Building a home is no small project. There are many factors to consider, and you will need some industry knowledge to complete it successfully.
If you are taking on this project, remember to avoid these commonly overlooked planning mistakes.
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Choosing an Inconvenient Location
While an area may feel peaceful and quiet, thanks to it being in a more secluded area, it may also be inconvenient for various other reasons.
Look for places where you can easily access facilities and amenities that you will need for your daily life, such as the grocery store, a clinic, a dentist, and a shopping mall.
Insufficient Long-Term Planning
Plan the layout of your home for the decades ahead instead of just for the next few years. As an example, your child would need a bigger room than the space you allocated for the nursery.
If you are in your 40’s, you would also appreciate the bedroom being on the first floor in another decade.
Not Considering Terrain
Different house plans fit in better for different types of terrains. As an example, you can expect a house built on a sloped piece of land to be less extended than one built on a level piece of land.
The cost of building on a slope will also be higher. However, this cost could still work in your favour if you hire a builder specializing in building on sloped sites since you will retain a higher resale value afterward.
If you’re interested in building a split level home, try asking to view the split level house plans before you start a construction project.
Not Including Buffer in Your Budgets
You will probably know to calculate your house building budgets based on the quotation provided by your builders, contractors, and architects.
However, you will also need to save some extra funds for unforeseen situations, which would increase the overall prices for your project.
At the very least, you should prepare 10% extra from your budgets, or refrain from using the entirety of your funds to prepare for the buffer.
Space Management
How many rooms do you need? What are you planning to put in your kitchen, your master bedroom, or any other living spaces?
You will have to consider these questions while you are planning the layout of your home. Proper space management will ensure that you utilize your area to the fullest without creating a cramped space.
You will also need to balance the storage space and living space in your home. So strategize where you will place your closets, cabinets, and other storage systems too.
Underlit Rooms
Have you looked into the lighting systems in your house? Underlit areas in your home can make your living space feel gloomy and dark.
It would make simple activities such as reading and using the computer hard on your eyes.
Figure out which areas of your house will get more natural lighting and install windows to allow sunlight into the rooms.
Install enough light fixtures around your home to make it comfortable and bright for any activities in your home.
Considering It a DIY Project
A home planning project is not one to be taken lightly. While you may have some creative plans that you would like to include in the construction process, you may not have the expertise or professional insights to find the potential problems in your building plans.
Consider speaking with a professional to design and build your home for you. You can discuss your ideas with your contractors.
They will be able to build it for you with the right safety measures so that you will not face problems in the long run.
Not Reviewing Contracts Carefully
No one likes reading through long contracts, but this step is essential for reviewing the payments for which you are responsible.
In most cases, homeowners are legally required to pay for subcontractors and suppliers, and a lien can be put on your property if the contractor does not pay the bills.
You should hire a lawyer to help you to review your contract before the construction starts. Or have them write a contract including the delivery dates and cost projections, which will not hold you accountable for work delays, hidden or additional costs.
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