Building a house is a dream! You’ve finally got a property, and decorating your home is always an exciting venture for any new property owner. But before you can call yourself a homeowner, you might want to look into some aspects of your neighbourhood or property that will be important considerations in building your dream home.
7 Things to Consider When Building a House
For many young adults, building a home is the life goal and is a determinant of success, but we may not have the experience of homeownership the first time around. There are numerous things to consider when scouting for properties, as there are in constructing a house. Here are 7 essential things to consider when building your home:
1. Costs of Building and Maintenance
The landed property construction cost in some areas may be more expensive than others, and knowing exactly how much the construction of your house will cost can help you decide on materials, manpower, and contractor to go with. Stick to your budget to avoid overspending, and work with a construction company that can adhere to your budget range.
Before making any decisions on architectural design and build services, you may want to consider the cost of maintenance of the house after it is built, as some designs may require special care. Designs with basketweave, spirals, or other porous surfaces may require more frequent cleaning than flat surfaces, while some paints were made to withstand weather effects.
Know your limits in maintaining your home. You wouldn’t want to avail of professional house upkeep every month or so just to keep your home looking pristine and presentable. Practicality and function are always prioritized in homes that are meant to last for generations.
2. Property Limits
You’re already planning that lush garden you’ll grow in your front yard, but be aware of property limits. Know exactly where your property ends to avoid disputes with neighbours about gardens, fences and shrubbery.
Some areas also limit property owners in what foliage they can plant, as some plants may have been labelled as invasive species in the area and are not allowed to grow in gardens. When in doubt, do some research on the plants you want to grow in your garden, and be mindful of how they spread. Landscaping is an important part of home building too.
3. Location
Do you have industrial neighbours that may be operating their noisy, smoky factories 6 days a week? Or perhaps a school nearby where children roam freely around the town often? Is traffic bad because you live near the freeway?
Location is a highly important aspect of building a home. By choosing the right property for you, you can minimize the chances of building your home in a less than the favourable environment. Note that location will depend on your budget, lifestyle, and availability of properties in the area.
4. Neighbourhood
We’d all like to remain civil with our neighbours, but oftentimes, we don’t get to decide on who moves in beside our home. What we can do is to assess the neighbourhood before moving in to see if the neighbourhood is right for you.
So when deciding on the location for your home, observe around the neighbourhood for a feel of the surrounding environment and its attributes. Some neighbourhoods host various events to bring the community together, while others prefer to keep a respectful distance from their neighbours. Whatever you prefer, be sure to choose a neighbourhood that fits your lifestyle.
5. Building Codes
Taking the grandeur route with a 4 or 5 storey home? Better check your building codes whether the location your property is in allows you to build a tall home. Other areas also have green building initiatives where sustainable materials are encouraged to be used in the construction of new homes, while other areas only allow construction works during certain times of the day.
Your contractor should be aware of these building regulations, especially if they have worked with a similar construction project in the same area in the past. Always scout for a reputable contractor who has had experience in the building and construction of homes.
6. Seasons and Weather
As they always say, never move in the wintertime, and there is some truth to the advice. When deciding on the location of your home, always inquire about the status and photos of the exterior during different seasons. You may be surprised that the beautiful, tropical location you chose in the summer, gets caked with snow in the winter.
You can ask around the neighbourhood on how they upkeep their homes during the changing of the seasons, and their answers will give you an approximate gauge of how the location is affected by seasonal weather changes.
7. Contractor and Interior Designer
Your contractor should be able to help you with all your home needs, and some companies even have their own in-house interior designers that will get that house ready for moving in! While not all contractors are a good match for the work that you want done, always scout for quotes, and check the reputation of your contractor before you sign the project off to them.
Keep these tips in mind when constructing your home, and you’ll less likely run into problems with your dream house.
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