Nothing beats the excitement when you just got your new home. Isn’t it lovely to think of what you will do or put inside your new dwelling? You probably have your plans and ideas ready about what and how you want your house to look and feel like.
However, building a new home is not just about excitement and buying new things you think you need. It must be done with proper management to avoid financial and emotional exhaustion on the homeowner’s part. If you want to successfully pull off a house construction project, try to avoid these seven mistakes when building a new home.
1. Not choosing the right builder
The right builder has the knowledge and expertise about what you want to be done. Their credentials and past works will speak for them. If the one you hired is not reliable and trustworthy, you’re starting wrong right off the bat.
Picking out the right builder can be the most important decision you’ll make when starting a construction. You are entrusting the designs and everything else to such people or companies so you have to make sure of their credibility. Choosing the wrong one will not just affect the building process, but it can create a long-lasting impact on the finished product and overall budget.
To avoid this mistake, take time to find the right one. Ask families and friends for recommendations and conduct thorough research. Check the websites of your potential builders and see what others say about them.
2. Not reviewing contracts
Before you officially begin working with a builder or any supplier, review your contract. Understand what’s written on it. If you are in doubt, ask for professional help or counsel.
A contract should include the schedule and project details, as well as the cost projections. It should also indicate who will be responsible for any unexpected expenses and delays that may occur. Failure to carefully review contracts may cost you extra expenses if something goes wrong during construction. So make sure you’re protected from the very beginning. Read your contracts.
3. Not planning for contingencies
Even if you plan out everything to the details, a few things may still go wrong during construction. It’s important to still plan for these unforeseen circumstances and possible setbacks.
If the estimated materials don’t match or the construction is behind the projected schedule, you should know what should be done next. Have another plan to address them, making sure that you won’t be off your budget. Is there a buffer in your contractor’s price estimate? Who will take responsibility for the additional expenses? With a contingency plan in place, you can successfully go through such stressful situations.
4. Not doing site survey before excavation
After having the right contractor and the plans ready, this is another crucial step that shouldn’t be missed. A site survey will give you an idea about the area and help you address issues that may arise during construction. One of which is having a sloped land that may become problematic to your excavating contractors. If a survey won’t be done, your contractors may need to re-level the site and cause a delay in the project. What’s worse, your house foundation may not be possible in the area because it’s not stable ground.
5. Not putting quality before costs
Home construction is never a cheap investment. Although you have to save money, make sure not to put cost before quality. From choosing your contractor down to the house materials, don’t go for the lowest bid. Such an inexpensive price can lead to multiple construction issues and cause you to spend more to fix the mistake after your home is built.
When building your home, prioritize material and work quality, as well as experience. It’s you and your family’s safety at stake. Quality products and service do come at a high price.
6. Not designing to purpose
In designing and making the floor plan of your new home, you have to consider how you’ll use the rooms, what will be their use and what will be the most convenient and practical. Never design for aesthetics purposes only as it will only result in additional energy cost. Unless you have a very large space, think twice about having many under-utilised rooms in the plan. Check if there is something that can be removed. It’s better to spend on features that you can get the most out of them than having mere displays.
7. Not scheduling a proper home inspection
If construction is done and everything seems ready, don’t skip the inspection. Missing it can mean unresolved issues and unidentified mistakes during construction.
A home inspection can help you ensure a safe property that’s done according to plan. You have to confirm that things are as to how you imagine them and that they satisfy the building codes in your area. If it can be afforded, an independent inspector can be hired to walk through your new home and find anything that needs repair or issues that need immediate action.
