Building your dream home from scratch is one of life’s greatest milestones. But with so much to do and consider, the process begins long before the first foundation is poured. By taking the steps to ensure the journey of designing and constructing your brand-new home goes off without a hitch, you can prevent a number of costly and time-consuming mistakes.

Let’s explore everything you need to know before you embark on the journey of building your forever home….

Hidden costs

When it comes to purchasing a brand-new home, there are a lot more hidden costs involved with building as opposed to buying. First-time buyers are often shocked by how much costs can quickly add up. Even when your home build is complete, you must spend an arm and leg to furnish it from the ground up. Costs include furniture, plumbing, wiring, insulation, and landscaping. There are also several monthly costs associated with home ownership such as insurance, taxes, and regular maintenance and upkeep services. By familiarising yourself with hidden costs ahead of time, you can reduce the likelihood of you being left out of pocket by unexpected bills or invoices flooding your letterbox down the line.

House plans

Your new home can be built according to a predetermined house plan, or a personalised house plan designed by you or an architect of your choice. Finding the right one for you can be a time-consuming, exhausting process. It requires extensive research into popular housing styles and exterior design elements. You may start your search online or liaise with a local building professional. You must fully customise room size and dimensions, materials, and window style in a way that fully reflects your budget and lifestyle requirements. If you are choosing a new build home, your house plan must be built to last and flexible to cater for any upcoming future plans.

Laws and regulations

Each city or neighbourhood has different laws and regulations in place that you must follow during the home building process. They can also be referred to as building codes. They range from the material and paint you can use on the exterior of your home to the types of doors and windows deemed acceptable. They are there to ensure your brand-new home is not breaking any housing laws and that the utmost health and safety is being adhered to on the construction site. Following these laws and regulations can protect you from the law and prevent you from being hit with a hefty fine or penalty down the line.

Building your dream home should be one of the happiest times of your life. But with so much at stake, it is normal to enter the process feeling a little overwhelmed. By familiarising yourself with as much information as possible ahead of time, you can relax knowing you have considered the key factors involved with building a brand-new home from scratch and have prepared for the worst.