If you’re lucky enough to be able to do so, building your own home can help you to avoid the vast majority of moving nightmares that would otherwise keep you up until the early hours of the morning. After all, you’ll be given control of even the smallest of details, meaning that you can make sure that your home ticks every single one of your boxes!
Not only that, but it gives you the chance to bring the home of your dreams to life!
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash
However, it does come with its own set of challenges that you must be willing to rise to ahead of time. Otherwise, you may find that you want to give up at the first hurdle.
With that in mind, here are some top tips for building your dream home from the ground up!
Set your budget. Setting your budget ahead of time is incredibly important, as the last thing you want to do is abandon the project halfway through the process due to running out of money. Unfortunately, this could mean you must push back your move until you’ve added to your savings. While this is frustrating, try to remember that it will all be worth it in the end.
If you aren’t sure just how much you should budget for this task, try reaching out to the different vendors you will rely on during this time for accurate quotes. This way, you’ll know exactly how much you’d spend on things such as building supplies, contractor fees and more.
Find the right plot of land. Whether you are hoping to move to a new neighbourhood or the countryside, finding the right plot of land is crucial. Try to take a wide variety of factors into account during the search process, from costs to location. For example, it may be worthwhile to find a vacant plot that is a little further from the city center than you originally intended if this gives you more space to play around with.
You should also make sure that you obtain the relevant permits to build on this land. Otherwise, you’re likely to encounter legal trouble in the future that could grind the entire project to a halt.
Put together a development timeline. Generally speaking, it takes around 9-15 months to build a home. Of course, this can vary somewhat depending on the size of the property or the amenities and fixtures you’d like to add to the space. Either way, you should ensure that you put together some kind of timeline in order to manage your expectations accordingly.
If you must move out of your current home during this timeframe, you could always look into short term rentals. This way, you have a guaranteed roof over your head and don’t have to consider sleeping on a blow-up mattress in a half-finished bedroom. While it is not ideal to spend additional money during this time, it is a worthwhile investment as it means that you will not try to rush the project to completion, leading to mistakes and additional costs further down the line.
Work with talented designers. While there are certain tasks that you will be able to carry out independently during this time, you should also make sure that you reach out to the experts when necessary. For example, you can rely on the team at IMSU, who specialize in unique home designs and facades to bring your vision to life – meaning that the final product will look as close to the image you have in your head as possible.
Be willing to get your hands dirty. You can save a considerable amount of money throughout the process by being willing to get your hands dirty from time to time. For example, you could opt to DIY specific tasks such as painting walls or hanging wallpaper, though you should make sure that you brush up on your DIY skills before getting started. This way, you are far less likely to make mistakes that will bug you for years to come.
However, it is also important to note that there are certain tasks in which you’ll need expert help and assistance. This includes any electrical or plumbing work! However, you can make sure that you get the best possible deal for these services by reaching out to a wide range of local providers to see who can give you the best price.
Find a healthy outlet for your stress. As mentioned above, building your own home can be stressful, as there’s a lot riding on the project being a resounding success. For this reason, you must ensure that you are managing your stress accordingly. Otherwise, you’ll quickly feel both overwhelmed and burned out, which will not make your situation any better.
Fortunately, there are many different ways in which you can manage your stress at this time, from picking up a new hobby, to simply making sure you’re talking to those around you about how you are feeling. Just don’t bottle up your emotions and expect them to go away.
Final thoughts. In short, building your dream home does not need to be as complicated as you are currently imagining it to be. And, while patience and perseverance are key (as your home will not appear overnight), there are plenty of steps that you can take to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible. This includes:
- Setting your budget (and ensuring that you stick to it)
- Finding the right plot of land
- Understanding how long the project will take ahead of time
- Working with talented designers to bring your dream to life
- Being willing to get your hands dirty and engage in a spot of DIY
- Finding a healthy outlet for your stress throughout the process
Remember, it will all be worth it in the end when you have the keys to your dream home in your hand. After all, this will be a space that your family will enjoy for years to come!
