Top 7 things to consider when building your own home



When it comes to building your own home, it pays to do your homework. No doubt, this is why you’re here. If you’re looking for some practical tips on self-builds, then you’ve come to the right place.

If you’re considering taking on a project of your own, here are their top 10 recommendations on what to consider before you get started…

Do a proper site-survey before purchasing land

Before you commit to a plot of land, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t have any nasty surprises attached to it. This is where investing in a proper site-survey pays off.

By getting a qualified land surveyor on board, you’ll be able to know upfront if the land suffers from…

A difficult inclination
A lot of clay in the ground
Troublesome trees
Among other things!

In some cases, a site survey might reveal your desired plot isn’t suitable for residential purposes. However, in others, it can help you get a better idea of budget requirements. Even the problems listed above can be overcome, as long as your architectural team know about them upfront.

Always have 10% contingency in place

Speaking of budget, when it comes to nailing down how to fund your build, make sure you leave nothing to chance. Self-builds are big projects and can cost a lot of money

many try to squeeze as much build out of their finances as possible, leaving little to no contingency. This will put you in serious danger of running out of funds, as it’s not uncommon for delays to happen, the weather to disrupt construction, or for a legal dispute to arise.

For proper protection, We always recommends creating a contingency fund that’s at least 10% of your construction budget.

You can build bigger for cheaper than you would for buying outright
However, self-building isn’t always about reigning yourself in. Afraid of running out of money, some self-builders opt for small, conservative designs, rather than going for the size they actually desire.

While it’s good to be budget-conscious, don’t forget that you can get bags more space for your money when you’re building your home yourself. After all, with no developer involved, their overhead fees are removed, saving you 10-30% of what a house would cost to buy already built.

In 2020, we estimate the cost of building your own home to be between Rs 2200 and Rs 3800 per square feet. To work out how this translates into a home on your budget, contact us online for a free project assessment.

Take your time selecting contractors

It’ll come as no surprise but the construction company you choose will have a big hand in shaping your future home. Therefore, it really pays to take your time during the tendering stage.

Remember: once you’ve signed a contract, it’ll be very difficult to change your mind. Companies don’t like to take over another builder’s work.

Smart garden design

As the 2020 lockdown has shown, garden space is a vital part of any home.

Therefore, when designing your new home, make sure you’re giving your outside space just as much thought as your indoor. The best thing you can do in the early stages is to ensure your garden is south facing, this will help maximise the amount of sunshine you’ll get to enjoy and make for some pretty happy plants.

Think long-term when it comes to finance

Unless you’re sitting on a big pot of savings, it’s likely you’ll be using a loan to finance your build. If this is the case, make sure you’re thinking about those repayments. This is where going with a specialist lender can really pay off, one who has experience in handling property-related investments.

Be prepared for planning

Entering the planning stage can be daunting for any self-builder, so make sure you’re doing everything you can to give yourself the best chance of success.

For big projects like this, we would recommend going for a pre-application, in order to give yourself and your architect a good idea of what’s possible in your space. This will also help you establish a relationship with your planning department early on and gauge the way they work.

planning permission - make sure that your house abides to the local building code.

There’s more than one way to build

Many people assume there’s only one way you can build a house and that’s old fashioned bricklaying. However, construction has come a long way in the last few years and there is now plenty of choice in the market.

Take, for instance, ICF (Insulated Concrete Formwork) construction. It’s been around since the 1970s but has only recently been gaining traction. By using a hollow framework, ICF allows you to build faster and to get better results.

Make sure you add construction methods to your list of enquiries when talking to an architect.

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