FIVE PRACTICAL STEPS TO BUILD A HOME YOU'LL LOVE TO LIVE IN

Photo: Ian, Unsplash

Homeownership is a part of life that many people strive for. It’s easy to see why, as it offers a lot more security in life and is a major sign of independence and adulthood.

But this doesn’t always mean you need to buy a house to become a homeowner.

Instead, you could always build a home. This is a path more and more people are interested in, as it offers more than a few benefits.

It’s natural to be a little hesitant with it, though. It can be a long and complicated process, and it could end up costing quite a bit. It’s far from impossible to do, however, and it could just be a matter of taking the right steps moving forward.

Some of these could be essential to building your own home.

Why Build a Home Instead of Buying?

Before diving in, it might be worth looking at why you should build a home when you can always buy instead. It’ll take a lot more time and effort, and it could even end up costing you more money. But, it also comes with more than a few benefits, too.

These could make building your own home more and more appealing. Some of the more notable benefits include:

1. Full Control - You’ll have full control over the design of the house, letting you make sure it’s exactly the way you want it to be. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t end up being your perfect home.

2. More Freedom - While you can always renovate a home you’ve bought, you’ll have more freedom with what you can do when you build the house yourself. You’ll have more design possibilities because of it.

3. Resale Value - If you ever decide to sell your house, you’ll get more for a new build rather than an older one. The fact that a home you’ve built is more modern means you should command a higher asking price if you sell.

   
   

These can all be more than enough to persuade you to build a home instead of buying one. But, this can be a long and complicated process.

Thankfully, this doesn’t have to mean it needs to be overwhelming. You just need to know what you’re doing. It’s just a matter of knowing which steps to take going forward. While there are plenty of these, some could stand out more than the rest.

They’ll have a significant impact on the process, and they could end up being essential. Five of these are more than worth focusing on moving forward.

Build a Home: 5 Steps to Take

1. Know What Type of Home You Want

Before you even start designing your home, you’ll need to figure out what kind of house you’ll want. You’ll have more than a few options for this, ranging from a granny flat all the way up to a multi-storey home. Each of these offers their pros and cons.

Take the time to weigh each of them so you can figure out which one’s best for you. Think long-term when you’re doing this, as you could end up needing some wiggle room to make changes later on. With the right type of house, that shouldn’t have to be a problem.

2. Develop a Solid Plan

It’s always worth making sure you have a comprehensive plan in place for your home build. You and your contractors should come up with this together, especially after you’ve put a final design in place. Make sure this plan is as detailed as possible.

Know exactly which steps need to be taken and when they need to be done. While it’s possible that not everything will go to plan, having this in place helps make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. With an emergency plan, too, it should be a breeze.

3. Create a Realistic Budget

You’ll need to have a budget for your home build, with this being one of the first areas you should focus on. That doesn’t mean just knowing how much you have to spend, though. Break down your budget into different areas so you know what’s going where.

This includes materials, contractors, and other essentials you’ll need for the build. Don’t forget to include an emergency fund in this, in case any surprises or delays come up. The chances of this are low, but it’s better to be safe instead of sorry.

4. Understand the Timeframe

Building a home takes quite a bit of time, which is one of the more major drawbacks of going down this path. It’s why some people prefer to buy, as the house is move-in ready. That’s why it’s vital you understand the timeframe involved in building your house.

The contractors you work with should be able to give you an accurate timeline of what’ll happen and exactly when it’ll happen. Make sure you’ve gone through this thoroughly and understood it. It’s also worth making sure some extra time is built in for any surprises.

5. Find the Right Builders

One of the largest steps you’ll have to take with your home build is who you’ll hire to do it. Don’t just go with anyone you come across, though. It’s always worth making sure you hire the best possible option within your budget. It’s not worth compromising on.

The cheaper an option is, the less likely it is they’ll offer high-quality work. You could be much better off paying more for a quality option. Look into past reviews and similar areas to figure out who’s actually worth the price.

Wrapping it Up

There are plenty of reasons to build a home, but that doesn’t mean it’s the easiest process to get through. You’ll have to know what you’re doing if you want it all to go smoothly. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be too complicated.

With the right steps, it could be a lot more manageable than you’d think. You’ll end up building a home you can be proud of, without needing to be overly stressed the entire time.