1 year ago
Building a house or any building for that matter is a very big commitment. The worst part is that you have to get it right the first time, there are no do overs. I mean... you might try but that would cost you even if you have very deep pockets.
Thankfully, you can avoid following these common building mistakes and be happy in your new home. I've put together a list of 7 common mistakes to avoid when building your home:
Don't get caught in the trap of thinking that you can build your dream home for less than it actually costs. It might be true in some cases, but don't expect to save money by going down this route.
The key is to develop and stick to a budget, so you know exactly what you're spending. If you're not sure about the cost of something, get estimates from multiple contractors and compare them. This will give you an idea of what's realistic and what isn't.
When you're building a house, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding one that meets all your needs and wants. It's important to remember that building a house is not just about finding somewhere to live, but also about making sure that you can afford it long term.
You need to research what costs are involved in owning a property, including rates, maintenance, and insurance. You should also look at how much it will cost for you to rent out your property if you decide to move on in the future.
When you build your own home, there are many things that need to be considered. You will need to ensure that you have enough time to finish the process before the weather gets too cold or too warm. And also make sure that you have considered any other potential setbacks such as bad weather or other unforeseen issues that could arise during construction.
It’s critical to give yourself plenty of lead time in case of setbacks – otherwise you could end up spending an uncomfortable winter in a half-built house!
Have you ever heard the saying “There are two kinds of people: those who have experienced a home renovation and those who will?”
If you're reading this, it's likely that you fall into the first category. But if you're considering building your own home from scratch, then you may be wondering how much a project like this will cost.
As it turns out, there are many ways to overspend on a home build.
“Many people think they have everything planned out, and then they get hit with something,” says Kevin Ross, owner of Ross Construction in Vancouver. “They don't realize that they need more money or things change.”
For example, Ross says one client ran into trouble because he didn't know he had to buy his lot before building could begin. “It was just something that wasn't in his budget,” he says.
Takeaway: budget for the unexpected.
The most common mistake I see people make when building their home is buying more space than they need. It's a classic case of building for today and tomorrow's needs.
For example, if your family is growing, then it makes sense to buy an extra bedroom or two. But if you're single or have no kids, then there's no point getting a big family room with enough space for a pool table, bar, and foosball table all at once. What happens when you move out of that room? You'll have wasted money building something that will never get used.
The same goes for garages: if you don't plan on having more than one car, then don't build a three-car garage. That's just wasteful!
Will your needs change in the future? If so, how can you make the space flexible enough to address those needs? Is there anything that may negatively impact resale value that I should avoid?
Over-improving the house for today's standards without considering future expansion needs.
Improving the house without considering how it will look when finished and lived in. A great example of this is adding too many steps or angles into a staircase. It looks great as an open concept design, but makes the stairs unusable by anyone with mobility issues or young children!
Choosing materials without taking into account their longevity, durability, and cost of maintenance over time—this includes paint colors, flooring types and kitchen appliances (which tend to be replaced every 12-15 years).
The first mistake that most people make when building their home is picking the wrong location. This can be a tough decision to make, especially if you are moving from an urban environment to a more rural one.
If you want to build your own home, it is important to consider all aspects of location—crime rate, distance to work, walkability, etc. You should also be sure that there is enough space for your new home and that there are no restrictions on what types of homes can be built in your neighborhood or community.
Building your own home is a daunting task, and anyone who has tried it will tell you that it's easy to make mistakes. Hopefully, the tips above give you some assurance to follow your dream of building a home that you'll be happy in for years and years to come.
We regularly post tips like these on our blog, enter your email address below to get a notification when there's new useful content.