Tips for Building a House

Building a house up from the ground offers you a chance to choose every feature of the home according to your family’s style and needs.

Here are 8 easy-to-follow tips for building a house.

1. Plan carefully

Make as many preparations in advance as possible putting every little detail of the entire building plan with family needs into consideration.

Conduct ample research both online and in person by consulting professionals who have built a home before to help you in the crucial decision-making process.

2. Sort the finances

Most builders require construction loans to complete their projects.

It is important to present a fully priced plan to the lender since the loan amount granted is pegged to the estimated total value of the completed house.

Keep in mind that construction loans are released in instalments with each portion getting paid after the completion of a specified stage of the building.

To get a great deal, compare offers from several financiers.

3. Hire contractor

Before hiring a contractor ensure they are registered with the relevant professional bodies. Look for some of their previous jobs and talk to their previous clients to establish if their quality of work is satisfactory.

Do not be influenced by the highest or lowest bid since expensive does not always translate to quality while a low quote might be meant to lure you into a bad deal.

4. Prepare a contract

A comprehensive agreement between you and the builder should be drafted, and both parties should go through the document together to ensure it is fully understood before it can be signed.

Go through the plan with a lawyer to ensure that you are fully covered in case of any eventuality. Check whether you will be charged for any alterations to the house plan after work has commenced.

5. Stick to the budget

Budgeting is one of the most important tips on building a house. 

A prospective homeowner should get every item fully priced before the house-building project begins. He/she should avoid making changes.

Any major changes in one stage are likely to disrupt the whole project and could lead to non-completion if the funds are limited.

If there is an overspend in one area, be sure to recoup in another section without compromising on the desired result.

Allow 15% above the cost to cater for unforeseen costs along the way.

6. Close supervision

To ensure that you get the desired result, do not leave everything in the hands of your builder else you will end up with the house he wants.

Be in constant communication, ask questions, voice your opinion, and visit the site as much as possible.

Listen to the advice and suggestions of professionals but stick to your guns since people will always have varied opinions about everything.

7. Go slow on trends

For your home to remain in style, go for timeless fittings that will always look current. Some trends quickly become outdated forcing the homeowner to upgrade to the current fashion.

Choose products that have been in the market for at least a year since they are readily available and cheaper, and producers have had ample time to rectify any flaws common with initial products.

8. Conduct inspection

It is a requirement of the law that buildings under construction should be inspected at different stages of construction to ensure that the necessary rules and codes have been adhered to.

Hire a registered independent inspector to ensure that correct materials and procedures have been used to avoid problems with the law or future building collapses resulting in great losses.

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