure to discuss with your family what kind of details and features must be present in the house. Examples include how many bedrooms there should be, having a working studio/area, having a mudroom, how big the lot for sale will be, and the like.
2. Plan the budget for the expenses and investments you will make.
Building an entire house means making a big investment, and this also means that a considerable amount of expenses will be made. It is recommended to have your “construction loan and budget pre-approved by a mortgage specialist” in order to organize how much money you plan to invest in house construction. Make sure to organize three kinds of budget: “the budget for building the house, the budget for buying furniture, and the budget for building the house finishings.”
3. Hire a team of professionals that will build your house.
In order to make the house you want to build become realized, you will need a team of professionals to work with you to put plans into action. In designing the spaces of the house itself, you will need an architect. In designing the interior walls and furnishings of the house, you will need a decorator or interior designer. You will also need the builder/s to put in the labor for the construction process of the house you are building. Make sure to research and hire reputable professionals.
4. Find the right lot for sale to have your house built on.
Where you build your house will greatly impact the kind of lifestyle you will live. This is why hiring a team of professionals is important since they will be able to help you find what kinds of features and expenses there are for various lot for sale, whether it’s in areas that are urban, suburban, or the like. The location of your dream home will be important as well, as this will determine your proximity to public infrastructure and buildings.
5. Always communicate with the architect/s on what kind of house design you want.
The architect is primarily the one in charge of designing the design, architecture, and flow of spaces within your house. Make sure to frequently communicate what you really want with the architect during the design process so that you will be able to get the kind of house that satisfies the list of priorities you have listed beforehand. Moreover, organize what kind of furniture you plan to purchase and have them ordered early. Furthermore, communicate with the architect/s and builder/s on what kind of materials will be used for different parts of the house and where they may be sourced.
6. Have the design finalized and secure a building quote.
A building quote is essentially a document that breaks down in specific detail the costs of the building that will be constructed. In this context, it is your house that will be built. Ensure that you have communicated the specifics and technicalities of your expenses with the team of professionals that you have hired, especially to check if your expenses follow the budget plan you have made beforehand. Have any necessary revisions done before securing a building quote.
7. Secure the necessary permits for building the house.
Before your house can be constructed, you will need to secure the necessary permits pertinent to the area where you are having your house constructed. Hire a professional and reputable “contractor to contact your municipal office and discuss your plans.” Your contractor will be the one responsible for securing the necessary permits for your house, such as a “building permit, plumbing permit, electrical permit, HVAC permit,” and the like. Once everything is agreed upon, a construction contract will be signed.
8. Ensure the site is leveled and built on a proper foundation.
Upon clearing the lot for sale, a clearing team will be responsible for leveling the ground on the building site where your house will be built on. The team will then lay the proper foundation, do the proper building site preparation, and set up guides for the utilities and systems that will be installed within your house. Moreover, footings will be constructed, and the foundation will be poured.
9. Install a good plumbing system.
The initial plumbing system, such as “sewers, drains, taps,” and the like, will be installed by the builders. The latter parts of the plumbing system (e.g., pipes that run to the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, etc.) are typically installed once the house exterior (e.g., walls, roof, windows, etc.) is installed. Make sure you don’t save money on these things. Good plumbing fixtures can help you a lot and for a long time.
10. Have the exterior parts of the house installed properly.
The building team will then install the exterior parts of the house, such as the frame of the house, the walls, windows, and doors. Make sure that the parts of the house exterior that will be frequently used, like windows and doors, are functional.
11. Have an HVAC system installed.
The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is important for ensuring the maintenance of the flow of good air quality within the house via “adequate ventilation and filtration.”
12. Order the furniture to be placed in your house.
Make sure to have ordered your furniture many weeks earlier than the estimated date that you will move into the new house that you are building. Make sure to inspect the quality of the furniture that gets delivered to the house being built on your lot for sale, and communicate with the studio that you ordered the furniture from if ever there is anything wrong or faulty with the furniture.
13. Install the needed light fixtures.
Have the necessary lighting fixtures installed around the proper areas in the house being built, including switches and outlets. Communicate with the electrical team to understand how the lighting works in the house you are building.
14. Have the landscaping and hardscaping done.
The areas outside of the house, particularly on the lot for sale that you have built your new house on, will be where the landscaping and hardscaping will be done. Landscaping, or softscaping, refers to the design and organization of “softer, living, and growing elements like flowers, trees, and shrubs.” Hardscaping refers to the more rigid, “solid elements of the outdoor space,” such as pavements and rocks.
15. Hire a house inspector to find any faulty sections of the house before settling in.
Finally, have a house inspector examine all the areas of the house and lot for sale in order to find what sections of the new house need repair or fixing. This part is important because it will prevent any hindrances that may happen once you move into your new house.
If no issues were found and the house went according to plan during the final inspection, then congratulations! You may finally move into your new house!
Read more: Renovation vs. Knockdown Rebuild: Which One Will Be Better for You?
